This Week in the BRN Family 11.14.24

Baptists on Mission deliver Christmas backpacks for PA/SJ churches; BRN churches pack boxes for OCC; and we welcome a new member to our team - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

November 15, 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:

Baptists on Mission deliver truckload of backpacks to bless PA/SJ churches

BRN partners and dear friends Dewey and Kathie Aiken from Baptists on Mission traveled from North Carolina to Pennsylvania to deliver a truck load of backpacks donated by NC Baptists as part of their Appalachian Christmas Outreach. These backpacks were donated to bless churches in Pennsylvania/South Jersey who can distribute them to those in need in their communities. Each backpack is packed with warm clothing, canned food, hygiene products, age-appropriate toys, candy, and a Bible. Even amidst severe hurricane relief efforts in their own state, our friends in North Carolina have blessed us!

Please join us in thanking the Lord for these wonderful ministry partners. Please also consider returning the love by giving to Hurricane Helene efforts or going and serving with our Disaster Relief teams. Learn more here.

Garwood Baptist packs 113 boxes for Operation Christmas Child

On Nov. 10, Garwood Baptist in Daisytown, Pa., hosted a packing party to fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. The church partnered with two local organizations, Beth-Center Leo Club and the BCR Lions, to pack a total of 113 boxes. What a great way to bless those around the world as a community!

ACTEENS at Wrightsdale Baptist Church pack shoeboxes for Christmas outreach

During their weekly gathering, ACTEENS at Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., prepared shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. The 19 girls worked together to shop for items and then packed them into boxes for children around the globe. We love to see the next generation investing in missions!

Rolling Hills Church partners with local law enforcement for youth event

Earlier this week, Rolling Hills Church in Verona, Pa., welcomed officers from Penn Hills Police Department to speak to their youth about their profession. Students had the opportunity to hear from Detective Johe and Deputy Chief Hudzinski and ask questions about what they do. What a great opportunity to partner with local law enforcement and to pray for those who protect and serve!

Renaissance Church installs three new leaders

On Sunday, Nov. 10, Renaissance Church in Pittsburgh celebrated the installation of three new leaders: Joey as their Deacon over Facilities and Paul and Jeremy as elders. Praise the Lord for these men who choose to use their gifts and time to faithfully serve the bride of Christ! What a blessing you are to Renaissance Church! Please join us in praying for Joey, Paul, and Jeremy as they step into these new roles.

Baptisms:

Riverbend Community Church rejoices over four baptisms

During their Sunday worship on Nov. 10, Riverbend Community Church in Allentown, Pa., witnessed four individuals make a public profession of their faith in Jesus through baptism. Praise the Lord for these baptisms! Please join us in celebrating with those who were baptized and the entire Riverbend family!

A father and three daughters are baptized at Shannon Creek Baptist Church in New Florence, Pa.

It was an extra special Sunday at Shannon Creek Baptist Church in New Florence, Pa., on Nov. 10 as the church witnessed a father and his three daughters be baptized! Praise the Lord for this family saying “yes” to Jesus! Please join us in celebrating with them and the whole Shannon Creek Baptist Church family.

Welcome to the BRN Family:

Welcome to the BRN Family: Christy Kraus, BRN VBS Consultant

Christy Kraus, newly appointed VBS Consultant for the Baptist Resource Network (BRN), got her start in kids ministry when she was just a teen, serving as a Sunday school helper and working with the children at her then church.

That passion for pouring into the next generation followed Kraus all the way through school and into her adult years as she eventually found herself working in the public school system as a student support technician for children with special needs.

During this time, Kraus and her husband were attending Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, and actively serving with the church’s kid and youth ministries. 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.