This Week in the BRN Family 07.04.24

Youth students grow through summer camp experiences; BRN evangelism grants fuel outreach opportunities; and we celebrate new life through baptism - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

July 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:

Breathe Community Church students pour into younger generation

During the week of June 21, youth students from Breathe Community Church in Coatesville, Pa., spent their time volunteering at the Camp at Old Mill. Mason and Joey helped with fishing and creek time, while Sarah served as a counselor for the five and six-year-olds. What a blessing to see the next generation serving and pouring into those younger than them!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Community event opens door for gospel convos in Natrona Heights

Members of Harvest Community Church – Natrona Heights, a church plant located in Natrona Heights, Pa., engaged in at least 50 gospel conversations during a community outreach, just weeks before open house event. Read More

Memorial Baptist Church students return from week long camp

Last week, students from Memorial Baptist Church in Gettysburg, Pa., returned from a week long camp put on by Go Tell Ministries. According to a Facebook post shared by Memorial Baptist, “The Lord worked tremendously in the lives of students and leaders this week! Our prayer is that students keep the spiritual disciplines they committed to this week.”

Please join us in rejoicing over the work the Lord has done in these students’ lives and praying for His work to continue.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Pittsburgh church plant hosts first block party at new property

Reclamation Church New Kensington, a church plant just outside of Pittsburgh, hosted its very first block party at its new property on June 9. Read More

Zion Church sends 55 youth students to Word of Life camp

This past week, Zion Church sent 55 youth students to camp! High school students will participate in Word of Life Island, while junior high students will partake in Word of Life Ridge. Please join us in praying for these students and for the Lord to work in their lives while they are at camp!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Fellowship CrossPoint Church expands global and local reach

BRN evangelism grant funds aid Fellowship CrossPoint Church in Chesterfield, New Jersey, in expanding their global and local reach through Hunger Stops With Us outreach. Read More

Reclamation Church Greensburg hits the trail to build community

Reclamation Church in Greensburg, Pa., has a new ministry called the Journey Club, which gives church members the opportunity to fellowship together while hiking or enjoying other outdoor activities. On June 30, after church, the Journey Club went on their first summer hike. The group enjoyed a five mile in-and-out loop on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. What a wonderful way to spend time in God’s creation with fellow believers!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Covenant Community Church partners with NC team for outreach

June 23-26, Covenant Community Church in Harrisburg, Pa., partnered with a team from North Carolina as well as the BRN and KBA for a week of outreach events. Read More

Baptisms:

A story of faith continues at Steel City Church

A few weekends ago, Steel City Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., witnessed a young man named Greg declare his faith in Jesus through baptism! Greg has been a loved member of Steel City for years and grew up in a household of faith.

He was baptized as a baby, which marked the beginning of his faith story. Now, years later, his story continues with him taking the bold step to publicly profess his faith through baptism. Praise the Lord for Greg! Please join us in celebrating with him and the whole Steel City Church family.

Collegiate Corner:

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Changing the Campus at Drexel University

Each week over 400 Drexel University students are invited to share a meal on campus provided through a Baptist Resource Network (BRN) evangelism grant. Read More

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.