This Week in the BRN Family 03.20.25

PA/SJ disaster relief volunteers reunite after serving together in NC; other DR volunteers offer flood relief in West Virginia; and the BRN family comes together at the fourth annual Advance Conference - it's an exciting week in the BRN family!

March 20, 2025
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:

Pennsylvania DR Team reunites after serving in NC

The Pennsylvania BRN disaster relief team that worked together for a week in North Carolina in November 2024 (the week before Thanksgiving) reunited for a time of fellowship on March 15 at the Harvest Seasonal Grill in Lancaster.

The team shared memories from their time together in Swannanoa, NC, and enjoyed catching up. Those who were able to make the reunion include: Kenton Hunt, PA/SJ Disaster Relief Director, Brian Worrell and Bob Mathews from The Bridge Fellowship Church in Reading, Pa., Tom Worrell, Dana Young, and Jess Myers from Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa.

FBC of Delaware rejoices over two baptisms

On Sunday, March 16, First Baptist Church of Delaware in New Castle, Delaware, celebrated two baptisms. Praise the Lord for these two young individuals going public with their faith in Jesus! Please join us in celebrating with them and the entire FBC Delaware family!

Disaster Relief volunteers offer flood relief in Welch, WV

A group of PA/SJ Disaster Relief volunteers headed to Welch, West Virginia, February 28 – March 7 to conduct flood relief efforts. On this team were volunteers from First Baptist Church of Rochester (including Pastor Phillip Huggins and his wife Kristi) as well as volunteers from other BRN churches. This team served the Welch community by conducting mud-outs and removing/replacing items destroyed by the flood.

Pastor Phil was also able to have multiple spiritual conversations as he served as a chaplain to those who were impacted by the flood. Additionally, the church that hosted the DR volunteers is a one-year-old church plant sent out by Reclamation Church in Monroeville, Pennsylvania!

Fourth annual Advance Evangelism Conference urges gospel boldness

Despite last-minute challenges, the Baptist Resource Network hosted more than 200 guests for its fourth annual Advance Evangelism Conference at Country & Town Baptist Church on March 17. Thank you to everyone who attended and made the day so memorable! Read about the conference here. View a full photo gallery from the day 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.