This Week in the BRN Family 08.22.24

BRN churches get creative with their outreach; evangelism grants fuel summer camps to farm show outreach; and we celebrate baptisms and ministry milestones - it's a joyful week in the BRN Family!

August 22, 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:

Rain doesn’t stop ‘Community Fest’ at FBCDE

A little rain didn’t stop First Baptist Church of Delaware (FBCDE) in New Castle, Delaware, from blessing their community! On Aug. 18, FBCDE moved their “Community Fest” inside and served hundreds of people through face painting, food, crafts, a school supplies giveaway, prayer, and a variety of health fair and community vendors. Additionally, the church had the most volunteers, to date, serving at the Community Fest!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Whitestown Road Baptist plants seeds at Butler, Pa., Farm Show

During Farm Show week in Butler, Pa., volunteers from Whitestown Road Baptist Church took turns sharing the gospel and praying with those in attendance. Read More

Women’s D-Life group at God’s Field Church cleans up Ambridge community

The women’s D-Life group at God’s Field Church in Ambridge, Pa., committed to doing a ministry project every other month to serve their community and encourage a lifestyle of discipleship. Most recently, these ladies cleaned up and beautified a couple blocks in their neighborhood. A large part of adopting a lifestyle of discipleship is also living on mission – great work God’s Field ladies!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Penn West Kids Camp stirs 15 young hearts to Jesus

From July 14-19, Penn West Kids Camp welcomed 103 campers to Little Mahoning Bible Camp. Penn West Kids Camp is an annual collaborative effort put on by several Western PA churches to make Jesus known to campers in 3rd-6th grade. Read More

Country & Town Baptist honors Accelerated Intern

Before departing with their Accelerated Intern, Sophia Jones, Country & Town Baptist Church in Mechanicsburg, Pa., took a moment to recognize Sophia. During her internship, she served alongside Pastor Jacob Shetron, primarily in the youth ministry with teaching, administration, special events and summer camp.

For her internship project, Sophia planned and led a middle school girls Arts and Bible Study night. She also served and participated in other ongoings at Country & Town, such as VBS, Kids Performing Arts Camp and planning fall outreach projects for the community. Congratulations, Sophia! Thank you for your hard work as a BRN Accelerated Intern!

Baptisms:

Four are baptized at First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist

First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa., recently celebrated four individuals going public with their faith in Jesus! Praise the Lord for these brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in rejoicing with them and the entire First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church family.

Reclamation Church Monroeville rejoices over baptism

Reclamation Church in Monroeville, Pa., recently rejoiced over new life as their dear sister Chloe proclaimed her belief in Jesus and was baptized! Praise the Lord for Chloe! Please join us in celebrating with her and the Reclamation Church family.

Ministry Milestones:

Big Woods Bible Church celebrates 40 years of God’s faithfulness

Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven, Pa., celebrated 40 years of God’s faithfulness Aug. 16-18. The church first got its start in 1984 when a college ministry at Lock Haven University outgrew the campus and became a church. Since then, Big Woods has experienced the Lord’s faithfulness in many ways. Dr. Barry Whitworth, executive director of the Baptist Resource Network (BRN), joined Big Woods on Sunday (Aug. 18) to honor the church for its years of ministry to the Lock Haven community.

Congratulations on 40 years, Big Woods! We are so grateful for all you do to advance the gospel in Lock Haven, and we are praying for your next 40+ years!

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.