This Week in the BRN Family 05.05.22

Volunteers get their hands dirty with Send Relief, youth events engage students across the states and we welcome new brothers and sisters in Christ through baptism - It's a good week in the BRN Family!

May 6, 2022
Macala Mays

Every week, This Week in the BRN Family strives to share 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:

Slavic Evangelical Baptist Church hosts youth night

Students filled the church to worship, dance and enjoy fellowship together at the Vineland, New Jersey, church!

Edinboro Community Church partakes in community ‘Borofest’

The northwestern Pennsylvania church plant laced up its sneakers last week to help with a community festival. ECC hosted a fun run for local kids and passed out prizes at the community gathering!

BRN Team has final Denominee meeting

The Baptist Resource Network participated in a three-year initiative with Denominee, who guided BRN leaders through a process to bring increased value to the churches they serve by developing a new method of operating.

After two and a half years of working with Denominee leaders Will Mancini, Shane Stacey, Cory Hartman, and others, the BRN wrapped up their last experience this week at the network’s hub in Harrisburg!

BRN Pastor’s wife receives award for her work with Coatesville community center

Jordan Crans, wife of church planter Rev. Josh Crans, received a “True Inspiration” award for her work with the Bridge Academy Community Center in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Congratulations Jordan! Your BRN family is proud of you!

Wrightsdale Baptist sends team to Baltimore to partake in Send Relief Serve Tour 2022

Send Relief has launched an exciting new missional experience with serving opportunities in cities across the United States. Currently, the serve tour is in Baltimore, Maryland hosting outreach events and serving the community. Volunteers from Wrightsdale Baptist Church have joined the effort and, throughout the week, have helped host an evangelistic outreach block party and blessed the Baltimore Police Department!

Anastasis Fellowship Church partners with Parent Teacher League in Mount Penn for Easter outreach

The Reading, Pennsylvania, church plant gave out 200 gift bags to children and adults and also helped hide 10,000 eggs for a community egg hunt! Through the support of a BRN evangelism grant, AFC was able to sponsor $300 in prizes to support the local Parent Teacher League. Many spiritual conversations were had at the event and families were invited to learn more about Jesus at AFC.

Freeport church plant uses grant to serve its community through Earth Day event

Harvest Church Allegheny North Campus uses evangelism grant to bless more than 200 Earth Day volunteers in their community. more

‘But it was worth it for Jesus:’ BRN church and disaster relief team up to help fire victims in Harrisburg

God’s perfect timing came into play when East Shore Baptist Church joined forces with the BRN’s disaster relief team to help displaced Bhutanese families. The relief efforts just so happened to coincide with the church’s launch of a Nepalese church plant. more

Baptisms

Chambersburg Baptist Church celebrates the baptism of a new brother in Christ

Last Sunday, one man confirmed his belief in Jesus Christ through baptism at Chambersburg Baptist Church. Join us in welcoming our new brother in Christ!

Many in the Lehigh Valley put their trust in Jesus; Riverbend Community Church celebrates through baptism

Riverbend Community Church baptized several individuals last Sunday, adding to their church family and continuing their mission of “living for Jesus and loving the Valley.” Join us in celebrating with our new brothers and sisters in Christ!

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.