Hello, BRN Family! It’s good to be with you today!
Our BRN team spent time in reflection this week. We marveled at God’s provision and leadership as we have fasted, prayed, and served together. We have relished the unity, creativity and stamina evident in our churches and our team. We are sensing God is writing the next chapter for the Baptist Resource Network, and boy, are we excited!
Beginning in 2020, the BRN started working with Will Mancini and Denominee, where in monthly meetings, we clarified our Mission (What are we doing?), with the team wholeheartedly landing on “helping churches accelerate Kingdom movement.”
We believe every church, no matter where they are in its lifecycle, can benefit from taking new steps toward Kingdom advancement. The BRN will seek to help each church identify what those next steps are and to assist them with the tools necessary to accelerate forward.
The team also examined the areas they felt the BRN brings Value (Why are we doing this?) and its Strategy (How are we doing it?). Out of that developed a simple four-step process: We help churches ASSESS where they are; we ASSIST them in knowing where to go next; we help ACTIVATE the plans God has for them; and we help them ADVANCE the Kingdom in and through their churches.
That said, we are excited about many projects the Lord has already allowed us to be a part of.
Ever mindful of the Great Commission, the BRN awarded several churches with evangelism grants, which were used to support many creative outreaches into neighborhoods and communities all over our region. This included music festivals, outdoor Vacation Bible Schools, school supply drives, block parties, evangelistic cookouts and so much more! The Baptist Resource Network is committed to reaching Pennsylvania and South Jersey with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We also unveiled the #LovePASJ initiative, sharing kits full of resources to help churches KNOW their neighbors in order to SHOW Christ’s love to them and GROW them through intentional discipleship and leadership development.
We also have seen God bless the development of Mansion Hope, a 501c3 non-profit to address systemic racism and poverty in an underprivileged community in Philadelphia, and Wholesome Riches, a ministry now connected with the Camden school district, providing food and spiritual support for at-risk families.
These are just a few small examples of what God is doing, but I believe the greatest stories are the ones we aren’t hearing. It is the story of you and all the other faithful BRN church leaders who, despite the challenges set before them, remain steadfast to the task the Lord has assigned them. Your determined trust and resiliency are truly remarkable. You truly are making a difference. What you do matters.
May the Lord reward you richly and may you sense His presence ever near. We are praying for you. We are thankful for you! God bless you!
