HARRISBURG (BRN) – During their meeting on February 20, 2026, the Executive Board of the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey discussed BRN’s latest Impact Report and current financial status, approved and signed documents pertaining to a new nonprofit and a lease agreement, and deliberated on a formal process credentialing new executive board members.

BRN’s Legal Counsel Davis Younts led the meeting due to illnesses of the Board’s president and vice president. In his devotion, Younts shared about the importance of establishing a spiritual defensive perimeter around our homes and places of ministry.

“Know we are in the spiritual enemy’s territory,” said Younts, pointing to the importance of prayer as defense against the enemy. With all that the BRN is doing, he urged the Board to consider its vulnerabilities and to build up their defenses against them.

In his report, Barry Whitworth, BRN executive director, also reinforced the importance of prayer, noting it “is the pathway through which God’s hand moves, God’s power is released, and God’s Kingdom advances.”

He added, “Without prayer, we labor alone. With prayer, God works through us.”

He expressed his concern that eight out of 10 churches are either plateaued or declining, pointing to the loss of priority in evangelism, drifts in mission, and under-resourced and under-supported leadership.

“As our team focuses on encouraging churches to make a bold move for Jesus this year, we realize that, apart from a strong prayer life, we can do nothing,” he said, explaining how the BRN team is walking faithfully through a 52-week prayer guide, meeting once a month for fasting and prayer, and reading together the book, “A Praying Life,” by Paul E. Miller.

Whitworth shared four truths about prayer: it is the pathway to God’s power, it is not our last resort but our first response, it draws us close to the heart of God, and it is the work.

“May it be said that the people of the BRN are a praying people—people who believe God, who seek God, who call on God, and who expect God to move in ways only He can,” he concluded.

Whitworth also highlighted key statistics from the 2025 Impact Report, including:

  1. Weekly church attendance across the BRN grew to 23,670 in 2025, averaging 85 people per church. For comparison, the SBC national average is 53. BRN churches also averaged 92 members per church—evidence of both consistency and growth.
  2. Out of nearly 8,500 total BRN connections made last year, more than 7,000 represented significant engagement with churches, pastors and partners.
  3. Cooperative Program giving in 2025 reached its highest level ever, with the average gift from churches increasing 3.7% over the previous year. Both Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong offerings surpassed their goals.
  4. The BRN provided 218 grants to BRN churches totaling $236,000, a number just slightly lower than 2024. These grants continue to equip churches to move mission forward in their communities.
  5. The BRN’s three major gatherings—Accelerate, Advance, and Amplify—drew a combined 530 attendees from churches and partner organizations. These events continue to grow in impact and reach.
  6. The Network’s Next Gen Team celebrated a doubling of Amplify attendance last fall and anticipates even greater participation this year. Through the work of six collegiate missionaries, more than 1,800 students heard the gospel message.
  7. Serve Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was the largest Serve event to date! 775 volunteers from 48 churches gave over 10,000 hours to serve in over 50 mission projects throughout the area. Plans are underway for Serve Lehigh Valley, to be held June 26-27.
  8. The BRN anticipates breaking ground this spring on the new Disaster Relief Response and Relief Center in Winfield, Pa. Over $435,000 was raised last year toward this effort.
  9.  The BRN is now just six “next steps” away from reaching its goal of 150 churches taking at least one intentional step toward greater health. To date, BRN churches have taken 310 next steps—an incredible milestone achieved in just a little over two years.
  10. To date, the BRN has more than 10,000 contacts in its database. They also have nearly 3,000 active subscribers to its monthly newsletters. Visit brnunited.org/subscribe to learn more.

Download a copy of this Impact Report at brnunited.org/impact.

In their business, the Executive Board approved a Memo of Understanding between the BRN and a newly developed nonprofit, Serve Northeast (doing business as ServePASJ), which will focus on serving our region through compassion ministry and disaster relief.

They also developed a formal process for credentialing new executive board members, including its Nominating Committee, with the goal of incorporating best standards as a transparent and successful organization. This includes personal conduct and conflict of interest board policies, organization fiduciaries, confidentiality, and a special intranet page for the board members.

Andy Weber, BRN director of finance and operations, presented a financial management report for the financial period ending December 31, 2025. He reported that Cooperative Program receipts were the highest in BRN history but were still a little less than the annual budget of $1,220,000.

He also reported the following funding receipts: State Missions/Impact Funds: $23,065, Global Hunger: $9,649, #LegacyPASJ Fund: $6,922, Annie Armstrong: $122,568 (Goal: $122,000!), and Lottie Moon: $204,224 (Goal: $175,000!).

Concerning expenses, Weber said Ministry Support (salaries and benefits) was under budget by $6,682, Hub Operations was under budget by $3,300, and Church Servicing and Resourcing was over budget by $33,417.

In other business, the Executive Board finalized and signed a lease agreement between Winfield Baptist Church and the BRN that defines each respective parties rights and responsibilities concerning the Disaster Relief Response and Relief Center, expected to break ground this year.

Also, the Executive Board publicly recognized and affirmed those who led the renovations at the Pittsburgh-Warren Mission House this past year and approved moving this year’s annual business session to the afternoon of the Accelerate Conference on October 6.