This week we have a special edition of This Week in the BRN Family! In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, we asked a few BRN pastors and ministry leaders to share what they are most thankful for as well as a favorite Scripture verse for this time of year. We pray these expressions of thankfulness will bless and encourage you this holiday season!
Happy Thanksgiving, BRN Family!
John Barkley, Senior Pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church, Butler, PA:
“This Thanksgiving I am thankful for both my personal family and my church family. We have been through a period of adversity this past year, but we have also seen God do a work in Butler through Hillcrest Baptist Church. This Thanksgiving I give praise to God that when my eyes are on Him, He always sees us through.”
Verse for the Season:
“Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.” – Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
E. Solomon Ernst, Mission Pastor at First International Baptist Church of Trenton, Trenton, NJ:
“Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for all our blessings. I am thankful for my wife, children, ministry, NAMB, Send Network, BRN, and the Keystone Church for support and blessings.”
Verse for the Season:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Daniel McCrosky, Senior Pastor at Expressway Baptist Church, Freeport, PA:
“[I’m thankful for] my wonderful, smart, funny, committed, Jesus-loving, fearless, faithful, caring, organized, ride-or-die wife, Kathy. Married for 37 years. Never a doubt and never a despair. The faithful saints at Expressway Baptist Church in Freeport, Pa. For this love and zeal for Christ and their sacrificial giving to the church and the Lottie Moon Christmas and Annie Armstrong Easter Offerings. For patiently and lovingly allowing me to pastor this sweet, Bible-loving congregation.
Most for [the] triune work of God of salvation in my life. [I’m] constantly reminded of that Andre Crouch song that says, ‘I don’t know why Jesus loves me. I don’t know why He cared. I don’t know why He sacrificed His life but I am glad He did.'”
Verse for the Season:
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” – Titus 3:3-7 (ESV)
Ken Sachs, Mission Pastor at God’s Field Church, Ambridge, PA:
“I am thankful this year for my family – Akiko (my wife) and Gabriel and Christopher (my sons) – and my health. I praise God for the grace that he has shown my family and me. I also praise God for grace in multiplying God’s Field Church this past year, and with also blessing us and blessing those who are stepping up to serve in areas of the church that they never thought they would. They are leaning on God for strength and guidance.”
Verse for the Season:
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1 (ESV)
Dan O’Deens, Mission Pastor, Breathe Community Church, Coatesville, PA:
“I am most grateful that God continues to reveal to me that his ways are higher than my ways. That the ’smaller way’ might be more indicative of the ‘Jesus Way.’ I am blessed to have an amazing physical family: my amazing wife, Gay, four married adult children, and 10 (and counting) grandchildren. I am equally grateful for a spiritual family – Breathe Community Church. That God would entrust me to lead a small group of people to repurpose and restart a church, see it multiply, and get healthy is such a privilege.”
Verse for the Season:
“Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone…and may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Galatians 6:10 & 14 (NLT)
Christy Kraus, BRN VBS Consultant and Director of Kids’ Ministry, Wrightsdale Baptist Church, Peach Bottom, PA:
“This year, I am particularly thankful for my husband. He has an incredible ability to make me laugh and brings me so much joy. I truly cherish the gift that he is to me.”
Verse for the Season:
“Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving; let’s shout triumphantly to him in song. For the Lord is a great God…” – Psalm 95:1-3a (CSB)
Roger Manao, Senior Pastor, Philadelphia Bible Church International, Philadelphia, PA:
“I just would like to thank God for my wife, Alva Manao, and my two godly boys, Gerald and PJ. They are my greatest treasure and my prayer warriors faithfully serving alongside me. My sincere gratitude to God for our church Philadelphia Bible Church International, for their love and encouragement.”
Verse for the Season:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
Ken Miller, Senior Pastor, Bucks County Community Church, Langhorne, PA:
“There is so much that I have to be thankful for in life, health and faith, but when added all together it comes down to the Lord’s faithfulness in all these things. Great is thy faithfulness.”
Verse for the Season:
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” – 3 John 1:4 (ESV)
Michele Pilla, Founder/Executive Director of Wholesome Riches (Camden, NJ) and Pastor’s Wife:
“I am thankful for a great team of Camden, NJ, volunteers who are willing to learn and be discipled, who find purpose in working hard and serving their neighbors and who regularly go above and beyond the call of duty for the mission. We have prayed for this for years and God has so graciously answered our prayer and made this come to pass!”
Verse for the Season:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
Denny Adkinson, Senior Pastor, Walnut Creek Baptist Church, Erie, PA:
“I am grateful for my family who supports me and allows me to pastor our wonderful congregation. Also, I am grateful for our Walnut Creek family who strives to make disciples of all nations.”
Verse for the Season:
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1 (ESV)
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!
