This Week in the BRN Family 10.06.22

Pastors, church members, college ministers and ministry leaders across Pennsylvania and South Jersey gathered together earlier this week for the 2022 Accelerate Conference - it's a special week in the BRN Family!

October 6, 2022
Macala Mays

This Week in the BRN Family shares quick highlights of BRN churches and ministries throughout Pennsylvania and South Jersey loving their neighbors. Check out the latest happenings, baptisms and accelerating Kingdom movement stories below:

2022 Accelerate Conference encourages BRN pastors to seek rest; urges churches to reach the next generation

Held earlier this week at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel in Harrisburg, Pa., the 2022 Accelerate Conference gave Baptist Resource Network (BRN) pastors, missionaries and church members the opportunity to hear how God is working across Pennsylvania and South Jersey. Attendees enjoyed empowering worship, encouraging main sessions and engaging breakout sessions.

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the 2022 Accelerate Conference. Here are just a few of our favorite moments from this year’s gathering:

Messengers elect new president of BRN Executive Board at Accelerate Conference

On Oct. 4, the BRN’s Executive Board held its annual business meeting. Outgoing Executive Board President, Bryan McClelland, led the session, guiding PA/SJ messengers through budget expectations and upcoming responsibilities.

Messengers also elected Dr. Brian King, senior pastor of Ezekiel Baptist Church, as the new BRN Executive Board President. Congratulations, Rev. King!

Messiah University’s SEVEN provides worship for Accelerate Conference

SEVEN is a group of multi-talented student musicians who have a heart for ministry, performance and creativity. We were so blessed to have them lead us in worship for the second year in a row at Accelerate! Thank you SEVEN for blessing us with your wonderful talents!

Vendors and sponsors from near and far participate in Accelerate Conference

At this year’s annual meeting, attendees had the opportunity to network with several local and national vendors and sponsors – if guests visited enough tables they were entered to win a prize! Thank you to all of our sponsors and vendors who made this year’s Accelerate Conference possible!

National Next Gen Director and BRN Exec. lead main sessions at conference

During the 2022 Accelerate Conference, main sessions were led by BRN Executive Director Barry Whitworth and NAMB Next Gen Director Shane Pruitt. Whitworth introduced new resources available to BRN pastors and churches, while Pruitt urged attendees to be diligent about reaching the next generation.

Conference guests engage in variety of breakout sessions led by ministry leaders, pastors and BRN team members

Throughout the day, Accelerate Conference guests had the opportunity to attend 10 different breakout sessions, which were led by BRN pastors, team members and external ministry leaders. To view a full list of the breakout sessions offered visit acceleratepasj.com.

Voices of Ukraine provide worship at dinner and for refugee coat drive collection

At the conclusion of the conference, guests were invited to attend a special dinner, which featured worship by Sasha and Vita Livantsov of Voices of Ukraine. During the dinner, a love offering was collected to help purchase winter coats for Ukrainian refugees. Accelerate Conference guests were also given backpacks to fill with winter supplies for refugees. Filled backpacks can be dropped off at participating collection sites no later than Nov. 6.

Learn More about Voices of Ukraine

2022 Accelerate Conference Survey

Let us know how we did! Scan the QR code below or click here to take a quick survey about the 2022 Accelerate Conference. We would love your feedback on how we can do better next year! Thank you in advance!

Be a part of This Week in the BRN Family

Have exciting things happening in your church!? Let us know so we can celebrate with you and share the good news with our BRN Family. Submit stories of your church accelerating Kingdom movement, loving their neighbors or celebrating baptisms on our News Tips page. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Macala Mays

In 2022, Macala Mays stepped into her current role as Associate Editor of BRN United and Podcast Producer for the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey (BRN). Before taking this position, she worked as a contracted Podcast Producer in 2021 and a freelance writer in 2020 for the BRN. During her time with the BRN, Macala Mays has produced three different podcast series, including 50 Stories of Transformation (2021-2022), The #LovePASJ Podcast (2022), and Celebrating Cooperative Missions (2023). She also has written over 60 articles for the BRN and has been nationally published by The Baptist Paper and Baptist Press. She is also a member of the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA).

Prior to working with the BRN, Macala interned at the State Capitol of Tennessee in the Publications Division under the office of Secretary of State. She also remotely wrote news for TalkErie, a radio station in Erie, Pa., and previously worked as a News Director/Producer for WJET-TV in Erie, Pa.

Macala Mays holds a master of arts in communications from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (EUP) as well as a bachelor of arts in journalism/public relations from EUP. During her graduate years, Macala worked as a Graduate Assistant and helped manage the on-campus radio station. She also served as a managing editor for the university’s newspaper, which led to an interest in music journalism.
Macala and her husband, Robbie, live in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where they attend Big Woods Bible Church and Robbie serves as the Associate Pastor of Campus Ministry. Both Robbie and Macala find great joy in discipling and walking alongside college students at Lock Haven University.