This Week in the BRN Family 06.08.23

BRN churches engage their communities with cookouts and yard sales; VBS season is here and in full swing; and college ministers stay hard at work, even after students leave - it's a busy week in the BRN family!

June 8, 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:

Faithbridge Community Church in McKees Rocks, Pa., serves up the love of Christ at community cookout

On May 31, Faithbridge Community Church in McKees Rocks, Pa., hosted their first cookout of the summer! The church fed community members, played games with the youth, and enjoyed an evening of building and growing relationships.

Zion Church of Clarion County dedicates new pavilion and sends off pastor for sabbatical

On Sunday, May 28, Zion of Clarion County (ZCC) in Clarion, Pa., had a busy day! During their worship service, the church took time to reflect for Memorial Day, dedicated their new pavilion, and prayed over Pastor Trent Kirkland and his wife, Pam, as they start their sabbatical. Please, join us in praying for Pastor Kirkland and Pam as they enter this season of rest and focus as well as for the ZCC church family.

West Hills Baptist Church in Coraopolis, Pa., outreaches to community through annual yardsale

During the week of June 4, West Hills Baptist Church in Coraopolis, Pa., lined the street with tables and well-loved items in the hopes of welcoming eager yardsalers for their annual community yard sale. The yard sale gave the church an opportunity to reach out to community members and build relationships.

Youth at Bucks County Community Church in Langhorne, Pa., ‘clue in’ at ministry mystery dinner

On June 5, youth at Bucks County Community Church in Langhorne, Pa., got in their best detective mindset and enjoyed a fun filled night at the Youth Ministry Mystery Dinner. During the dinner, the youth also welcomed in the next wave of 6th graders!

Edgewood Church in Beaver Falls, Pa., creates ‘stellar’ atmosphere for VBS

This past week, Vacation Bible School was in full swing at Edgewood Church in Beaver Falls, Pa. Sporting the theme “Out of this World,” the VBS taught kids how to be “stellar” at shinning the light of Jesus in the world!

BRN campus ministers enjoy weekend of debrief and respite in Pittsburgh

June 2-4, campus ministers connected with the BRN, who serve students and universities across Pennsylvania and South Jersey, gathered in Pittsburgh, Pa., at the BRN’s Warren Mission House to recharge and debrief from the academic year. The campus ministers attended workshop style sessions to prepare for the next semester as well as enjoyed moments of respite and fun – including a trip to Top Golf!

Please, join us as we continue to pray for the next generation and our faithful campus ministers who toil for the sake of the gospel being known at the university level.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: BCM at Drexel University partners with other Christian clubs to reach ‘underserved’ graduate students

Baptist Campus Minister at Drexel University Brian Musser reflects on the challenges graduate students face and partnering with other Christian clubs and the BRN to serve this unique student population. Read More

Baptisms:

Great Commission Church in Philadelphia, Pa., witnesses one confessing Jesus as Lord through baptism

On June 4, Great Commission Church in Philadelphia, Pa., rejoiced over Brother Ray Mayo making a public confession of his faith in Jesus Christ through baptism. Please, join us in celebrating with Ray and the whole Great Commission church family!

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.