This Week in the BRN Family 06.15.23

BRN churches honor congregation members and graduates; we run into some familiar faces at the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting; and BRN churches celebrate new life through baptism - it's an exciting week in the BRN family!

June 15, 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:

Men’s Weekend at First Baptist Church of Crestmont sends men out ‘better, stronger, and wiser’

During the weekend of June 9-11, the Outstanding Men of God (O.M.G.) of First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa., hosted its annual Men’s Weekend. Throughout the weekend, men were encouraged through powerful worship and workshops. The event concluded with the brothers honoring and awarding a “Man of the Year” and hearing a mighty word from Pastor Keith Pelzer. Read More

St. John Memorial Baptist in Philadelphia, Pa., spreads love to their neighbors

St. John Memorial Baptist in Philadelphia, Pa., collaborated with Sis. Jazmin Molina and Sis. Vanessa Mims to put Matthew 22:37-39 into action in their Germantown Ave. community. Volunteers from the church spent time sharing the gospel and praying with community members.

Calvary Christian Church in Philadelphia, Pa., hosts Sneaker Ball for graduates

Following their worship service on June 11, Calvary Christian Church in Philadelphia, Pa., hosted a Graduation Sneaker Ball for all of their students and their families. Everyone wore their best kicks and enjoyed an afternoon of celebration!

Slavic Evangelical Baptist Church in Vineland, New Jersey, celebrates Sunday school graduates and new court

On June 11, Slavic Evangelical Baptist Church in Vineland, New Jersey, celebrated the graduation of their oldest Sunday school class. These students will now join the youth group. After worship, the church officially opened their new outdoor volleyball court, praying over it as well as for the safety of those who play. They, of course, then broke in the court with several matches!

Familiar faces attend 2023 SBC Annual Meeting and Pastors’ Conference as PA/SJ messengers and guests

Many wonderful, familiar faces from our BRN Family represented Pennsylvania and South Jersey as either messengers or guests at the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting and Pastors’ Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 11-14.

Baptisms

Harvest House Community Fellowship in Towanda, Pa., welcomes one more to the Kingdom family

On June 11, Harvest House Community Fellowship in Towanda, Pa., welcomed one more to the Kingdom family through baptism. Please, join us in celebrating with this new brother in Christ and the Harvest House Community Fellowship family!

Three women celebrate new life at God’s Field in Freedom, Pennsylvania

Three ladies at God’s Field Church in Freedom, Pa., were baptized by Pastor Ken Sachs on May 28. It was a great celebration of them outwardly proclaiming that they love and follow Christ, said Sachs. Please, join us in celebrating with these new 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.