This Week in the BRN Family 09.01.22

College ministries across Pennsylvania and South Jersey kick off a new semester with welcome week events and share the gospel with the next generation - it's a week full of opportunities in the BRN family!

September 1, 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:

BRN affiliated campus ministries host welcome week events to engage new and returning students

In the past two weeks, many college students in Pennsylvania and South Jersey have stepped foot on a campus, either for their first year of university life or to return for another year. Baptist Resource Network (BRN) collegiate missionaries across the PA/SJ region have jumped into action to welcome and serve these students!

Here’s how some of our collegiate missionaries are loving the next generation:

Steel City Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., gives Pitt students a sweet welcome

On Aug. 27, the Pittsburgh, Pa., church gave away free Rita’s ice cream to University of Pittsburgh students as a way to welcome them back to the city and campus. The church also hosted a tailgate event at the university’s opening football game!

BASIC students at Clarion University start the semester with intentional conversations

To start the new semester at Clarion University in Clarion, Pa., students a part of BASIC Campus Ministry gave away lemonade and used Soularium at their Activities Day Fair to start conversations about God and share the gospel!

NewLife at PennWest California jump starts their semester with outreach

NewLife campus ministry at PennWest California, formerly known as California University of Pennsylvania, kicked off their semester with giveaways, games and a Luau! These outreach events allowed student leaders to engage with new students and invite them to come and hear about Jesus!

Penn State NewLife in State College, Pa., kicks off welcome week with free breakfast

During Penn State’s welcome week, the BRN affiliated campus ministry, NewLife, made sure students started their first day of classes off right with free breakfast. The group also blessed students with a trip to the Penn State Creamery and free ice cream!

NewLife campus ministry in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, hosts fun-filled welcome week for students at LHU

The Big Woods Bible Church affiliated campus ministry hosted several events for Lock Haven University students during the college’s welcome week. Including first day of school pictures, lawn games, ultimate frisbee, a block party and an all campus worship night!

How to Pray for our College Ministries:

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.