This Week in the BRN Family 06.04.26

Ministry leaders in the Lehigh Valley gather to pray for Serve Lehigh Valley; churches enjoy special worship services; and we celebrate recent seminary graduates and many baptisms - it's a very exciting week in the BRN Family!

June 4, 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:

Seminary Graduate Recognition

Throughout the month of May, our six SBC seminaries celebrated the academic achievements of thousands of students through graduation ceremonies and special gatherings — with some of these graduates representing our two-state region, Pennsylvania/New Jersey!

Congratulations to all of our PA/NJ graduates! As you enter this new season, we pray for you to boldly step into the calling God has equipped you for through your studies and ask Him to guide your steps as you serve Him and His Kingdom!

Gateway Seminary (Ontario, California):

Robert James Sheldon (Pennsylvania) – Doctor of Ministry (pictured with his wife Sarah. Rob serves as the senior pastor at GreencastleBaptist Church in Greencastle, Pa., and as a BRN Church Advancement Consultant.)
Hye Ri Cha (New Jersey) – Doctor of Philosophy

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest, North Carolina):

Richard Hogg, Master of Arts in Church Revitalization
Veronica Ponce, degree unavailable

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Forth Worth, Texas):

Vara Prasad Babu Yenugupalli (New Jersey) – Master of Theological Studies
Jack Cella (New Jersey) – Master of Theology

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Kansas City, Missouri):

Ethan Doyle (New Jersey) – Master of Divinity
Vincent Volpa (Pennsylvania) – Master of Theological Studies

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky):

Aaron Batdorf (Pennsylvania) – Doctor of Philosophy (concurrent award of Master of Theology). (Aaron is pictured below with his wife Brianna, who during the same week graduated from Southern’s Seminary Wives Institute. Aaron serves as the associate pastor of discipleship at Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven, Pa.)
Donna Marie Hull (New Jersey) – Master of Arts in Theological Studies
Pablo Andrés Ampuero Alvarado (New Jersey) – Master of Divinity
Derek Wayne Howell (Pennsylvania) – Master of Divinity

Carl Alexander Williams (New Jersey) – Master of Divinity

Joshua Reid MacClaren (Pennsylvania) – Master of Divinity
Josue Trejo Reyes (Pennsylvania) – Master of Divinity

Isaac Michael Snare (Pennsylvania) – Master of Divinity

More BRN Family News

Ministry leaders gather at Riverbend Community Church to pray for Serve Lehigh Valley

Local ministry leaders and BRN Director of Compassion Ministry and Partnership Development Buff McNickle gathered at Riverbend Community Church on May 27 for Rally in the Valley.

The heart behind this collaboration is for leaders to be praying about ways churches in the Lehigh Valley can come together and serve the Valley and pray for their region. During this particular meeting, the group spent time praying over Serve Lehigh Valley, which will take place June 26-27!

Students lead time of worship during Youth Sunday at Calvary Christian Church

Sunday, May 31, was Youth Sunday at Calvary Christian Church in Philadelphia. Students led the church in Scripture reading, song, dance, and an offering time. In honor of the special worship service and celebrating unity in Christ, the whole church coordinated and wore yellow. Following the service, kids and adults enjoyed a cookout and some fun in the sun!

Fellowship CrossPoint hosts impactful outdoor worship service and baptisms

Fellowship CrossPoint Church in Chesterfield, New Jersey, held a special outdoor worship service, called ONEchurch, on Sunday, May 31. From the pre-sermon prayer team to the production volunteers, the unique service gave the church an opportunity to serve in different capacities and reach their community outside their building walls.

During the service, an estimated 1000 people gathered to worship the Lord together at Liberty Lake, and eight brothers and sisters in Christ stepped forward to be baptized. Praise the Lord for this impactful worship service!

PA/SJ Disaster Relief volunteers accept donated trailer at The Bridge Fellowship

Members of Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., who actively serve with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) through the Baptist Resource Network, joined BRN Director of Disaster Relief Kenton Hunt and other DR volunteers at The Bridge Fellowship in Reading, Pa., last Sunday to receive a donated trailer. The trailer will be mobilized for disaster relief throughout Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and beyond — what a blessing!

Baptisms:

Bucks County Community Church witnesses 30 go public with their faith in Jesus

A few weeks ago, Bucks County Community Church in Langhorne, Pa., witnessed 30 people confess their faith in Jesus and be baptized! What an incredible testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness! Please join us in celebrating with these brothers and sisters in Christ and the entire Bucks County Community Church family.

The House Church celebrates five declaring their faith in Jesus

Five individuals made a public declaration of their faith in Jesus through baptism on Sunday, May 31, at The House Church in Sewell, New Jersey. Along with being a joyful celebration for the church family, the baptisms also served as a beautiful reminder of God’s goodness and the new life we are given in Christ!

Breathe Community Church heads to the river for baptisms

On Sunday, May 31, Breathe Community Church in Coatesville, Pa., gathered at a nearby river to celebrate two individuals going public with their faith in Jesus! Praise the Lord for these brothers in Christ and for all He is doing through Breathe Community Church!

The Fields Church ends May with baptism celebration

This past Sunday (May 31), The Fields Church in State College, Pa., celebrated more people publicly declaring their faith in Christ! Praise the Lord for these baptisms! Please join us in rejoicing with these individuals and The Fields Church.

Baptisms at Regeneration Church celebrate new life in Christ and Kingdom partnerships

On Sunday, May 31, Regeneration Church in Fairless Hills, Pa., witnessed 10 lives changed by Jesus Christ through baptism. Additionally, these baptisms presented an opportunity for partnership between Regeneration Church and Saint John Memorial Baptist Church as Saint John Memorial provided the baptismal. Praise the Lord for how He provides and for the new life He gives through Christ!

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.