This Week in the BRN Family 07.07.22

BRN churches create unforgettable VBS experiences; a New Jersey church comes to the rescue after a bike is stolen; and churches light up the 4th of July weekend with outreach events - it's a fun week in the BRN Family!

July 7, 2022
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:

Cornerstone Fellowship ends Vacation Bible School in a sweet way

The Erial, New Jersey, church wrapped up its week-long VBS in a tasty way by treating every child and helper to shaved ice and a time of fellowship!

Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., hosts ‘unforgettable’ VBS

The Peach Bottom, Pa., church hosted 130 students and young people from PreK-12 for their “Spark Studios” VBS last week. Nearly 50 volunteers gave their time to share the good news of Jesus with the children that came and their families!

Zion Church sends teens to Word of Life Island

A group of teens from Zion Church in Clarion, Pennsylvania, traveled to Word of Life Island in Schroon, New York, to grow in their faith and enjoy fellowship with other teens! Please pray for these young people as they grow closer to the Lord!

Delval Church in Willingboro, New Jersey, steps up to show Christ’s love by replacing a stolen bike

After hearing that a young man in their community was devastated by his bike being stolen, Delval’s youth ministry stepped up to provide a new bike for the young man!

College ministry is not always a ‘revolving door’; BRN collegiate missionary shares the joys of long-term discipleship

Collegiate missionary, Brian Musser, shares how his walk with one Drexel student started in undergrad and continued all the way through her graduate school commencement. more

ECC serves the Edinboro Community at Boro with the Works event

Over the 4th of July holiday, Edinboro Community Church (ECC) served its neighbors at the town’s annual Boro with the Works event. They had crafts for the kiddos and invites to church for the families!

Streamsong Church hosts mission team from NC

Last week, a mission team from North Carolina arrived in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to partner with Streamsong Church in loving and serving their community!

‘Somebody must care.’ George Liele award supports mission trip to Zambia

George Liele Scholarship helps fund mission trip to Zambia, sending 21 African American pastors – many from the BRN – to minister to those in Africa. more

Faithbridge Community Church fills the streets with food, fun and fellowship for its community block party

The McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, church hosted a block party outside their church building on June 29. They offered food, face painting, music, games and fellowship to all those who attended!

Baptisms

First Baptist Church of Delaware (FBCDE) baptizes two after child dedication

After a child dedication, Pastor Ron Larson baptized the childrens’ parents, who decided to take the next step in following Jesus. Praise God for our new brother and sister in Christ and their precious little ones!

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.