This Week in the BRN Family 04.02.26

Churches serve their communities through springtime projects; college students go on mission over spring break; and we celebrate baptisms - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

April 2, 2026
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:

D-Life Training equips those at The Church of the Good Shepherd Cherry Hill

The Church of the Good Shepherd Cherry Hill, New Jersey, hosted BRN Director of Discipleship and Leadership Development David Ludwig for a D-Life Training on Saturday, March 21. It was a great day of equipping the church in how to live a disciple-making lifestyle and encouraging them to walk alongside fellow believers. The next day, Ludwig preached at The Church of the Good Shepherd. What an awesome weekend of equipping the saints!

If you’re church is interested in hosting a D-Life Training, please contact David Ludwig at [email protected].

First Haitian Metanoia Baptist Church spends time praying and sharing Jesus with neighbors

On Saturday, March 28, First Haitian Metanoia Baptist Church in Lansdowne, Pa., spent time in their community praying with their neighbors and spreading the Good News of Jesus. Many of those who went out to evangelize alongside Pastor Noelson Chery were students. Praise the Lord for the seeds sown during this time of prayer and evangelism!

Greencastle Baptist Church helps local youth baseball program prep field for gameday

Last weekend, Greencastle Baptist Church in Greencastle, Pa., spent the day helping the Mercersburg Youth Baseball program clean and prep their field for the upcoming season. What an awesome way to bless your community and share Christ’s love in a tangible way!

Baptists on Mission report 775 homes completed during Hurricane Helene relief efforts

Baptists on Mission in North Carolina recently shared an exciting update from their Hurricane Helene relief efforts: As of last week, Baptists on Mission volunteers have completed 775 homes, with 241 homes still in progress and 20 new homes being constructed!

Please join us in praising the Lord for this work and the volunteers who continue to faithfully serve in NC. Please pray for our partners at Baptists on Mission as they continue in their disaster relief efforts and bring the hope of Jesus to those in need.

Children and youth bring the story of Palm Sunday to life at First Baptist Church of Delaware

Kids and youth at First Baptist Church of Delaware in New Castle, Delaware, brought the streets of Jerusalem and the story of Palm Sunday to life on March 29. With palm branches in hand and costumes on, the kids sang a song of praise during worship and reminded their church family what the Easter season is all about.

BRN Executive Director worships with New Life Church of Toms River in New Jersey

On Sunday, March 22, New Life Church of Toms River in Toms River, New Jersey, was joined by BRN Executive Director Barry Whitworth and his wife Beth. Barry and Beth were warmly welcomed and enjoyed worshipping with the church as they continued their series through Romans. Thank you for hosting Barry and Beth, New Life Church!

Reclamation Church Monroeville hosts community block party just before Easter

During the weekend of Palm Sunday, Reclamation Church in Monroeville, Pa., hosted a block party for their community. Although the temperatures were a little chilly, the church still had a great time blessing their neighbors with games, sports, inflatable obstacle courses, food, and fellowship. What a great way to connect with your community just before Easter!

Baptisms:

Edgewood Church hears powerful testimonies and baptizes seven

Sunday, March 22, was a special day at Edgewood Church in Beaver Falls, Pa., as the church heard powerful testimonies of God’s faithfulness and witnessed seven baptisms. Praise the Lord for these stories and baptisms! Please join us in rejoicing with these individuals and the entire Edgewood Church family.

Three are baptized at Reclamation Church Monroeville

On Sunday, March 22, Reclamation Church in Monroeville, Pa., witnessed Hannah, Silas, and Duke publicly declare their faith in Jesus and be baptized! Praise the Lord for new life in Christ and for these individuals proclaiming this truth! Please join us in celebrating with them and their entire church family at Reclamation Church Monroeville.

Edinboro Community Church celebrates growth in their church and growth in the Kingdom

Edinboro Community Church in Edinboro, Pa., celebrated God growing their church and His Kingdom on Sunday, March 22, as they witnessed two individuals be baptized and rejoiced over four new members being added to their church family. Praise the Lord for these baptisms and new members! Please join us in celebrating with Edinboro Community Church.

Collegiate Corner:

Hope after the storms: A spring break missions story

College students from different campuses across the Greater Philadelphia region spent their spring break helping with flood relief in Westfield, Pa., and sharing the love of Christ with those in need. Read More

Mission team from PSU New Life serves with Urban Promise in Toronto over spring break

Over their spring break, a team from Penn State New Life took a group of students from multiple campus ministries across Pennsylvania to Toronto, Canada, to serve in the city with a ministry known as Urban Promise. 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.