This Week in the BRN Family 05.11.23

The oldest SBC church in PA celebrates 90 years; a BRN church cares for a local organization after a fire; and we celebrate new life and remember another - it's a busy week in the BRN family!

May 11, 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:

Longest standing SBC church in Pennsylvania celebrates 90 years of ministry

On Sunday, May 7, Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., celebrated its 90th anniversary! Wrightsdale Senior Pastor Ryan Day attributed the church’s longstanding history to God’s goodness and four influential factors: (1) A strong commitment to the core values of evangelism, discipleship, and multiplication; (2) committed congregations; (3) bold pastors who were willing to attempt new things; (4) church leadership that had a mindset to “believe beyond.”

“As I reflect on Wrightsdale’s 90 years of ministry, it is clear that God deserves all the glory and praise for His faithfulness to His church. Jesus promised that His church would go forward in victory, and we have experienced that promise in full effect,” said Day.

Congratulations, Wrightsdale, on 90 years of ministry! Your BRN Family is grateful for your dedication to the gospel and accelerating Kingdom movement!

St. John Memorial Baptist Church hosts first ever Empowerment Tea Party

On Saturday, May 7, St. John Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa., hosted its first ever annual Empowerment Tea Party. This event gave women of St. John’s and of the Philly community a chance to gather together and build each other up in Christ’s love.

Walnut Creek Baptist Church members gather to care for church property

Members of Walnut Creek Baptist Church in Erie, Pa., gathered earlier this week for their annual church yard clean up day. Those who attended served their church by doing necessary yard work and cleaning projects.

First Baptist Church of Clarion aids local learning workshop after fire

First Baptist Church of Clarion in Clarion, Pa., opened its doors to the Clarion Learning Workshop, after a devastating fire destroyed the organization’s building on Easter Sunday. The Clarion Learning Workshop is a free volunteer/student run resource center run by Clarion University. Since the fire, the resource center has been utilizing First Baptist’s fellowship hall to offer tutoring services and other aid to students.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Easter event energizes community and congregation at Fredericksburg Baptist

Fredericksburg Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, Pa., hosted an Easter Fun Day to bless the families in its community and engage its members with their neighbors. Read More

Baptisms

Cross Creek Community Church in Trucksville, Pa., celebrates baptisms after several put their hope in Christ

On Sunday, April 16, Cross Creek Community Church in Trucksville, Pa., celebrated the baptism of several individuals who previously made the decision to follow Jesus on Easter Sunday. Please join us in celebrating with these brothers and sisters in Christ!

In Memoriam

Dr. Philip J. Ginyard

Dr. Philip J. Ginyard, retired BRN pastor and member of First Baptist Church of Swedesboro in New Jersey, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 5. Ginyard passed away from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 62-years-old. A homegoing celebration for Pastor Phil will be held on Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m. with a viewing preceding the service from 9-11 a.m. at Sharon Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa.

Please join us in praying for Dr. Ginyard’s family and loved ones during this season of grieving.

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.