This Week in the BRN Family 03.16.23

College students devote their spring break to serving and sharing the gospel; several commit to Jesus through baptism; and BRN churches are featured in the news - it's a fruitful week in the BRN Family!

March 16, 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:

Providence Church of Coatesville, Pa., welcomes Christian rapper for special service

On March 12, Providence Church of Coatesville, Pa., hosted a special evening service with Christian rapper “The Ambassador,” also known as William “Duce” Branch. Branch is also a professor at The College at Southeastern in Wake Forest, North Carolina, as well as a pastor. Those who attended enjoyed a time of teaching and fellowship!

LHU NewLife students spend spring break in Kentucky serving with SendRelief

From March 11-17, seven students from the NewLife campus ministry at Lock Haven University – a ministry supported by Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven, Pa. – spent their spring break in Ashland, Kentucky, where they did flood relief work as well as outreach to the community there. The NewLife crew teamed up with another group of college students from Ohio and Texas for this GenSend mission opportunity organized by SendRelief.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: PA Baptist Campus Ministries team up to do outreach in Philadelphia

Pennsylvania campus ministries partnered up over their spring breaks to do outreach at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa. more

Garwood Baptist Church in Daisytown, Pa., gears up for Easter Egg Hunt with packing party

Recently, nearly 50 people at Garwood Baptist Church in Daisytown, Pa., spent time packing and sealing thousands of plastic eggs for their upcoming community Easter Egg Hunt!

Baptisms

Seven are baptized during evening service at Harvest House Community Fellowship in Towanda, Pennsylvania

During an evening service earlier this week at Harvest House Community Fellowship, seven individuals went public with their faith in Jesus by being baptized! Please join us in celebrating with these new brothers and sisters in Christ!

New and long-time followers of Jesus are baptized at Carlisle Baptist Church in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Recently, Carlisle Baptist Church in Carlisle, Pa., celebrated two taking the next step in their walk with Jesus through baptism! One of the individuals is a new follower, while the other has followed Jesus for many years. Please join us in celebrating with this brother and sister in Christ!

Edinboro Community Church in Edinboro, Pa., celebrates new members and baptisms

On Sunday, March 12, Edinboro Community Church (ECC) in Edinboro, Pa., celebrated not only new members but also multiple baptisms! Please join us in welcoming these new sisters in Christ!

In the News

**Allentown Church featured in Lehigh Valley Press for Night to Shine**

Riverbend Community Church in Allentown, Pa., was recently featured in the Lehigh Valley Press for putting on a Night to Shine for the special needs community in the Lehigh Valley region. Night to Shine is a national prom experience for those with special needs, created by the Tim Tebow Foundation to share the love of God with this population of people. Riverbend Community Church has participated in Night to Shine for six years now. more

Altoona Mirror recognizes new pastor at Altoona First Southern Baptist Church

Pastor Don Mast and Altoona First Southern Baptist Church (AFSBC) in Altoona, Pa., were recently featured in the Altoona Mirror after Mast took on the position of senior pastor. The media outlet recognized Mast for becoming the new pastor at AFSBC and the ways God led him to this position. 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.