This Week in the BRN Family 11.03.22

BRN churches get creative with Halloween outreach; We welcome a new BRN pastor; and several take the next step in following Jesus through baptism - it's a thrilling week in the BRN family!

November 3, 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:

Great Commission Church trades ‘tricks’ for ‘trunks’ to love its community through Trunk or Treat event

On Oct. 31, the Philadelphia, Pa., church transformed its parking lot into a Trick or Treat experience for local kids and families. Church members decorated their cars, passed out candy and loved their neighbors!

Philadelphia Bible Church International puts the ‘Hallelujah’ in Halloween

Philadelphia Bible Church International (PBCI) hosted a fun night for families called “Hallelujah Night.” This event gave children, and adults, the opportunity to show off their costumes, play games and, of course, earn some candy!

Faithbridge Community Church in McKees Rocks, Pa., continues warming station tradition

During Trick or Treat in the McKees Rocks community, Faithbridge Community Church provided campfires for families to gather around as well as drinks, hot dogs and crafts – the event has become an annual tradition for the church!

Families at Keystone Montgomeryville in North Wales, Pa., ‘carve’ up a night of fun

The North Wales, Pa., church recently hosted a Pumpkin Carving Night for its families with children in elementary school. Parents and children dressed in themed costumes and enjoyed a time of carving pumpkins and fellowship!

BRN pastors across Pennsylvania/South Jersey gather to hear about #MultiplyPASJ effort

The #MultiplyPASJ pathway focuses on Kingdom-minded leaders collaborating together to achieve multiplication beyond their own capacity!

For the past three days, the BRN’s Executive Director Barry Whitworth and Pastor Joe Velarde of Riverbend Community Church have been meeting with pastors across Pennsylvania and South Jersey to discuss how the #MultiplyPASJ effort can help their churches grow and have a greater impact on God’s Kingdom.

Mississippi Baptist Convention ministers to the needs of Pennsylvania pastors and wives

On Sept. 24-25, the Mississippi Baptist Convention sponsored a Pastor and Wives Retreat for the Keystone Baptist Association. The retreat was attended by 30 pastors and wives from across Pennsylvania, including some BRN pastors!

Shannon Creek Baptist Church tackles feeding more than 50 football players and sharing the gospel

Shannon Creek Baptist Church in New Florence, Pa., recently provided the United Valley High School football team and their coaches with a home cooked meal. The church fed more than 50 players plus their coaches. After the meal, they shared the gospel with the students and a message reminding them of God’s goodness and His plan for their lives!

Welcome to the BRN:

Pastor Brandon Hancock | Millcreek Community Church

Before God brought Pastor Brandon Hancock and his family to Millcreek Community Church (MCC), he was serving at Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole, Florida. He served there for nine years, first as the Student Ministry Pastor and then as the Small Group and Discipleship Pastor. It was just last year when Hancock felt God moving him to pray with his wife, Emily, about where He would have them go next. more

Baptisms:

Several share their testimonies and are baptized at Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

During worship on Sunday, Oct. 30, Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven, Pa., celebrated the baptisms of three individuals! Please join us in praising God for our new brother and sisters in Christ!

Millcreek Community Church in Erie, Pa., baptizes three

On Oct. 30, Millcreek Community Church (MCC) in Erie, Pa., celebrated new life in Christ with three baptisms! Please join us in welcoming our new brother and sisters in Christ!

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.