This Week in the BRN Family 03.14.24

BRN churches grow in their discipleship skills by hosting D-Life Bootcamps; churches show Christ by praying for and serving their neighbors; and we celebrate baptisms and ministry milestones - it's an exciting week in the BRN family!

March 14, 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 churches see more than 80 people grow in discipleship at D-Life Bootcamps

Last weekend was a full weekend of D-Life Bootcamps in Pennsylvania! On March 2, Westhills Baptist Church in Moon, Pa., hosted Dr. Bill Wilks, founder and author of D-Life, for a special discipleship training session. The very next day (March 3), Memorial Baptist Church in Gettysburg, Pa., hosted a D-Life Bootcamp at their building. Between these two D-Life bootcamps, more than 80 people have been equipped for a lifestyle of disciple-making!

“The Discipleship Life (D-Life) training was incredibly beneficial and equips us to live out the great commission,” shared West Hills Baptist Church in a Facebook post.

If your church is interested in hosting their own D-Life bootcamp, please contact BRN Associate Director of Church Health and Discipleship David Ludwig at davidl@brnunited.org.

Greencastle Baptist Church encourages an environment of evangelism through training workshop

On Saturday, March 2, Greencastle Baptist Church in Greencastle, Pa., hosted an evangelism training workshop, which featured Permeate Evangelism. Through the training, members of Greencastle and guests learned about engaging street evangelism and effective everyday evangelism.

Anastasis Fellowship gathers to care for their neighbors through prayer

Earlier this week, Anastasis Fellowship Church in Reading, Pa., gathered in their neighborhood to pray for the Antietam School District, a local school in their community. Prayer is a powerful way to love our neighbors!

Chili Cook Off at Stagecoach Road Christian Fellowship supports missions

On Saturday, March 2, Stagecoach Road Christian Fellowship in Sicklerville, New Jersey, held a Chili Cook Off to support their mission team that is heading to Guatemala this summer. What a tasty way to support the gospel going to the nations!

Watershed Church in Philadelphia partners with Roxborough community to clean up local facilities

Recently, Watershed Church in Philadelphia, Pa., spent time loving their Roxborough families by partnering with the 21st Ward to clean up local facilities and make sure the area was safe for all to enjoy! What a great way to love your community!

Baptisms:

Eight are baptized at First Baptist Church of Crestmont

On Sunday, Feb. 18, at First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa., Rev. Dr. Jerome Coleman had the privilege and honor of baptizing eight people!

“We are in awe of how God continues to add to the kingdom and our church family. To God be the glory for the things that He has done and continues to do. A special thank you to our deacons and deaconess for all of their assistance on this blessed day,” said Minister Alfred Watts, Jr.

Please join us in celebrating with these new brothers and sisters in Christ as well as the whole First Baptist Church of Crestmont family!

One goes public with her faith in Jesus at Wrightsdale Baptist Church

On March 3, Lillian Worrell went public with her faith in Jesus at Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa. Please join us in celebrating with this new sister in Christ as well as the whole Wrightsdale Baptist Church family!

Ministry Milestones:

BRN executive director and next gen director celebrate 20-year ministry milestone

During a BRN team meeting on Wednesday, March 6, the BRN honored Dr. Barry Whitworth, BRN executive director, and Stanley Williams, BRN next gen director, for 20 years of ministry in Pennsylvania/South Jersey! Thank you, Barry and Stanley, for your faithful years of ministry and, in every role, accelerating Kingdom movement! We are beyond blessed by your leadership and service. Please join us in congratulating Barry and Stanley on this ministry milestone!

In the News:

Joe Velarde, Riverbend Community Church senior pastor, is featured on premiere episode of Lighthouse TV’s One Day Closer

On March 7, Joe Velarde, senior pastor at Riverbend Community Church in Allentown, Pa., was featured on Lighthouse TV’s premiere episode of One Day Closer. Velarde was interviewed by host Brennen Sullivan during a segment entitled, “Gaining Sight for the Unseen.” During this segment, Velarde shared about God’s heart for individuals with special needs as well as leading with kindness to reach the least, the lost, and the lonely. View the full interview here.

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.