This Week in the BRN Family 11.16.23

BRN churches continue fall outreach events; we welcome in several new members to the BRN family; and new life through baptism is celebrated across PA and S. Jersey - it's a celebratory week in the BRN family!

November 16, 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:

Three Rivers Grace Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., welcomes new Minister of Students and Minister of Outreach

Last weekend, Three Rivers Grace Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., welcomed Ben Potter and Farshid Rezaee onto their ministry team! Ben, a Bible teacher and chaplain at Eden Christian Academy, will be serving as the church’s Minister of Students, while Farshid, a campus minister with the Pittsburgh Regional International Student Ministry (PRISM), will be serving as the Minister of Outreach. Congratulations Ben and Farshid! Your BRN family is praying for you as you step into these new roles and serve for the sake of the gospel!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: ECC sets up trick-or-treat stations to invite gospel conversations

On Oct. 31, Edinboro Community Church in Edinboro, Pa., set up trick-or-treat stations throughout their community to pass out candy, gospel bracelets, church info and, ultimately, to share the gospel with their neighbors. Read More

Women enjoy testimonies and tea at Edgewood Church in Beaver Falls, Pa.

Monday, Nov. 13, was a festive time for the ladies of Edgewood Church in Beaver Falls, Pa. Women at Edgewood and in the community were invited to a special Fall kickoff tea party, complete with tea, friends, and testimonies about what made them “fall” in love with Jesus!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: East Shore makes community connections through Fall Festival

On Oct. 28, East Shore Baptist Church in Harrisburg, Pa., hosted a Fall Festival with the intention of deepening connections with community members and sharing the gospel. Read More

BRN hosts Next Steps Gathering to welcome new pastors and churches

On Nov. 14, the Baptist Resource Network (BRN) hosted a First Steps Gathering at the BRN Hub in Harrisburg, Pa., for pastors and churches who are new to the BRN. It was a great time of learning more about the BRN, meeting new friends, gathering resources, and encouraging one another! Welcome to all of our new pastors and churches! We praise the Lord for your partnership!

Baptisms

First International Baptist Church of Trenton, New Jersey, celebrates a dozen baptisms in one weekend

On Sunday, Nov. 5, the First International Baptist Church of Trenton in Trenton, New Jersey, celebrated the baptism of 12 new brothers and sisters in Christ! First International Baptist Church partnered with Pastor Mark White and Keystone Fellowship of Montgomeryville to utilize their baptismal pool.

All those who were baptized, received a Bible donated by the BRN and were presented with a “new birth” certificate, to remind them of their citizenship in Heaven. Praise the Lord for these new brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in celebrating and praying for them.

Zion Church sees three publicly proclaim their faith in Christ

On Sunday, Nov. 12, Zion Church rejoiced with three individuals as they publicly proclaimed their faith in Christ through baptism! Praise the Lord for these baptisms! Please join us in celebrating with this new brother and these new sisters in Christ as well as the whole Zion Church family!

Welcome to the BRN Family

Dr. E. Solomon Ernst | First International Baptist Church of Trenton

Five years ago, Dr. E. Solomon Ernst preached at the installation service for his predecessor at First International Baptist Church of Trenton, not knowing that he would someday return to the church as their senior pastor.

“The immediate past pastor was like a little brother and a counselee to me. When he left last October, the church was without a pastor and the deacons called on me and other preachers to supply the pulpit every Sunday,” said Ernst. Read More

Pastor Will Land | Harvest Church – Kittanning

Harvest was it for Will Land. The Kittanning, Pennsylvania, church was the first church he ever seriously attended, where he was baptized and pursued membership and, now, Harvest is the church of his first pastorate.

“Its leaders have had a greater impact on my maturity through discipleship than anyone else,” said Land. “Until applying for the open executive pastor position, I previously was just a member at Harvest Church who had just been called into eldership. I have not previously worked in vocational ministry.” 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.