This Week in the BRN Family 03.21.24

BRN churches celebrate milestones with members; volunteers provide meals and working hands for their community; and we praise the Lord for new brothers and sisters in Christ - it's an exciting week in the BRN family!

March 21, 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:

Member of First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa., receives French Legion of Honour

On Monday, March 18, a van load of members from First Baptist Church (FBC) of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa., made their way to the Chapel of Four Chaplains at the Philadelphia Navy Yard to witness an historic moment in the life of one of their members. Deacon Benjamin Berry, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, and faithful member of FBC Crestmont, was honored by the Government of France, with the presentation of the French Legion of Honour. The Legion of Honor is the highest French decoration and one of the most famous in the world. Congratulations Deacon Benjamin Berry!

Big Woods Bible Church blesses senior adults with special gathering

Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven, Pa., blessed the seniors in their community by hosting a senior adult ministry gathering on March 15. Volunteers at the church decorated the dining space and prepared a special meal for those 60+ in their community. What a blessing and encouragement to those who attended!

Volunteers at Wrightsdale Baptist Church prepare 70+ lunches for local school staff

On Tuesday, March 19, the Acts 1:8 Team at Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., prepared and delivered 71 lunches to the upper/lower campuses of Linville Hill Christian School for the teachers and staff. What a great way to love your community!

Impact Church in Parkersburg, Pa., volunteers spend weekend caring for church property

Members of Impact Church in Parkesburg, Pa., rolled up their sleeves and got to work on March 16. Volunteers spent their Saturday caring for the church property and building. From landscaping to painting, these volunteers did it all! What a beautiful picture of the body stewarding what God has given!

Baptisms:

Edgewood Church in Beaver Falls, Pa., celebrates eight baptisms

On Sunday, March 17, Edgewood Church in Beaver Falls, Pa., heard eight powerful testimonies and witnessed eight people be washed by the water! Praise the Lord for these baptisms! Please join us in celebrating with these new brothers and sisters in Christ and the whole Edgewood Church family!

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.