This Week in the BRN Family 02.01.24

Churches host luncheons and breakfasts to encourage members; we celebrate many going public with their faith in Jesus; and a church is highlighted in the news for serving their neighbors - it's an encouraging week in the BRN family!

February 1, 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:

Bountiful Blessings Ministry at Bethany Baptist Church in Chester, Pa., shows gratitude to church family

As a way of thanking their church family for their support in 2023, the Bountiful Blessings Ministry at Bethany Baptist Church in Chester, Pa., hosted a special luncheon on Sunday, Jan. 28. During the luncheon, church members, pastors, and ministry leaders were served a meal, enjoyed a time of fellowship, and looked forward to what God has in store for the ministry in 2024!

Impact Church in Parkesburg, Pa., takes in four new members

On Sunday, Jan. 28, Impact Church in Parkesburg, Pa., celebrated four people becoming members at Impact. The church also held their annual Church Family Meeting and gave glory to God for all He has, and continues, to do in Parkesburg.

Men’s Breakfast fuels spiritual growth at Reclamation Church Monroeville

Men were encouraged last Saturday, Jan. 27, at a Men’s Breakfast hosted by Reclamation Church Monroeville in Monroeville, Pa. Those who attended enjoyed food, fellowship, and important reminders to be actively doing what it takes to grow in Christ!

Fredericksburg Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, Pa., wraps up 2023 with gospel opportunities

In December 2023, God blessed Fredericksburg Baptist Church, located in Fredericksburg, Pa., with several opportunities to share the gospel. Over the course of a month, the church handed out New Testaments at a nearby community center, donated mittens to the local school district, and hosted a “Warm-up with Jesus” soup and fellowship event for their community.

Baptisms

Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., sees 19 go public with their faith in the first month of 2024

Just one month into 2024 and Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., has seen 19 individuals go public with their faith in Jesus! On Sunday, Jan. 21, Restored celebrated 17 baptisms, with 10 publicly proclaiming their faith during the morning service and an additional seven being baptized that night at Restored’s UNITE Youth Ministries gathering. The following week, on Jan. 28, Restored saw two more be baptized during their Sunday morning gathering.

Praise the Lord for these (many!) new brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in celebrating with these individuals and the whole Restored Church family!

Garwood Baptist Church rejoices over two baptisms

On Sunday, Jan. 28, Garwood Baptist Church in Daisytown, Pa., rejoiced over the baptisms of Kevin and Sammie! Please join us in celebrating with Kevin and Sammie as well as the whole Garwood Baptist Church family!

One goes public with her faith at Edinboro Community Church

Last month, on Jan. 14, Edinboro Community Church (ECC) in Edinboro, Pa., celebrated the baptism of Lexie! Please join us in welcoming this new sister in Christ and rejoicing with the ECC family!

Three teens and three young adults are baptized at First Baptist Church of Delaware in New Castle, DE

First Baptist Church of Delaware (FBCDE) in New Castle, Delaware, celebrated six baptisms on Sunday, Jan. 28. Three of those baptized were teens, while the others were young adults! It was a special Sunday for FBCDE’s student pastor, who had the pleasure of baptizing some of his students. Please join us in praising the Lord for these new brothers and sisters in Christ!

In the News

Philadelphia Church shoveling snow catches attention of local media

Members of Agape International Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa., were recently featured on a local TV station for shoveling their neighbors’ sidewalks and streets after a huge snowstorm. This simple act of kindness was a great blessing to many in their community and a great example of the Church loving others for the sake of Christ! Beautiful job Agape International Baptist Church! 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.