This Week in the BRN Family 10.03.24

Pro-lifers rally outside Pennsylvania's capitol for PA's March for Life; BRN churches care for their neighborhoods; and we celebrate baptisms and ministry milestones - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

October 3, 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:

BRN Executive Director offers opening prayer at Pennsylvania March for Life rally

A little rain didn’t stop thousands of pro-lifers from rallying in front of Pennsylvania’s capitol building in Harrisburg on Sept. 23 for the fourth annual Pennsylvania March for Life. What may have been PA’s largest March for Life yet, featured remarks from several state legislators, encouragement from PA Family Institute and other leading pro-life organizations, and an opening prayer from the BRN’s very own Executive Director, Dr. Barry Whitworth.

Read more about PA’s 2024 March for Life at pafamily.org.

Pantry at The Foundry receives recognition from Feed America

On a normal week, The Foundry in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, serves 50-65 families. Included in that are a mix of refugee families, mostly from Ukraine. The Foundry has been designated by Feed America as one of the healthy pantries in the Philadelphia region. It is also one of the few pantries that allow clients to shop for groceries. Read More

Outreach ministry at PCC looks to give neighbors a ‘Seat at the Table’

“Seat at the Table” is an outreach ministry hosted by Proclamation Community Church (PCC) in Philadelphia that provides an opportunity for believers to be a listening ear to those in their community who need it the most. This ministry not only keeps Proclamation in tune with their community, but it also grants them the opportunity to meet deep needs with the gospel. Pastor Gerald Waters and PCC have been running “Seat at the Table” for three years now.

Watershed Church takes church outside with neighborhood clean up effort

Watershed Church in Philadelphia took worship to the streets on Sunday, Sept. 29. The church spent the morning showing the love of Christ to their neighborhood by cleaning up around Cook-Wissahickon School and Kendrick Rec. Through their efforts, they gathered over 300 gallons of trash and debris!

Spirit and Truth Conference at Delval Baptist Church makes room for powerful worship

Delaware Valley (Delval) Baptist Church in Willingboro, New Jersey, hosted people from their church community and the surrounding church communities, such as Calvary Christian Church, for their Spirit and Truth Worship and Arts Conference on Sept. 28. The night was filled with impactful testimonies and powerful worship as those in attendance offered up their voices and talents to the Lord. The event also featured Deborah Carolina as a guest worship leader. What a beautiful night of the family of God worshiping together!

Baptisms:

Keystone North Church celebrates 12 going public with their faith

On Sunday, Sept. 29, Keystone North Church in Harleysville, Pa., saw 12 people go public with their faith in Jesus by being baptized! Praise the Lord for these brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in celebrating with them and the entire Keystone North Church family!

Ministry Milestones:

PBCI celebrates 23 years of God’s faithfulness

On Sept. 29, Philadelphia Bible Church International (PBCI) celebrated 23 years of God’s faithfulness! The church was encouraged with a message from guest pastor Rev. Hal Hopkins and a special time of worship. After worship, members of PBCI gathered for a time of food and fellowship. Congratulations on 23 years PBCI! We are so grateful for you and the many ways the Lord has used you.

Iglesia Bautista Latina is recognized for 20 year ministry milestone

Iglesia Bautista Latina in Glenside, Pa., recently celebrated their 20th anniversary! To commemorate this wonderful milestone, the church and Senior Pastor Rafael Torres were presented a plaque from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) by NAMB Church Planting Catalyst Todd Beel.

Redemption City Church celebrates seven year milestone

On Sept. 22, Redemption City Church in Philadelphia celebrated seven years of ministry! To mark the ministry milestone, the church worshipped together and heard testimonies of God’s faithfulness through the years. Congratulations Redemption City on seven years! We are so grateful for the ways the Lord continues to use you for the sake of His gospel.

In Memoriam:

Emeritus Roosevelt Alston, Sr.

Emeritus Roosevelt Alston, Sr. went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 13, 2024 at the age of 92. Roosevelt Alston formerly served as the senior pastor at Davis Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia. He was beloved by many in his church and in his life. A viewing and home going celebration were held for Pastor Alston on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Davis Temple Baptist Church.

The BRN expresses its deepest condolences to Pastor Alston’s family, friends, and loved ones. Please join us in praying for them during this season of grieving. Read More

Richard Louis Grote

Richard Grote went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 27, 2024, after wrestling with heart problems for over 20 years. He passed with his wife, Fanny, by his side. Richard was a member of Country & Town Baptist Church in Mechanicsburg, Pa. Additionally, he assisted in the administrative office at the BRN, where Fanny also worked. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at Country & Town Baptist Church.

The BRN expresses its deepest condolences to Fanny as well as those who were deeply loved by Richard. Please join us in praying for Richard’s family, friends, and loved ones during this season of grieving. 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.