This Week in the BRN Family 08.24.23

Campus ministries across PA/SJ welcome students back to campus; churches in Central, Pa., and South Jersey celebrate new life; and we welcome a new member into the BRN family - it's an exciting week in the BRN family!

August 24, 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:

Lock Haven NewLife springs into action as Fall semester begins at Commonwealth University of Lock Haven

It was a jam-packed Welcome Week at Commonwealth University of Lock Haven (LHU) in Lock Haven, Pa., as the NewLife campus ministry there captured first day of school photos for students, kicked-off their weekly Bible study, and helped students get well acquainted with campus by sending them on a campus-wide photo scavenger hunt. For Campus Pastor Robbie Mays and LHU NewLife students, it was a great week of meeting new students and sharing the love of Christ with the campus!

Penn State NewLife looks to give students a home away from home

During the week of Aug. 20, students a part of Penn State’s NewLife campus ministry and Campus Minister Eric Reiber welcomed PSU students back to campus and invited them to join their NewLife family! The ministry spent time at the university’s Involvement Fair talking to students and inviting them to their weekly Bible study!

COLLEGIATE MINISTRY FEATURE: PSU student’s faith leads to continued gospel conversations

What happens when a student at Penn State lives out her faith and shares it with her international peers? The gospel goes forward to the nations! PSU Collegiate Minister Eric Reiber shares how this student’s faithfulness continues to encourage gospel conversations, even after graduation. Read More

PennWest Clarion campus ministry sweetens the start of the semester

NewLife/BASIC campus ministry at PennWest Clarion in Clarion, Pa., kicked off their fall semester with a well-attended Monday night gathering, followed by a refreshing Wednesday of serving students free lemonade! Every year, Campus Minister Scott Underhill and NewLife/BASIC students set up in front of the library to pass out free cups of lemonade (or hot cocoa) as a simple way to serve their campus.

NewLife at PennWest California keeps the fun going despite weather

A little rain couldn’t stop the NewLife campus ministry at PennWest California from gathering together and having some fun! Due to weather, the ministry had to postpone their planned Luau and, instead, hosted a game night on campus. This event kept the fun going during Welcome Week and gave Campus Missionary Kim Carson and her student leaders a chance to hang out with new students!

Drexel University Baptist Campus Minister takes on new role – parent of a college student

As Baptist Campus Minister Brian Musser and his wife, Jennifer Musser, recording secretary for the BRN’s executive board, await the return of students at Drexel University, they have taken on another role – parents of a college student! During the week of Aug. 20, Brian and Jennifer moved their daughter into Temple University for her first year of college. Please join us in praying for Brian and Jennifer as they navigate college ministry at Drexel University and being parents of a college student. Also pray for their daughter as she starts her collegiate journey!

Baptisms

Altoona First Southern Baptist Church in Altoona, Pa., rejoices over new life after three are baptized

On Sunday, Aug. 20, Altoona First Southern Baptist Church in Altoona, Pa., celebrated new life through the baptism of Warren and Holly McGee and Vincent Meukel! Praise the Lord for these new brothers and sister in Christ! Please join us in celebrating with them and the entire Altoona First SBC family!

Three men proclaim their faith in Christ through baptism at Keystone Fellowship South Jersey in Sewell, NJ

Keystone Fellowship South Jersey in Sewell, New Jersey, rejoiced over the baptism of Aaron, Rich, and Eddie on Sunday, Aug. 20! Praise the Lord for these new brothers in Christ! Please join us in continuing to pray for Aaron, Rich, and Eddie as they walk with Jesus.

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.