This Week in the BRN Family 10.26.23

Churches utilize BRN evangelism grants for concerts, VBS, and other creative outreach events and we celebrate the baptisms of four new brothers and sisters - it's a great week in the BRN family!

October 26, 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:

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Fishers of men at Watershed Church make fishers of fish at creative outreach event

Watershed Church in Philadelphia, Pa., brought a little country to its urban region by hosting a fishing clinic for both parents and children. Those in attendance learned the basics of fishing and heard the gospel! Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Three little ones come to Christ through VBS at Great Commission Church

During the last week of July, Great Commission Church in Philadelphia, Pa., saw three young ones come to the Lord through Vacation Bible School. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church cultivates community for Ukrainian refugees at festival

At the end of summer, First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church hosted a Ukrainian Family Festival for nearly 600 guests, including many new Ukrainian refugees. Read More

BRN Executive Board and director recognized as ‘patriotic employer’ by U.S. Office of Security of Defense

On the eve of the 2023 Accelerate Conference (Oct. 2), Baptist Resource Network (BRN) Executive Board and BRN Executive Director Dr. Barry Whitworth were presented with a certificate by Seth Benge, husband of BRN Executive Assistant Elizabeth Benge, on behalf of the U.S. Office of the Security of Defense. The certificate was in recognition of the BRN being a patriotic employer and support to Elizabeth during Seth’s recent deployment.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Summer event leads to 50+ exploring Christianity at Crossway Church

Back in July, Crossway Church hosted their Annual Independence Day Celebration for the Millersville, Pa., community, which resulted in over 50 people enrolling in their Christianity Explored course to learn more about Jesus. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: First Baptist Church of Rochester hosts special outreach concert

Over the summer, community members in Rochester, Pa., heard the gospel through word and song at First Baptist Church of Rochester, as the church hosted a Chosen Road concert. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Adventure Camp at Fellowship CrossPoint Church points kids to Jesus

Every summer, Fellowship CrossPoint Church in Chesterfield, New Jersey, hosts a Kids Adventure Camp to help connect local kids to the love of Christ. Read More

Baptisms

Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, celebrates four more coming to the Lord through baptism

On Sunday, Oct. 22, Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., celebrated four more coming to Christ through baptism! With the addition of these baptisms, the church has now seen 22 baptisms in the last seven months. Praise the Lord for all of these new brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in celebrating with these brothers and sisters as well as the whole Restored Church family!

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.