This week in the BRN Family 04.04.24

BRN churches celebrate Resurrection Sunday and host Easter outreach events; churches take Jesus to the streets for Holy Week; and we rejoice over many public professions of faith in Jesus - it's a joyful week in the BRN Family!

April 4, 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:

First Easter event results in more than 1,300 people at Walnut Creek Baptist Church in Erie, Pa.

For their first ever Easter ‘Eggstravaganza,’ Walnut Creek Baptist Church in Erie, Pa., saw more than 1,300 people come and participate! The March 30 event included the whole community, from those participating in the festivities to entertainment provided by the local Christian radio station, WCTL, and treats from A Waffle Miracle. Walnut Creek volunteers made sure all who attended were invited to hear the gospel at the church’s Easter service.

Cross Creek Community Church sees 11 saved and 976 attend on Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday (March 31), 11 people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior at Cross Creek Community Church in Trucksville, Pennsylvania! The church was filled with joy, and people, as Cross Creek welcomed 976 people into their building to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Praise the Lord for these salvations and for the gospel going forth to so many!

Clarion, Pa., churches partner together for Holy Week

On Good Friday (March 29), Zion Church of Clarion, Pa., and First Baptist Church of Clarion gathered together for a Holy Week dinner. The two churches shared a meal, took communion, and enjoyed a performance from Piercing Word as they highlighted the story of Jesus through the Gospel of Mark.

Quarryville Community has blast at Wrightsdale Baptist ‘Eggsplosion’

More than 400 people pre-registered for Wrightsdale Baptist Church’s 2024 ‘Eggsplosion,’ which was held on March 30 at Clermont Elementary School in Quarryville, Pa. The event allowed Wrightsdale to serve their community in a fun way, partner with a local school, and share the gospel with all who attended!

Philadelphia BRN churches take Jesus to the streets for Holy Week

Ekklesia Church of North Philadelphia and St. John Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia partnered again this year to take Jesus to the streets during Holy Week! The two churches prepared a trailer with worship equipment and went to different stops in their neighborhood to worship with their neighbors and share the gospel with their community. Volunteers also offered prayer and handed out gospel tracts.

Baptisms:

Providence Church in Coatesville, Pa., hits the lake on Easter Sunday for baptism

On Easter Sunday (March 31), Providence Church in Coatesville, Pa., went down to the lake to watch a brother in Christ get washed by the water and publicly proclaim his faith in Jesus. Praise the Lord for new life in Christ!

Three go public with their faith in Jesus at The Fellowship Church

Three individuals went public with their faith in Jesus at The Fellowship Church in State College, Pa., on Easter Sunday! Included with these individuals were Senior Pastor Jordan Alturas’ son, Karson, and Fynn Reiber, son of BRN Associate Next Gen Director Eric Reiber. Praise the Lord for these public professions of faith in Jesus!

One is baptized on Resurrection Sunday at Edinboro Community Church

On Easter Sunday (March 31), Edinboro Community Church celebrated the baptism of David Squires. What a blessing to rejoice with a new brother in Christ on Resurrection Sunday! Please join us in celebrating with David and the whole Edinboro Community Church family!

Harborcreek Community Church rejoices over new life on Easter Sunday

Harborcreek Community Church in Harborcreek, Pa., rejoiced over new life on Sunday, March 31, as they witnessed some go public with their faith in Jesus through baptism! Please join us in celebrating with those who were baptized and the whole Harborcreek Community Church family!

Three take their next step with Jesus at Red Land Baptist on Resurrection Sunday

Red Land Baptist Church in New Cumberland, Pa., saw three take the next step in their walk with Jesus and be baptized on Easter Sunday! Please join us in celebrating with these individuals and the Red Land Baptist family!

Ministry Milestones:

One Hope Church rejoices over Resurrection Sunday and ministry milestone

Resurrection Sunday (March 31) was extra special for One Hope Church in Absecon, New Jersey, as the church rejoiced over the risen Savior and their four year anniversary! Congratulations on four years of ministry, One Hope! We pray the Lord blesses your next many years of ministry!

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.