This Week in the BRN Family 01.02.25 (Happy New Year!)

BRN churches bless their neighbors during the Christmas season; BRN evangelism grants aid churches in reaching their communities; and we celebrate new life through baptism - it's a thrilling start to the new year in the BRN Family!

January 2, 2025
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:

First Haitian Metanoia Baptist Church blesses six Philadelphia neighborhoods with Christmas backpacks

First Haitian Metanoia Baptist Church in Philadelphia organized a Christmas backpack giveaway for families in the Lansdowne, Yeadon, Secane, Darby, West Philadelphia and Southwest Philadelphia areas from Dec. 20-24. Thanks to North Carolina Baptists on Mission, First Haitian Metanoia was able to giveaway hundreds of backpacks in these areas.

The church even made a special delivery to East Lansdowne Elementary School. Students there heard the gospel and walked away with a backpack full of gifts. A special thank you to all the North Carolina churches who gave to the Appalachian Christmas Outreach and Dewey and Kathie Aiken, Baptists on Mission on-site coordinators for the Pennsylvania/North Carolina partnership!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: New Kensington church plant blesses community during Christmas time

Reclamation Church in New Kensington, Pa., utilized the Christmas season to get to know their neighbors and bless their community with goodies and the gospel. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Gospel efforts by Vida Life Church result in 60 coming to know the Lord

During the Fall of 2024, Vida Life Church in Harrisburg visited 360 migrant workers to intentionally share the gospel and make disciples. Their efforts resulted in 60 of the workers coming to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior! Read More

Christmas tradition surpasses 50 years at FBC Rochester

The 2024 Christmas season was a milestone for First Baptist Church of Rochester in Rochester, Pa., as they hosted their 51st annual live nativity! The two-night event hosted nearly 4,800 cars, with many coming from near and far to stop and observe the live edition of the Christmas story. Visitors were also invited to come inside the church for refreshments, where church volunteers could pray with them and engage in gospel conversations.

Congratulations on 51 years of reaching your community with this special outreach, First Baptist Church of Rochester!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Truth Baptist Church spends time praying with and for neighbors

Before the winter season, Truth Baptist Church in Philadelphia spent time prayer walking their community and serving their neighbors by offering food and prayer. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Christmas parade presents gospel opportunities for Harvest Church – Natrona Heights

Christmas season activities in Natrona Heights, Pa., opened up several new opportunities for Harvest Church to engage their neighbors with the gospel. Read More

Graduates are honored at Great Commission Church

Great Commission Church (GCC) in Philadelphia honored the graduates in their church body and community during a Sunday worship service. The graduates ranged from elementary school to college. The church was able to share the gospel with the graduates and their families through the worship service. Congratulations to all of the GCC graduates!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Erie Deaf Community Church supports local Deaf Gospel Rally

Erie Deaf Community Church in Erie, Pa., recently collaborated with the Greater Erie Deaf Community to host a Deaf Gospel Rally. Read More

BRN COMPASSION MINISTRY GRANT: East Shore grows in its ministry to those with special needs

Through a BRN Compassion Ministry Grant, East Shore Baptist Church in Harrisburg hosted a training seminar to better equip their members in ministering to families with special needs children. Read More

Keystone Montgomeryville honors volunteers with annual Awards Show

Each year, Keystone Montgomeryville in Montgomeryville, Pa., makes it a point to honor their volunteers – individuals better known as KMVPs! To honor these faithful servants, the church hosts an annual KMVP Awards Show, the only event where no one is asked to work. In 2024, more than 200 KMVPs gathered for the Awards Show, an evening that was filled with laughter, tears, heartfelt moments and much praise for how God has blessed Keystone Montgomeryville.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: New ministry at Restored Church meets specific needs for local women

A new ministry at Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., is meeting the needs of homeless women in the inner city and creating gospel conversation opportunities. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Famed Christmas event brings thousands to Harvest Church’s door step

Every year, the “It’s a Wonderful Life” Parade brings several thousand people to the town of Indiana, Pa., creating the perfect Christmas outreach opportunity for Harvest Church. Read More

Baptisms:

Calvary Church in Boalsburg, Pa., celebrates nearly a dozen baptisms just before Christmas

Nearly a dozen individuals were baptized at Calvary Church Harvest Fields in Boalsburg, Pa., on Dec. 15! The baptisms took place between the church’s second Sunday service and shared the day with a couple of baby dedications – praise the Lord for all that He is doing at Calvary Church! Please join us in celebrating with these brothers and sisters who were baptized and the entire Calvary Church family.

Collegiate Corner:

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: BCM at Drexel University completes fourth quarter with 50 gospel convos

The Baptist Campus Ministry at Drexel University in Philadelphia engaged with students through conversation clubs, game nights, and Friday night dinners during the fall quarter. Read More

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.