This Week in the BRN Family 10.23.25

Philadelphia pastors gather to be encouraged and equipped; BRN churches continue seasonal outreach; and we celebrate new life in Christ through baptism - it's a great week in the BRN Family!

October 23, 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:

Philadelphia ministry couples encouraged and equipped through Small Church Conference at Ezekiel Baptist

Pastors and their wives who serve small churches in the Philadelphia area were invited to Ezekiel Baptist Church last weekend for a Small Church Conference. Hosted by Dr. Brian King, senior pastor at Ezekiel, and his wife Cynthia, the aim of the conference was to encourage and equip these pastors in ways specific to their ministry contexts.

Pastors and their wives were encouraged by Dr. Kyle Canty, NAMB Send City Missionary, and his wife Pamela, Dr. Eric Mason of Epiphany Fellowship, Pastor John Cope, Send Network Director for PA/SJ, Dr. Mark Dance, Executive Director of Arkansas Baptist State Convention, and his wife Janet, and many other leaders and fellow pastors. What a great weekend of encouragement and partnership!

Pumpkin Party provides connection opportunities at New Horizon Church

Seeking to create a space in their community filled with light, hope, safety, and fun during the Fall season, New Horizon Church in Mars, Pa., hosted a Pumpkin Party on Oct. 18. The church had a great time connecting with their neighbors and providing a place for families to enjoy time together, while also hearing about Jesus!

Women and men experience weekend full of discipleship at Delval

Last weekend, women from Delaware Valley Baptist Church in Willingboro, New Jersey, traveled to St. Matthew’s Baptist Church in Harrisburg, Pa., for a time of retreating and encouragement, while the men of Delval gathered in the church parking lot for a “bondfire,” where they spent time building each other up. What a full weekend of iron sharpening iron!

Reclamation Church Monroeville volunteers log 1,000+ hours for Serve Week

Volunteers from Reclamation Church Monroeville logged more than 1,000 service hours at 15+ project sites during the church’s Serve Week! Throughout the week, volunteers completed the following projects around the city of Pittsburgh:

Ministered to the city’s homeless population
Completed renovations at three local organizations
Assembled care packages for hospitalized families
Packed 10,000 meals for food insecure families around the globe
Hosted a block party
Served their three church plants in Greensburg, Welch, and New Kensington

What an awesome way to be the hands and feet of Jesus to your city!

Men at Bedrock Church Fishtown hit the trails for weekend retreat

Men at Bedrock Church Fishtown hit the trails last weekend for a good ole fashioned camping trip! Men of all ages enjoyed hiking, fireside conversations, fellowship with brothers in Christ, and a refreshing night away from the city.

Keystone Fellowship South Jersey blesses community with Fall Family Fun Day

Keystone Fellowship South Jersey in Sewell, New Jersey, was blessed with a gorgeous Fall day on Oct. 18 for their Fall Family Fun Day. As the beautiful weather ushered people outside, Keystone was ready with games, food, family friendly activities, music, and volunteers ready to connect with community members.

BRN ethnic pastors foster ‘deeper fellowship’ at ACC25

At the Baptist Resource Network’s Oct. 7 Accelerate Conference, ethnic pastors gathered with fellow ethnic ministry leaders and BRN Ethnic Church Advancement Consultant Noelson Chery to encourage one another and foster deeper fellowship.

Baptisms:

Six publicly proclaim their faith in Jesus at First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church

On Sunday, Oct. 5, First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Philadelphia witnessed six individuals publicly proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior and be baptized! Praise the Lord for these brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in rejoicing with them and the entire First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church family.

Reclamation Church New Kensington celebrates one year anniversary and seven baptisms

On Sunday, Oct. 19, Reclamation Church in New Kensington, Pa., not only rejoiced over their first anniversary as a church, but they also celebrated seven baptisms! The entire service was filled with worship, gratitude, and stories of God’s faithfulness. Praise the Lord for this ministry milestone and for these seven individuals who publicly proclaimed their faith in Jesus! Please join us in celebrating with the entire Reclamation Church New Kensington family over these incredible blessings!

Ministry Milestones:

New Hope Baptist Church International celebrates 13 years of ministry

On Sunday, Oct. 12, BRN Ethnic Church Advancement Consultant Noelson Chery and his wife Edna visited New Hope Baptist Church International in Philadelphia to celebrate the church’s 13th anniversary with Pastor Jackson Kanmoh and his wife Tammy. What a wonderful ministry milestone to celebrate! Congratulations New Hope Baptist Church International and Pastor Kanmoh! We are so grateful for your faithfulness to the Gospel!

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.