This Week in the BRN Family 08.07.25

BRN churches pour into the next generation through a variety of outreach opportunities; we celebrate baptisms; and we welcome a new member to our BRN Family - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

August 7, 2025
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:

One comes to Christ and many hear the gospel through VBS at First Haitian Metanoia

First Haitian Metanoia Baptist Church in Lansdowne, Pa., hosted its VBS from July 30-August 1. The church had approximately 80 participants for two days of activity (no activity on Thursday, July 31, due to rain) and one confession of faith! During the VBS, children learned what it means to magnify the Lord and a 16-year-old student professed her faith in Jesus on the first day! The closing ceremony took place on Sunday, Aug. 3, during First Haitian’s worship service, where Pastor Noelson Chery rededicated the youth to the Lord.

Greencastle Baptist Church partners with fellow local church for Family Fun Day

Last weekend, Greencastle Baptist Church in Greencastle, Pa., partnered with Shippensburg Community Church to help with their Family Fun Day. Greencastle volunteers hosted activities for the kids, served food and shared the gospel through conversations with community members. What a beautiful example of Kingdom partnership and believers coming together to further the Kingdom of God!

One-day VBS blesses both kids and parents at Christ Commission Ministries

On Aug. 2, Christ Commission Ministries in Berlin, New Jersey, hosted a one-day VBS for the kids in their community. As kids were learning what it means to magnify the Lord and hearing the Good News of Jesus, parents also had something to enjoy as they waited on their children. Christ Commission Ministries also provided food for the kids and parents. What a great way to bless the families in your community!

BRN Exec leaves Corry, Pa., church plant encouraged

BRN Executive Director Dr. Barry Whitworth and his wife Beth recently visited Harvest Community Church in Corry, Pa., to spend time with Senior Pastor Cam Atha and his wife Kara. Barry and Beth were encouraged to hear about what the Lord is doing in the Corry area and through Harvest Community Church. Keep up the great Kingdom work Pastor Cam and Harvest Community Church!

VBS at Redemption City encourages kids to ‘dive deep’ in their faith

Volunteers from Redemption City Church and Liberti Church Fairmount in Philadelphia brought the energy for a combined VBS July 27-30! During the VBS, kids in preschool-fifth grade learned how to “dive deep” in their faith, even among the waves. Volunteers led kids in lessons, games, and crafts, all while pointing them to Jesus!

Annual PBCI family retreat ends with confessions and baptisms

Philadelphia Bible Church International (PBCI) in Philadelphia recently retreated outside the city limits to the Bongiorno Conference Center for their annual family camp! The church spent time worshipping, learning, and resting together. During the retreat, some individuals confessed Jesus as Lord for the first time and six were baptized! Praise the Lord for these souls and for all He is doing through PBCI!

Baptisms:

Mt. Wolf Community Church rejoices over family baptism

Mt. Wolf Community Church in Mount Wolf, Pa., had an exciting Sunday on Aug. 3 as the church witnessed a family be baptized together! The Dentler family publicly proclaimed their faith in Jesus and were each baptized by Pastor Larry Baker. Praise the Lord for this family and their faith in Jesus! Please join us in celebrating with them and the entire Mt. Wolf Community Church family.

FBC Delaware starts August with baptism Sunday

On Sunday, Aug. 3, First Baptist Church of Delaware (FBCDE) in New Castle, Delaware, celebrated baptism as a brother in Christ went public with his faith in Jesus! Praise the Lord! Please join us in celebrating with him and the entire FBCDE family.

Restored Church inches closer to 100 baptisms

Getting closer to celebrating 100 baptisms over the course of four years, Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., witnessed another baptism this past Sunday! On Aug. 3, Restored Church had the pleasure of watching Kalia go public with her faith in Jesus. Praise the Lord for Kalia and her baptism! Please join us in rejoicing with her and the entire Restored Church family.

Welcome to the BRN Family:

Pastor Brendan Byham, Faith Community Church Lakeside

Pastor Brendan Byham got his first taste of ministry by serving at Jefferson Baptist Church in Jefferson, Pennsylvania. Following that ministry experience, he pursued a career in the foundation repair and waterproofing industry as both a sales representative and a service technician.

While working these jobs, he found another avenue for his sales skills by starting a Medicare sales business with his wife, Rhetta. Their Medicare business eventually became successful enough that Brendan was able to look for a part-time ministry opportunity. The decision to seek a bivocational pastoral position led him to Faith Community Church Lakeside in McMurray, Pennsylvania. 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.