This Week in the BRN Family 02.12.26

BRN churches host Super Bowl and Valentine's Day events; college students reach their peers with the ministry of presence; and we celebrate baptisms and new beginnings - it's an exciting and full week in the BRN family!

February 12, 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:

Wrightsdale Baptist youth serve church family at annual Spaghetti Bowl

On Sunday, Feb. 8, Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., held their annual Spaghetti Bowl. Playing off of the Super Bowl Sunday excitement, every year Wrightsdale hosts a “Spaghetti Bowl,” where their youth students and leaders prepare and serve a spaghetti dinner to church members and community friends. This event serves as a fundraiser for youth students desiring to go to Crossings Camp in the summer, where they hear about Jesus and learn to grow in their faith. What an awesome way for students to serve their church family and for the church to bless its youth!

Laughter and love celebrated at West Hills Baptist Church Valentine’s Day Dinner

During the week of Valentine’s Day, the couples of West Hills Baptist Church in Coraopolis, Pa., came together for a special night of dining and fun. After enjoying a meal together, the couples put their communication skills to the test by competing in games and activities. What a fun way to celebrate love and be reminded of the love we are shown through Christ!

Misión Vida worships together despite chilly temps and power outage

Despite the harsh winter temperatures and a power outage, members of Misión Vida in Bethlehem, Pa., still managed to gather and worship together on Sunday, Feb. 8. This was the church’s second full service. What a beautiful picture of the body of Christ persevering to be together and give glory to the King of Kings!

After worship luncheon encourages church body at The Church At Mon River

Last Sunday, The Church At Mon River in Pittsburgh extended their time together by hosting a luncheon after their worship service. The lunch time gathering not only gave the church an opportunity to serve one another, but also the chance to get to know each other better and build one another up in Christ.

Memorial Baptist Church hosts annual Chili Cook Off following worship service

It was a tasty Sunday at Memorial Baptist Church in Gettysburg, Pa., on Feb. 8! Following their morning worship service, the church gathered for their annual Chili Cook Off. Church members cooked up their best chili, shared a meal together, and eagerly awaited the judges to announce this year’s winner. What a great way to continue fellowship with one another!

Senior ministry at Impact Church gathers for Valentine’s Day lunch, afternoon filled with laughter

Last week, the 55 Alive Ministry at Impact Church in Parkesburg, Pa., met at a local restaurant to share in a Valentine’s Day lunch. Food, fellowship, and many moments of laughter were enjoyed by all!

Baptisms:

Several sisters in Christ are baptized at Redeeming Grace Church

On Feb. 8, Redeeming Grace Church in Bethel Park, Pa., celebrated several sisters in Christ going public with their faith in Jesus! During their Sunday worship, the church witnessed the baptisms of Debbie Evans, Gloria Winzek, Beka Manalo, and Rosemary McGee. Praise the Lord for these sisters in Christ and their trust in Jesus! Please join us in rejoicing with them and the entire Redeeming Grace Church family!

Travelers Church rejoices over multiple publicly proclaiming their faith in Christ

Travelers Church in Pittsburgh celebrated new life in Christ on Sunday, Feb. 8, with multiple people publicly proclaiming their faith in Jesus and being baptized. What a joy it is to witness these baptisms! Please join us in rejoicing with those who were baptized and the entire Travelers Church family!

Ministry Milestones:

Greater Philadelphia church plant, Keystone Harvest, prepares for official launch Sunday

On March 1, church plant Keystone Harvest, located in Norristown, Pa., will officially launch! Please join us in praying for Keystone Harvest, for Pastor Saleem Wright and his church planting team, and for the community they will be reaching with the hope of the gospel. May many come to know Jesus because of Keystone Harvest’s presence in the Greater Philadelphia Region!

Collegiate Corner:

College ministry at PennWest Clarion University hosts arcade event to simply ‘enjoy community together’

Last week, the New Life/BASIC college ministry at PennWest Clarion University hosted an outreach event at the arcade on campus. Students invited their friends, and the goal was to simply enjoy community together and engage in spiritual conversations while hanging out. Please pray for the students who came to this event and are hearing the gospel for the first time as well as for the Christian students who are living on mission and sharing the hope of Jesus with their peers!

In the News:

Wholesome Riches featured on 6 ABC Action News, Philadelphia area news station

Wholesome Riches, a Christian non-profit organization that exists to support students’ physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being in Camden, New Jersey, was recently featured on 6 ABC Action News. Wholesome Riches was founded by Michele Pilla, wife of Pastor Matt Pilla, Keystone Fellowship South Jersey. Watch the full interview here.

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.