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:

This Week in the BRN Family 10.19.23

BRN churches host conferences and workshops; PA/SJ ministries celebrate life and serving; and we welcome new brothers and sisters into the body of Christ - it's a great week in the BRN Family!

October 19, 2023
Macala Mays

Delval Church in Willingboro, NJ, encourages those with creative gifts at 2023 ‘Spirit and Truth’ Conference

It was a weekend filled with Spirit and Truth at Delaware Valley Baptist Church in Willingboro, New Jersey! From Friday, Oct. 13, to Saturday, Oct. 14, Delval hosted their 2023 “Spirit and Truth” Worship and Arts Conference to inspire and equip those who are passionate about using their creative gifts to worship God and serve others.

Reclamation Church Monroeville devotes week to community service

Last week (Oct. 8-13), was Serve Week for Reclamation Church Monroeville! The church spent the whole week serving the Monroeville, Pa., community and sharing the love of Christ. Projects included yard work, washing windows, cleaning inside and outside, and some administrative tasks. What a great picture of the body in action!

NewLife students at Cal U spend weekend apple picking and celebrating

NewLife campus ministry at PennWest California University in California, Pa., continued their annual tradition of apple picking last weekend. Students grabbed their baskets and enjoyed an afternoon of collecting delicious apples and good company. The weekend was made extra special when a NewLife student won homecoming queen during the university’s big homecoming game!

Send Network hosts Español Training at Riverbend Community Church

On Saturday, Oct. 14, Riverbend Community Church in Allentown, Pa., hosted a Send Network Español Training for Hispanic pastors and ministry leaders in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. Church planting resident Wilson Tuero, who is connected with Riverbend, ran point for the regional event. This was Send Network’s third Español Training of the year. What great Kingdom expanding work!

Harvest Church participates in 2023 March for Life

On Monday, Oct. 16, Harvest Church in Kittanning, Pa., loaded up a bus and headed to Harrisburg for the 2023 March For Life. Those in attendance stood with signs in the capitol square and voiced support for the voiceless, heard from pro-life state representatives and leaders, prayed, and marched for life!

Baptisms

Edgewood Church sees several commit to Christ and the Church through baptism and membership

On Sunday, Oct. 15, Edgewood Church in Beaver Falls, Pa., rejoiced over new life and new members. Several individuals took the next step in their walk with Jesus by being baptized, while others committed to the Edgewood Church family by being inducted as members. Please join us in celebrating with these new brothers and sisters in Christ as well as the whole Edgewood Church family!

In Memoriam

Rev. Garry Cobert

The BRN extends its deepest condolences to Rev. Garry’s loved ones during this difficult time. Please join us in praying for Rev. Garry’s family and friends as well as our brothers and sisters at First Baptist Church of Carmichaels.

View Full Obituary

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.