It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at many of our BRN churches! So, for this special edition of This Week in the BRN Family we are sharing just a few ways our churches are blessing their neighbors and spreading the joy of Christ this holiday season:
The Foundry distributes over 400 Christmas backpacks to local children
This Christmas season, The Foundry in Wallingford, Pa., is distributing Christmas backpacks to five different locations around their community! Throughout the season, the church will distribute a total of 425 backpacks to children in their area.
Backpacks will be delivered to Stetser Elementary School, Main Street Elementary, Kinder Park Community Center, The Garage Avondale, and Legacy Arts Chester at the Technology Center. What a great way to spread the gospel and some Christmas cheer!
Steel City Church brings the Christmas story to life with first Christmas play
In honor of the Advent Season, Steel City Church in Pittsburgh put on their first Christmas play! Members of the church gave of their time and talents to bring the story of Jesus’ birth to center stage. What a blessing to be reminded of the first coming of our Savior!
FBC of Delaware delivers Christmas gifts to local elementary school
Members of First Baptist Church of Delaware in New Castle, Delaware, donated Christmas gifts for children at a local elementary school. Team members at FBC Delaware had the joy of delivering those gifts earlier this week. What a great way to bless your community during the Christmas season!
Philadelphia Bible Church International hosts 2024 Christmas Cantata
On Saturday, Dec. 14, Philadelphia Bible Church International hosted their annual Christmas Cantata. The church gathered with friends new and old to enjoy songs of the season and a meal afterward. What an encouraging evening!
Wrightsdale Baptist hosts Charles Billingsley for Christmas concert
Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., hosted renowned Christian artist Charles Billingsley for a special Christmas concert on Dec. 11. The event was free and open to anyone in the community to come and enjoy songs of the season and hymns reminding us of the true reason for the season!
Legacy 242 spends week before Christmas visiting homeless encampments
A few members from Legacy 242 Church in Deptford, New Jersey, spent the week before Christmas visiting homeless encampments in their community. The church was able to bless those at the encampments with food, prayer, supplies and the hope of Jesus.
One of the encampment members was particularly happy to see the Legacy 242 folks. He had met them before, but was closed off and struggling after the loss of his daughter. This week, he was excited to see some familiar faces and even shared that he has been reading the Bible the church gave him previously. Praise the Lord for the doors He is opening at these encampments for the hope of His gospel to be shared!
BRN Christmas Greetings:
To warm your Christmas season, fellow BRN Family members from across Pennsylvania and South Jersey and beyond have sent in merry messages and seasonal Scripture verses to encourage you and yours. May these glad tidings bring you joy, and remind you of the sweetest gift of all – Jesus, our Lord and Savior! Merry Christmas, BRN Family!
Josias Lima, Pastor at Gethsemane Church (Iglesia Getsamaní), Bethlehem, PA:
The Gethsemane Church in Bethlehem, Pa., prays that the Lord’s blessings be upon the entire BRN Family during this celebration season as we remember our Savior’s birth. Beloved, this is a time of joy, hope, and gratitude to the One who is God with us, Emmanuel. Merry Christmas, BRN Family! May the Lord’s blessings abound in your lives.
Verse for the Season:
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” – Luke 2:10 (KJV)
Gerald Waters, Mission Pastor at Proclamation Community Church, Philadelphia, PA:
To all of the pastors, leaders, families and partners of the BRN, the Waters Family and the Proclamation Community Church would like to express our sincere desire that the Lord’s blessings be with you during this Advent season. As we experience the challenges of these last days, may we use this time to be reminded and encouraged by the sovereignty of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse for the Season:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
Laurel Grimes, BRN Hub Support and Events Coordinator (and future Mrs. Cutting!):
Merry Christmas BRN Family!
Whatever journey you find yourselves on this Christmas, may you feel the joy and peace of Jesus this season and beyond! May you take heart in knowing we serve a Mighty God!
Verse for the Season:
“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.’” – Luke 1:30-32 (NIV)
Dewey and Kathie Aiken, Baptists On Mission On-site Coordinators for PA/SJ, North Carolina:
As Dewey and I (Kathie) have worked as Baptists on Mission On-site Coordinators for the Pennsylvania Partnership for several years, we have witnessed a growing bond between our two states. The lostness in beautiful PA is staggering. The churches of Baptist Resource Network are intentional in pushing back the darkness in cities, towns, and farming communities as they actively share Jesus with their people. It is our privilege to walk alongside these dear friends as ministry partners.
Merry Christmas, to our BRN Family!
Verse for the Season:
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” – Psalm 8:9 (ESV)
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!
