This Week in the BRN Family 04.27.23

A Philadelphia church celebrates a ministry milestone; BRN evangelism grants fund outreach events and new initiative; and many celebrate new life in Christ through baptism - it's a joyful week in the BRN family!

April 27, 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:

Calvary Christian Church celebrates 103 years of ministry

On Sunday April 23, Calvary Christian Church in Philadelphia, Pa., celebrated its 103rd anniversary! Calvary enjoyed a beautiful morning of worship and a time of fellowship afterward to celebrate this ministry milestone. The church also welcomed State Representative Jared Solomon, who joined them for their anniversary celebration.

Congratulations, Calvary Christian! Your BRN family is grateful for all you do to spread the hope of Jesus to the Philadelphia area! Here’s to 103 more years!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: BRN Philadelphia churches take Jesus to the streets for Good Friday

Saint John Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa., partnered with Ekklesia of North Philadelphia to proclaim Jesus in the streets on Good Friday; both churches see several respond. Read More

NewLife campus ministry ‘chalks’ up the gospel at PennWest California

Students a part of the NewLife campus ministry at PennWest California in California, Pa., relived their grade school days by hosting a Recess Night. The ministry brought classic recess games and chalk to campus. Students wrote inspiring messages and Bible verses around campus to encourage their peers and professors.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Reading, Pa., church plant launches Project Rise-Up to bless neighbors

Anastasis Fellowship Church launches Project Rise-Up to bless its community, and partners with a mission team from North Carolina to spread the love of Christ to the Reading, Pa., area. Read More

Baptisms

13 individuals go public with their faith at Restored Church in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

On April 23, Restored Church in Wilkes Barre, Pa., celebrated 13 people going public with their faith through baptism! In the last 10 years, Restored has celebrated 169 baptisms.

“To be clear, we’re not all about numbers, but we’re all about the gospel fruit that those numbers represent – behind every number is a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God and us,” stated Restored Church Senior Pastor Tim Walker through a Facebook post.

Please join us in welcoming these brothers and sisters into the family of Christ!

Four are baptized at Big Woods Bible Church, including two LHU students

Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven, Pa., had the joy of baptizing four individuals on Sunday, April 23 – two being Lock Haven University (LHU) students who are a part of the church’s NewLife college ministry! Please join us in celebrating with these brothers and sisters in Christ!

Harborcreek Community Church witnesses faith and obedience at a young age through baptism

A little one at Harborcreek Community Church (HCC) in Harborcreek, Pa., said yes to Jesus on Sunday, April 23, and was baptized in front of his church family. How precious are those who declare Jesus at such a young age! Please join us in celebrating with this new brother in Christ and the HCC church family!

Chambersburg Baptist Church sees family baptized together following Easter impact

On April 16, five people were baptized at Chambersburg Baptist Church in Chambersburg, Pa. Of those who said yes to Jesus, three were from the same family. A family that started attending Chambersburg Baptist after participating in the church’s egg hunt on April 8. Please join us in celebrating with these new brothers and sisters in Christ!

Keystone North Church sees eight washed by the water

Keystone North Church in Souderton, Pa., witnessed eight individuals be washed by the water on Sunday, April 23! Please join us in celebrating with these brothers and sisters in Christ!

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.