NextGen students learn to ‘amplify’ Jesus with their lives at 2024 Fall Retreat

Nearly 50 college students from campuses across Pennsylvania/South Jersey gathered at Camp Hebron in Halifax, Pa., Nov. 1-3 for annual BRN NextGen Fall Retreat.

November 7, 2024
Macala Mays

HARRISBURG (BRN) – More than five college campuses located across Pennsylvania/South Jersey converged at Camp Hebron in Halifax, Pennsylvania, Nov. 1-3 for the Baptist Resource Network’s (BRN) annual NextGen Fall Retreat.

Newly branded this year as “Amplify,” the retreat still held the same richness of teaching, worship, fellowship and competition as in years past.

“I love getting to meet different people around Pennsylvania and New Jersey and I think it’s really neat to be a part of NewLife and having it be at different schools across the state. I just really like the camaraderie we get to be a part of here,” said third year camper and PennWest – California University student Sydney Murrin.

Along with Murrin, there were many other returning campers as well as some new faces. In total, nearly 50 college students attended the retreat.

Throughout the weekend, students heard from designated Camp Pastor Tony Banks, pastor of Agape Bible Fellowship Church in Richton Park, Illinois. Banks is a longtime friend of BRN Next Gen Director Stanley Williams.

Banks led four main sessions, focusing on a different aspect of Matthew 8, specifically when Jesus cleanses the Leper, each time. He challenged the students to know that Jesus sees them in their brokenness, worship precedes the might acts of God, and that in Christ there is a responsibility to “amplify” Christ with your life.

“In Christ we are not the sinners we were before we bowed down to him as Savior and Lord. Jesus has no problem dealing with our sin when we come to him,” encouraged Banks.

Students also enjoyed breakout sessions led by Buff McNickle, BRN Director of Compassion Ministry and Partnership, and Dr. Kyle Canty, North American Mission Board (NAMB) Send City Missionary for Philadelphia.

Worship was led throughout the weekend by Think of 3, an alternative rock Christian band based in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The band’s frontman James Harvey often leads worship at The Foundry in Wallingford, Pennsylvania.

When students were not in session, it was game on as they battled against each other in camp duels. On the first night of camp, Brian Musser, Baptist Campus Ministry Director at Drexel University in Philadelphia, split students up into six teams. They then competed with their teammates in a variety of duels during the weekend.

Each mini competition required students to engage in a different skillset, such as creativity, agility, cognition, and innovation. From creating a team logo to building a tin-foil boat, the duels proved to foster new friendships and memorable experiences.

“First, like right off the bat, we got into the different groups, and I was super excited about that because I like meeting new people and hearing everybody’s stories…[and] being with other college students who are also Christians, it’s just different than anything else,” said Montana Williams, first year camp goer and PennWest – Clarion University student.

Students who attended Fall Retreat were able to build and grow relationships with fellow students from the following universities: Chestnut Hill College (Philadelphia), Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pa.), Lock Haven University (Lock Haven, Pa.), Montgomery County Community College (Blue Bell, Pa.), Penn State University (State College, Pa.), PennWest – California University (California, Pa.), and PennWest – Clarion University (Clarion, Pa.)

Murrin, a repeating camper, deemed these relationships as one of her favorite parts of the retreat. She encouraged others to take hold of opportunities like Fall Retreat and mission trips by saying, “as you can form those relationships it can take you to all kinds of places and all kinds of experiences…and a lot of growth happens in that.”

Are you a college student interested in more BRN opportunities? Check out our Accelerated Internship opportunities for the summer of 2025 here! Or learn how you can serve with our Disaster Relief team at brnunited.org/dr.

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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.