This Week in the BRN Family 01.18.24

Churches celebrate and honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day; BRN evangelism grants fund various outreach events; and campus ministries get creative to reach the next generation - it's a wonderful week in the BRN family!

January 18, 2024
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:

Senior Pastor of FBC Crestmont preaches at first annual MLK celebration

Earlier this week, Dr. Jerome Coleman, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa., preached at the first annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration for the African American Fellowship of Michigan.

On FBC Crestmont’s Facebook page, Rev. Coleman reflected on the event, saying, “Pastor and State President Cornelius Roberson, his wife Marisa, and his team are truly gracious. The worship and fellowship was tremendous. The work they are doing is awesome!”

What a blessing for all who attended!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: New Jersey church shares the love of Christ through basketball outreach

A community’s shared love for basketball opens the door for The Church of the Good Shepherd Cherry Hill to share the good news of Jesus! Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Expressway Baptist Church blesses local firemen for 22 years

For 22 years, Expressway Baptist Church in Freeport, Pa., has blessed the firemen and women in their community through a free dinner and worship service. Read More

The Body serves the Body at Great Commission Church in Philadelphia

Members of Great Commission Church in Philadelphia, Pa., went to work last weekend serving their church by cleaning and organizing their children’s church area. Kids, teens, and adults all helped – it was a whole Body effort!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Macedonia Baptist Church teams up with community services to reach neighbors

Over the summer, Macedonia Baptist Church in Norristown, Pa., reached out to their neighbors by offering essential family services at a community-wide cookout. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Believers Bible Fellowship joins Hope 4 Philly effort

In 2023, Believers Bible Fellowship partnered with other Philadelphia churches to bless their neighbors and spread the gospel through Hope 4 Philly. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: FBC Clarion spreads gospel through National Night Out and VBS

First Baptist Church of Clarion uses BRN evangelism grant funds to spread the gospel to those young and old through National Night Out and VBS. Read More

Baptisms

Two more go public with their faith at Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa.

On Sunday, Jan. 14, Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., celebrated the baptisms of Darrius Zimmermann and Audrey Difillipo! Congratulations Darrius and Audrey! We praise the Lord for your new life in Christ. Please join us in praying for this new brother and sister in Christ as they continue to grow in their faith.

Collegiate Corner

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Clarion campus ministry engages spiritual conversations through Soularium

Students a part of BASIC campus ministry at PennWest Clarion engaged in spiritual conversations with their peers through Soularium. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: On campus cookout connects Pitt students to Steel City Church

When students first arrived back to campus for the fall semester, Steel City Church connected with students at the University of Pittsburgh by hosting a cookout on campus. 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.