This Week in the BRN Family 01.25.24

Georgia partnership blesses BRN churches; evangelism grants fund outreach events all year; and SBDR leaders and volunteers gather for annual roundtable - it's a collaborative week in the BRN family!

January 25, 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:

Flint River Baptist Association in Georgia delivers needed items to BRN churches

The Baptist Resource Network (BRN) has an established partnership with the Flint River Baptist Association in Georgia. They have 46 churches in their association and are led by Frank Nuckolls, who is the associational mission strategist. Members from the Flint River Baptist Association came to Pennsylvania last April for a vision tour and met with several of our BRN churches and church plants in the Central region. They listened and learned about the needs, opportunities, vision and challenges of our churches here in PA. It was out of this trip that they made a list of needs that the churches here had shared. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Bedrock Church Fishtown sows seeds at Summer Splash event

An evangelism grant sponsored event helps Bedrock Church Fishtown reach their community and add to their congregation. Read More

Riverbend Community Church volunteers pack Night To Shine bags with the love of Christ

As Riverbend Community Church in Allentown, Pa., prepares for their annual Night To Shine event on Feb. 9, some volunteers gathered on Jan. 20 for a gift bag packing party. Each bag was packed with goodies and topped off with a crown or tiara. They will be distributed to every guest – king or queen – who attends the Lehigh Valley Night To Shine!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Greencastle Baptist Church members gain gospel-sharing experience

During a community outreach event, members at Greencastle Baptist Church practiced sharing the gospel one-on-one with their neighbors. Read More

First Baptist Church of Ulysses welcomes new pastor and family

On Sunday, Jan. 21, The First Baptist Church of Ulysses in Ulysses, Pa., officially installed Matt Carswell as their new senior pastor! During the service, the church took time to pray over Matt and his wife, Sabrina, and their two sons. BRN Executive Director Barry Whitworth also offered words of encouragement to Matt and his family. Please join us in welcoming Matt and Sabrina to the BRN Family as well as praying for them as they start this new ministry journey at The First Baptist Church of Ulysses!

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders and volunteers gather for 2024 Roundtable in Delaware

Earlier this week (Jan. 22-25), Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) directors, coordinators, and volunteers from across the country gathered at Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware, for the annual SBDR Roundtable! Pennsylvania/New Jersey was well represented at the event by Kenton Hunt, PA/NJ Disaster Relief Director; Barry Whitworth, BRN Executive Director; Bill Hoops, Disaster Relief Chaplain; Craig Campbell, PA/NJ DR Feeding Coordinator; Shannon Baker, BRN Communications Director; and Macala Mays, Associate Editor of BRN United.

Those who attended the roundtable enjoyed breakout sessions, opportunities to tour various DR trailers and facilities – including the Pennsylvania/New Jersey Rapid Response Kitchen – and many moments of fellowship and planning for the future of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.

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.