This Week in the BRN Family 11.13.25

BRN churches receive backpacks from Baptists on Mission; Woven Women host first ever Arise-Breathe! gathering; and pastors gather at BRN hub for First Steps Gathering - it's a busy week in the BRN Family!

November 13, 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:

PA/SJ churches start to receive backpacks from Baptists on Mission for Appalachian Christmas Outreach

It’s that time of year again — time for Appalachian Christmas Outreach! Thanks to our partners from Baptists on Mission in North Carolina, our Pennsylvania/South Jersey churches are starting to receive backpacks filled with gifts, Bibles, essential items, and the Gospel to giveaway to those in need in their communities.

This week, Baptists on Mission volunteers — including Baptists on Mission On-Site Coordinators for the Pennsylvania Partnership Dewey and Kathie Aiken — delivered 400 backpacks to Harvest House Community Fellowship in Towanda, Pa. Volunteers from both Harvest House and Pastor Stan from Plaid Community Church in Pittston, Pa., pitched in to unload the backpacks and get them ready to distribute to neighbors in the Towanda area. Praise the Lord for Kingdom partnerships!

Pastors in Philly area enjoy 76ers pastoral blessing event

A number of pastors in the Philadelphia area recently enjoyed a BRN pastoral blessing event! Led by BRN Director of Church Advancement and Evangelism Dr. Larry Anderson, pastors gathered at the Xfinity Mobile Arena to enjoy a Philadelphia 76ers game and an evening of fellowship together.

Clarion combined youth group teams up with local partner for Bless the Block event and to pray for community

On Nov. 9, Momentum Youth Group, a joint youth group between First Baptist Church of Clarion and Zion Church in Clarion, Pa., teamed up with Love Inc. of Clarion County to participate in an outreach effort called Bless the Block.

During this event, students and leaders walked along Main Street and prayed for local businesses and their employees. They also hung door hangers to encourage and bless the community. What an awesome picture of the next generation laboring for the sake of the Gospel!

Woven Women encourage women to rest during first Arise-Breathe! gathering

On Nov. 8, BRN’s Woven Women hosted their first ever Arise – Breathe! gathering at Fellowship CrossPoint Church in Chesterfield, New Jersey. During the gathering, women heard encouraging messages from BRN Women’s Ministry Consultant Mary Landis and BRN Ministry Wives Consultant Beth Whitworth. The whole day was designed to give women a time to rest with fellow sisters in Christ before the busy holiday season. Thank you to the women who attended and to Fellowship CrossPoint Church for hosting this refreshing event!

Plaid Community Church blesses homeless population in Nanticoke area

On Nov. 1, members of Plaid Community Church in Shavertown, Pa., partnered with other local ministries and community groups to giveaway hoodies, blankets, gloves, and other items to the homeless population in the Nanticoke area. Volunteers also provided hot dogs and homemade soup. Over 200 were served throughout the day and two were led to Christ!

BRN hosts First Steps Gathering for Pennsylvania/South Jersey pastors and leaders

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, the Baptist Resource Network hosted several pastors and leaders for a First Steps Gathering at the BRN Hub in Harrisburg. First Steps Gatherings are designed to showcase ways the BRN can help churches accelerate Kingdom movement in PA/SJ. Want to join us for our next First Steps Gathering? Contact our Help Desk at [email protected] to learn more.

Prayer Breakfast in Lehigh Valley gives opportunity to 2026 Serve PA/SJ tour

Several pastors and leaders from the BRN attended the 2025 Lehigh Valley Prayer Breakfast on Nov. 13 at the Homewood Suites Hotel in the Allentown Bethlehem Center Valley. During this time, community and civic leaders led the group in a collective time of prayer, and it was the perfect opportunity to share about the upcoming Serve Lehigh Valley tour! Learn more about the BRN’s large-scale outreach initiative here: servepasj.com.

In Memoriam:

In Memoriam: Deborah Beswarick

Debbie Beswarick, 73, a woman of unwavering faith, passed away on November 9, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She is the beloved wife of David J. Beswarick for 52 years. Deb served as an Executive Board member for the Baptist Resource Network and at her home church, Harvest Church, Kittanning. A Memorial Service will be held at Harvest Church in Kittanning on Nov. 23, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Reception to follow.

The BRN expresses it’s sincerest condolences to David, Deb’s husband, her children and family, church family, and loved ones who will miss her presence and encouraging spirit. Deb will be deeply missed by her BRN Family. Please join us in praying for all those grieving the loss of this dear sister. Read the Full Obituary

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.