This Week in the BRN Family 07.20.23

BRN churches host community cookouts and summer events; BRN team members prayer walk and exegete Harrisburg, Pa., communities; and several celebrate new life in Christ through baptism - it's an exciting week in the BRN family!

July 20, 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:

First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa., communes together with Church Family Cookout

On Saturday, July 15, First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa., hosted a church-wide picnic to edify each other and build up the body of Christ. The church family enjoyed barbecue, live music, swimming, beach volleyball, mini golf, swings, slides, basketball, and even a dunk tank! Rev. Dr. Jerome F. Coleman, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Crestmont, commented on the event, saying, “We had a wonderful time in the Lord, fellowshipping with one another and hanging out in the Lord.” Read More

Hillview Baptist Church invests in Williamsport, Pa., community through Community Cookout Night

Fellowship, food, and fun were what people enjoyed at Hillview Baptist Church’s Community Cookout Night on July 19. The event gave the church an opportunity to provide a meal and a time of fellowship for their neighbors in Williamsport, Pa.

Keystone North Church hosts Party in the Park for North Wales, Pa., community

On Friday, July 14, Keystone North Church in North Wales, Pa., filled a local park with inflatable slides, games, a rock wall, and food. The Party in the Park event allowed the church to bless its community and build relationships with each other and their neighbors!

St. John Memorial Baptist Church brings Christmas in July to Philly

Last week, it was Christmas in July at St. John Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa., as the church gave away gifts to community members. From printers to kids toys, the church blessed several of its neighbors!

Windham Summit Bible Church in Rome, Pa., blesses summer school students

Windham Summit Bible Church in Rome, Pa., recently took time out of their day to serve their community by packing lunches for local summer school students!

West Hills Baptist Church JOY group cruises around Pittsburgh, Pa.

The JOY (Just Older Youth) group at West Hills Baptist Church in Coraopolis, Pa., hit the river for a day trip on July 19. The group cruised around Pittsburgh on the Gateway Clipper and enjoyed a day filled with fellowship and fun!

BRN team members gather to exegete Harrisburg, Pa., communities and celebrate team member milestones

Members of the BRN Team took time out of the office to prayer walk and exegete four different communities in Harrisburg on July 20. Beforehand, BRN Executive Director Barry Whitworth challenged the team to consider Numbers 13 and to ask what “fruit” could be found in the area.

Following the BRN team’s time of exegeting and prayer, the team celebrated BRN Executive Director Barry Whitworth and Beth, his wife and BRN ministry wives consultant, for their 45th wedding anniversary! Barry and Beth, congratulations on 45 beautiful years! We are so blessed by the ministry you do together!

Baptisms:

Eight are baptized following Vacation Bible School at Central Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Central Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Pa., baptized a total of eight people at their VBS wind-up during the week of July 16. Please join us in celebrating with these new brothers and sisters in Christ!

Edinboro Community Church in Edinboro, Pa., celebrates new members and new life

On July 16, Edinboro Community Church in Edinboro, Pa., celebrated new members and new life through baptism! Please join us in welcoming these new members and celebrating with this sister in Christ!

Faithbridge Community Church in McKees Rocks, Pa., sees six baptized during annual summer block party

During their annual summer block party on July 13, Faithbridge Community Church in McKees Rocks, Pa., baptized six individuals and served hundreds of others with love and joy. Please join us in celebrating with these new brothers and sisters in Christ!

Welcome to the BRN Family:

The First Baptist Church of Ulysses | Ulysses, Pa.

The First Baptist Church of Ulysses is a historic Main Street church in the borough of Ulysses, Pennsylvania. The town itself is nestled in a picturesque valley in the wilds area of North Central Pennsylvania. The church was first founded in 1833, and faithfully served the community until 2018. Following the church reopening its doors in July 2021, Rev. Ray Rohland was called to serve as the interim pastor in October 2022. At this time, the church expressed interest in future affiliation with the BRN, and, in 2023, officially joined the BRN family! 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.