This Week in the BRN Family 02.29.24

BRN churches serve their neighbors through meals and movies; we celebrate new life through baptism; and we unite to pray for college campuses across America in honor of National Collegiate Day of Prayer - it's a thrilling week in the BRN family!

February 29, 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:

Faithbridge Community Church provides Sunday breakfast for McKees Rocks community

On Feb. 25, Faithbridge Community Church in McKees Rocks, Pa., provided breakfast for those in their community! This opportunity allowed the church to not only worship with their neighbors on Sunday, but to serve them and enjoy extended fellowship with them, too.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Young believers at Fellowship CrossPoint grow through winter retreat

Fellowship CrossPoint Church in Chesterfield, New Jersey, saw 28 youth students attend their winter retreat, where many of the students were willing to take steps of faith. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Back to Church Sunday culminates with eight baptisms at Calvary Christian

In September 2023, Calvary Christian Church encouraged its neighbors to get Back to Church through weekend outreach events and a special Sunday worship service that featured eight baptisms. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Movie night at Harvest Church encourages community to return

Through BRN evangelism grant funds, Harvest Church campus in Indiana, Pa., hosted a family movie night for their community as a way to build relationships and help their neighbors feel comfortable at church. Read More

Baptisms:

First Baptist Church of Delaware celebrates multiple baptisms and looks forward to more next month

On Sunday, Feb. 25, First Baptist Church of Delaware (FBCDE) in New Castle, Delaware, celebrated multiple baptisms! Not only did the FBCDE church family witness these individuals go public with their faith, but they also saw others commit to being baptized next month. Praise the Lord for these new brothers and sisters in Christ and for all God is doing at First Baptist Church of Delaware!

Six go public with their faith at Plaid Community Church

On Feb. 4, God blessed Plaid Community Church in Pittston, Pa., with six baptisms! The church family rejoiced with Cara, Julianna, Raheem, Isiah, Parker, and Jenny as they all went public with their faith in Jesus. BRN Executive Director Barry Whitworth and his wife, Beth, were present for the celebration. Please join us in welcoming these new brothers and sisters in Christ and celebrating with the Plaid Community Church family!

Ministry Milestones:

DelVal senior pastor celebrates 25 years of ministry

On Feb. 24, Delaware Valley Baptist Church (DelVal) in Willingboro, New Jersey, celebrated the 25th pastoral anniversary of Dr. James Betner and First Lady Denise Betner! Surrounded by their family, friends, church family, and fellow co-labors – including BRN Church Health Consultant Dr. Robert Fontell – the Betners were honored for their many years of faithful ministry.

Congratulations Dr. Betner and Denise! We praise the Lord for you and your years of gospel-work! Please join us in praying for Dr. Betner and First Lady Denise as they look forward to the next 25 years of serving the Lord and loving the Delval community.

Collegiate Corner:

The nations will hear: A partnership opportunity for BRN churches

Philadelphia is a diverse city filled with people from every corner of the earth. Bekah Noble, Associate Director of BCM at Drexel University, is discovering this diversity and seeking to partner with BRN churches in order to serve the many nations present on Drexel’s campus. Read More

Join us in praying for the next generation…

February 29, 2024 (today), is National Collegiate Day of Prayer, a day recognized every year on the last Thursday in February. This special day of prayer is set aside for Christians to be united in prayer for revival and awakening to happen on college campuses across America.

This year, 4,190 college campuses in America were adopted in prayer by 2,497 churches, campus ministries, and individuals. Please join us in prayer as we ask the Lord to sweep across college campuses in our country and in our region of Pennsylvania/South Jersey.

How to Pray:

Pray for the lost on college campuses – students, professors, faculty, and administrators – to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Pray for Christian students to be wholeheartedly committed to Jesus, to fight temptations prominent amidst the college scene, and to boldly proclaim the gospel to their peers.
Pray for college ministers, campus ministries, and churches who are pouring into college students and campuses for the sake of the gospel.
Pray specifically for our campuses and college ministers here in PA/SJ (View a full list of campuses and college ministers associated with the BRN here.)

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.