This Week in the BRN Family 09.05.24

This week in the BRN Family, we celebrate over 50 baptisms taking place in our Pennsylvania/South Jersey region - praise the Lord! - and prepare for Accelerate 2024 - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

September 5, 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:

Keystone Montgomeryville fills the pool to baptize 42

On Sunday, Aug. 25, Keystone Montgomeryville in Montgomeryville, Pa., held an outdoor baptism service. Those in attendance worshipped and witnessed the baptisms of 42 individuals! The youngest to be baptized was an elementary student and the most experienced candidate was in her 80s!

Sweet sister Fran shared that she had been resistant to be baptized because she was afraid to fall. But after an encounter with God during a fall at her home, she was assured that He was with her and He was going to get her through. She was the first candidate in the waters and kicked off the night with excitement and joy! Please join us in celebrating with these brothers and sisters in Christ and the entire Keystone Church family!

Millcreek Community Church baptizes 17 at the beach

Millcreek Community Church (MCC) in Erie, Pa., gathered on a beach at Presque Isle State Park on Sunday, Sept. 1, to witness 17 individuals go public with their faith in Jesus! Praise the Lord for these new brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in rejoicing with them and the entire MCC family!

BRN pastor pens and releases yearlong devotional

Rev. John Worrall, member of Red Land Baptist Church in New Cumberland, Pa., has written a yearlong devotional for those in ministry called NOT the Center of the Universe. This daily devotional, structured for each day of the year, offers scripture-based insights and personal experiences to help navigate ministry challenges. Those interested in purchasing Not the Center of the Universe can do so on Christianbook.com or Amazon.

Congratulations, Rev. John Worrall, on this tremendous accomplishment!

Join the BRN Family for a time of BOLD fellowship!

One of our favorite parts of the BRN Accelerate Conference each year is seeing all of you! Accelerate gives us the opportunity to gather together as one big, joyful BRN Family! It allows us to catch up with old friends and to make new ones; it provides key networking opportunities, and, most importantly, it grants us a space to worship and pray together. We can’t wait to see you this year! Register for Accelerate today at acceleratepasj.com!

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.