This Week in the BRN Family 01.22.26

BRN churches bless neighbors through compassion ministry opportunities; churches utilize BRN Evangelism Grants for outreach events; and college students return to campus with zeal to share the gospel - it's a fruitful week in the BRN Family!

January 22, 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:

Great Commission Church holds winter food distribution for West Oak Lane neighbors

On Jan. 4, Great Commission Church in Philadelphia served their neighbors in the West Oak Lane area by hosting a food distribution. Through this outreach opportunity, the church was able to bless 60 families with a food bag and a conversation centered around hope and prayer. What a great way to meet needs in your community and extend the love of Christ!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: More than 500 volunteers participate in Hunger Stops with Us outreach

On Dec. 5-6, 2025, more than 500 community and church members gathered at Fellowship CrossPoint Church in Chesterfield, New Jersey, to pack 150,000 meals for their annual Hunger Stops with Us outreach. The service opportunity led to many gospel conversations amongst volunteers.

Millcreek Community Church celebrates second week of welcoming new members

This past Sunday, Jan. 18, marked the second week in a row that Millcreek Community Church in Erie, Pa., welcomed new members into their church family. Praise the Lord for the ways He is growing this local church for His glory!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Reclamation Church Greensburg plants gospel seeds through Christmas party

Just before Christmas, Reclamation Church Greensburg, a church plant located in Greensburg, Pa., utilized a BRN Evangelism Grant to host a Christmas party for their youth group, where more than 10 students heard the gospel and the true meaning of Christmas. Read More

Men’s ministry at FBC Crestmont devotes time to serving and building community partnership

Just before Christmas, the Outstanding Men of God ministry at First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa., spent the day volunteering and serving at Mitzvah Circle, a local charity organization.

During their time serving, the men of FBC Crestmont picked out and packaged items to be distributed to families in need. This was the second year in a row that the men’s ministry partnered with Mitzvah Circle to serve their community. Praise the Lord for this community partnership and the opportunity to serve for the sake of the gospel!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Christmas musical presents gospel to 900+ at Cross Creek Community Church

During the Christmas season, Cross Creek Community Church in Trucksville, Pa., presented the gospel to more than 900 people in their community through their children’s Christmas musical. Read More

Collegiate Corner:

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Winter conference emboldens Steel City Church college students

January 16-17, Steel City Church in Pittsburgh took a group of college students to North Carolina for WinCon, a conference designed to equip and encourage the next generation of Christ followers. The group returned refreshed and ready to take the gospel to their campus and to the nations!

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.