This Week in the BRN Family 02.23.23

One church teams up with community organizations to bless elementary students; BRN churches celebrate ministry milestones; and one is baptized after 20 years of prayer - it's a great week in the BRN family!

February 23, 2023
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:

The SOAR Church in Woodbine, New Jersey, blesses local elementary students with health and hygiene bags

On Feb. 22, The SOAR Church in Woodbine, New Jersey, teamed up with Johnson’s Popcorn, Inc. to bless students at Woodbine Elementary School with health and hygiene supply bags. The church also partnered with several community organizations, including New Jersey State Police, Hope One of Cape May County, and Assemblyman Antwan McClellan – District One, to make this outreach possible.

Delaware Valley Baptist Church in Willingboro, New Jersey, honors pastor after 24 years of faithful ministry

On Sunday Feb. 19, the Delval Church family celebrated Rev. Dr. James L. Betner and his wife, First Lady Denise Betner, for 24-years of faithful service! Congratulations, Dr. Betner on this amazing ministry milestone! Your BRN family celebrates with you and prays for another 24 years of impactful Kingdom work!

Keystone Montgomeryville celebrates Vision Sunday

On Sunday, Jan. 29, Keystone Montgomeryville in Montgomeryville, Pa., celebrated what God has done throughout 2022. They shared their annual review, which included 94 baptisms and over 500 first time guests. Additionally, the church celebrated the launch of Keystone North in September of 2022. Their service concluded with discussing what’s next. Keystone’s focus for 2023 is to transform their thinking and actions toward the will of God and to bring Heaven thinking down in everything they do!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Sweetheart Banquet blesses couples and families in New Freedom, Pa.

Mason Dixon Baptist Church in New Freedom, Pa., hosts Sweetheart Banquet as a way to bless its community during the Valentine’s Day holiday. more

Baptisms

20 years of prayer is answered with confession and baptism at West Hills Baptist Church in Coraopolis, Pa.

West Hills Baptist Church member Debbie Buza has been praying for her husband’s salvation for the last 20 years. On Feb. 12, those prayers were answered! Sitting in the church office, Richard Buza confessed Jesus as Lord and proclaimed his desire to turn from sin, putting his full hope in Jesus. Just last Sunday, Feb. 19, Richard followed Jesus’ example and was baptized.

“We must never give up praying, even after 20 years! The West Hills Baptist Church family is rejoicing at the goodness of God, and salvation through Jesus Christ alone,” said Rev. Anthony Durnell, senior pastor at West Hills Baptist Church.

Congratulations, Richard! Please join us in celebrating with this new brother in Christ and the West Hills Baptist family!

In Memoriam

Diane Carol Grueser

Diane Carol Grueser, 66, went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 7, 2023. Diane was the wife of Dr. Kim Grueser, who is the senior pastor at Pittsburgh Baptist Church. A time of visitation will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, 9-10:30 a.m. at Pittsburgh Baptist Church. A celebration of life will then follow at 11 a.m. at the church.

The BRN expresses our deepest condolences to Dr. Kim Grueser and his family. Please, join us in praying for Dr. Grueser, his family, and other beloved ones of Diane Grueser. more

Mayme Jenkins

Mayme Jenkins, beloved mother of Associate Professor at Gateway Seminary and former BRN Staff Member Dr. Cliff Jenkins, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 17, 2023. Mayme lived 100 full years here on earth. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 4, at Rolling Hills Church in Verona, Pa., starting at 10 a.m. There will be a viewing at the church prior to the service from 8-10 a.m. An interment service for Mayme will take place at Springfield Cemetery in Lloyd, Florida, on March 8.

The BRN expresses our deepest condolences to Dr. Cliff Jenkins and his family. Please, join us in praying for Dr. Jenkins, his family, and beloved family and friends of Mayme Jenkins.

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.