This Week in the BRN Family 03.09.23

BRN pastors and their families enjoy rest through pastoral wellness event; Churches celebrate new members and volunteers; and others spend time cleaning and caring for their church - it's a restful week in the BRN family!

March 9, 2023
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:

Impact Church in Parkesburg, Pa., shows gratitude and appreciation to volunteers

On Friday, March 3, Impact Church in Parkesburg, Pa., celebrated the many hands that contribute to the gospel going forth in the Parkesburg community by hosting a dinner and time of fellowship for their volunteers!

Hillview Baptist Church in Williamsport, Pa., celebrates taking in new members

On Sunday, March 5, Hillview Baptist Church in Williamsport, Pa., had a lot to celebrate. The church welcomed new members, held communion, and had lunch together – it was a Sunday of celebration at Hillview Baptist!

The SOAR Church AC in Woodbine, New Jersey, welcomes new faces and friends

The SOAR Church of Atlantic County in Woodbine, New Jersey, saw some new faces and friends on Sunday, March 5. Praise the Lord for a growing community!

Pastoral wellness event allows PA/SJ pastors to recharge and enjoy time of respite

On Feb. 18, the Baptist Resource Network sponsored a pastoral wellness event, which gave pastors and their families an opportunity to rest and build each other up. For this event, a group of 24 pastors/family members went to see the Blue Man Group perform and enjoyed lunch beforehand.

Members at Riverbend Community Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania, spend weekend caring for church building

On Saturday, March 4, families at Riverbend Community Church in Allentown, Pa., took time out of their weekend to clean and care for their church building. Who knew cleaning could be so much fun!

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.