This Week in the BRN Family 01.04.24

BRN evangelism grants aid churches in Christmas events; churches celebrate new leaders and new life; and one church is recognized for their longterm community outreach - it's an exciting new year in the BRN family!

January 4, 2024
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:

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Christmas dinner brings three to salvation at Iglesia Bíblica La Verdad

Iglesia Bíblica La Verdad in Woodbury Heights, New Jersey, faithfully shared the true meaning of Christmas at a special dinner for their community and saw three come to Christ. Read More

Drive Through Nativity brings Christmas story to life at Impact Church

From Dec. 15-16, Impact Church in Parkesburg, Pa., held their third annual Live Nativity Drive Through. At the event, community members watched Impact act out the Christmas and gospel story through five different scenes, all the way from Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem to Jesus rising from the grave.

The church saw 184 cars come through and a total of 570 people. Impact plans to host the Live Nativity Drive Through next Christmas, Dec. 13-14.

Cosmopolitan Mission Service Baptist Church hosts winter breakfast for women

In December 2023, Cosmopolitan Mission Service Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa., hosted a special women’s breakfast for the ladies in their community! The breakfast was filled with good food, fellowship, and a time of encouragement.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Harvest Church – Indiana advances gospel at community Christmas parade

During the Christmas season, a BRN evangelism grant helped the Indiana Campus of Harvest Church take their seasonal outreach to the next level. Read More

Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Philipsburg, Pa., rings in the new year by adding a new leader

On Saturday, Dec. 23, Pastors Daniel L. Arter (Grace Reformed Baptist Church), Jordan Alturas (The Fellowship Church, State College), Clayton Kessling (Halfmoon Christian Fellowship Church, Port Matilda), and Doug Pilot (New Hope Baptist Church, Duncansville) formed an ordination council for GRBC’s elder candidate, Josh Dickson. Josh had completed GRBC’s year-long elder training program and at the conclusion of the program was brought forward to the ordination council for vetting. He passed his council and was formerly ordained and installed as a lay elder/pastor on Dec. 31. Please join us in praying for Josh and his family as they start in the ministry!

Baptisms

Grace Reformed Baptist Church concludes 2023 by celebrating new life

Grace Reformed Baptist Church (GRBC) in Philipsburg, Pa., concluded 2023 by celebrating a new believer’s baptism! This young man came to Christ after facing a significant struggle in life. His excitement and passion for Jesus were evident throughout the day leading up to his baptism, when he joyfully gave his testimony and made his public confession of faith.

Please join us in celebrating with this new brother in Christ and praying for him as he continues to grow in the faith!

Collegiate Corner

BCM director vocalizes benefits of inherent church design to U.S. Surgeon General

Years of relationship building lands Drexel University BCM Director a spot at the table with U.S. Surgeon General and university higher ups in conversation about mental health. Read More

In the News

First Baptist Church of Rochester hosts Live Nativity for a half-century

For 50 years, First Baptist Church of Rochester has brought Bethlehem to the Rochester, Pa., area by hosting an annual Live Nativity during the Christmas season. Over the years, the event has become a staple in the community.

This year, to recognize the church’s milestone, First Baptist Church of Rochester and its Senior Pastor Phil Huggins were featured in The Times, which is a local news outlet for the Rochester region. Read More

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.