This Week in the BRN Family 10.20.22

A BRN church commissions a new lead pastor; pastors and wives enjoy a day of rest through blessing program; and several BRN churches roll up their sleeves to serve their communities - it's a bountiful week in the BRN family!

October 20, 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:

Millcreek Community Church (MCC) in Erie, Pa., commissions new lead pastor

On Oct. 16, Millcreek Community Church (MCC) in Erie, Pa., commissioned Pastor Brandon Hancock before his first Sunday preaching as MCC’s lead pastor.

As shared on MCC’s Facebook page, “Commissioning allows others in the fellowship to see the bigger picture of what God is doing to expand His Kingdom. It allows us to pray and celebrate what God will do at MCC in and through Pastor Brandon.”

Congratulations Pastor Brandon, and welcome to the BRN Family!

Sunbury City Church celebrates 10 years of ministry

On Oct. 2, Sunbury City Church in Sunbury, Pa., celebrated 10 years of ministering and serving the Sunbury community! Congratulations, Sunbury City on this ministry milestone! We pray for many more years of ministry in Sunbury!

BRN Pastors and their wives enjoy an afternoon out as part of Pastors Blessing Program

On Sept. 27, several BRN pastors and their wives were treated to an afternoon at Sight & Sound Theatre in Lancaster, Pa. The couples attended the show “David” and enjoyed a time of rest and fellowship as part of the BRN’s Pastors Blessing Program.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Outreach program at South Jersey church proves fruitful with nine coming to Christ

Over the summer, Baptist Chapel International Life Explosion partnered with a team from Alabama to do outreach in the Irvington, New Jersey, area for the sake of the gospel. more

One Hope Church in Absecon, New Jersey, enjoys worship led by national music ministry

Last Sunday, One Hope Church in Absecon, New Jersey, enjoyed special worship with PAPURI USA, which is the official Filipino music ministry of Far East Broadcasting Company located in La Mirada, California. The church enjoyed Sunday worship with the group and then lunch afterwards with the worship leaders!

Paoli Community Church in Paoli, Pa., serves medical community for sake of the gospel

Paoli Community Church in Paoli, Pa., has been busy making an impact in their community! Recently, ladies from the church made 24 pillows for the cardiac program at Paoli Hospital, while other members of Paoli Community Church have been preparing to make and distribute cookies at Green meadows Nursing and Rehab Center, along with a gospel presentation.

Harvest House Community Fellowship hosts prayer and refreshment tent at local fall fest

The Hornbrook, Pa., church spent their Saturday serving refreshments to its community as well as offering prayer to those who wanted/needed it during a local fall festival.

Harborcreek Community Church (HCC) comes alongside local nonprofit to serve the Erie, Pa., community

Harborcreek Community Church (HCC) in Erie, Pa., partnered with local nonprofit ServErie last Saturday to participate in a community-wide service day! The church served as the launch site for the service day and joined ServErie volunteers in completing yard work at Brevillier Village, a housing and health care center for older adults.

In the News:

BRN Pastor and Send City Missionary speaks at ‘National Faith and Blue Weekend’ in Philadelphia

As reported in The Philadelphia Tribune, Great Commission Church Pastor and Send City Missionary Rev. Kyle Canty was one of nine speakers who spoke at the city’s ‘National Faith and Blue Weekend’ event. This event strives to build a better relationship between the public and the police.

Read the Article

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.