BRN Executive Director Barry Whitworth gives update on ’10/5 Challenge’

Hello BRN Family! It’s good to be with you today.

A little over a year ago, I introduced the 10/5 Challenge to you. This challenge urges 50 BRN churches to become involved in five areas–compassion ministry, church planting, church revitalization, collegiate ministry, and international missions. The 10/5 challenge is designed to help inspire churches to move beyond where they are, to become healthier by doing something they’ve never done before, in order to reach more and more people for Christ.

I am happy to report that several churches answered that call:

In COMPASSION MINISTRIES — we were able to help churches resource their communities through the distribution of food, masks and sanitizer all throughout the pandemic. Churches like SOAR Church and ministries like Wholesome Riches made a huge impact on their communities through these efforts. BRN’s Compassion Ministry director is working with 10 different churches to help them expand their ministries and their impact.

CHURCH PLANTING — Did you know 24 churches were planted across our landscape last year? It was an incredible year! More than that, the Baptist Resource Network revived its Multiplying Church Centers with several pastors meeting multiple times this past year to discuss how to fuel more church planting in the area.

CHURCH REVITALIZATION — Even in the pandemic, we assisted several BRN churches in sending out young men from their congregations to serve churches who were without pastors and in need of vitality. Our Healthy Churches team consistently meets with churches to help provide a listening ear, coaching, and assistance in next steps necessary for congregations too grow spiritually and numerically.

COLLEGIATE MINISTRY — In addition to the 13 campuses already represented in the Network, the BRN expanded onto the Edinboro University campus, where Robbie Mays is leading the effort. Despite a very different year, students all across PA/SJ are being won to Christ and are discipled to follow Him.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS — This year, __ pastors were set to travel to Bogota, Colombia, to serve alongside IMB missionary, David McNeill. When the pandemic made it impossible to travel, these pastors and their churches supported this vital ministry by providing resources for the McNeills to care for their neighbors.

The 10/5 Challenge: 10 churches in each of the five areas. Maybe you’d like to be a part of the effort, too? Simply email the Helpdesk and let us know! And may it be that this challenge accelerates Kingdom movement as the BRN closes out 50 years of ministry and sets the stage for the next 50 years of ministry within Pennsylvania/South Jersey. God bless you!