This Week in the BRN Family 02.20.25

BRN churches and pastors continue to serve the Northeast Philadelphia community; the BRN hosts its first Summer Missions Strategy Workshop; and we celebrate new life and new additions to the BRN Family - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

February 20, 2025
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:

Seven come to Jesus as BRN churches join community organizations in offering assistance to NE Philadelphia

Pastor Nathaniel Holder of St. John Memorial Baptist Church and Pastor Gerald Waters of Proclamation Community Church recently collaborated with State Representative Jared Solomon, Calvary Christian Center, and many Philadelphia based resource agencies in Northeast Philadelphia to give assistance to residents impacted by the Jan. 31 plane crash.

Pastor Holder, Pastor Waters, and other ministry leaders present were able to pray and share the hope of Jesus with many who lost their homes due to the plane crash, including seven individuals who received Christ as their Lord and Savior! Please continue to pray for the community of Northeast Philadelphia and for the pastors and churches ministering to those impacted by the plane crash.

One Hope Church in Absecon, New Jersey, encourages members through Family & Friends Day

On Feb. 15, One Hope Church in Absecon, New Jersey, celebrated Family & Friends Day! During this sweet time of fellowship, the church came together to hear an encouraging word about relationships from Buff McNickle, BRN director of compassion ministry and partnership development, and enjoyed a meal with one another.

Women of Bedrock Fishtown enjoy Galantines event

The women’s ministry at Bedrock Fishtown in Philadelphia honored their galentines on Saturday, Feb. 15, with a day full of rest and fun. This event allowed women to connect with one another, enjoy a good book, share a meal, and build each other up with the good news of Jesus!

All women welcome at weekend Prayer Breakfast at Browns Mills Baptist Church

The women’s ministry at Browns Mills Baptist Church in Browns Mills, New Jersey, is hosting a Women’s Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 9-11 a.m. Women from other BRN churches are encouraged to join the ladies of Browns Mills Baptist as they enjoy a meal together and hear from guest speakers Mary Landis, BRN women’s ministry consultant, and Anna Venettone, First Baptist Church of Robbinsville. Learn more about this event at brownsmillsbaptist.org.

PA/SJ pastors and ministry leaders dream of summer outreach at BRN Summer Missions Strategy Workshop

It may have been snowing outside on Feb. 20, but inside the BRN Hub pastors and ministry leaders were dreaming about summer! On this chilly Thursday, more than 20 individuals joined Buff McNickle, BRN director of compassion ministry and partnership development, and Tim Morris, discipleship pastor at Restored Church (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), in Harrisburg for the first-ever Summer Missions Strategy Workshop. During the workshop, pastors and ministry leaders brainstormed effective and practical ways to use the summer months for outreach in their communities.

Baptisms:

Four are baptized at Reclamation Church Monroeville

Reclamation Church in Monroeville, Pa., recently celebrated the baptisms of Valerie, Nya, Oyin, and Fifi! Praise the Lord for these individuals and their decision to go public with their faith in Jesus! Please join us in rejoicing with them and the entire Reclamation Church Monroeville family.

Welcome to the BRN Family:

Pastor Jim Gould | Living Faith Church, Littlestown, Pa.

Pastor Jim Gould has served in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army, played as quarterback for a championship football team (while serving in the Army) and even been featured in a Super Bowl commercial, yet, for Gould, his greatest occupation lies in fulfilling God’s call on his life to preach.

For 10 years, Jim Gould served as the associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Littlestown, Pennsylvania. In 2022, he was asked to help out at Hanover Fellowship Church in Hanover, Pennsylvania, and in Dec. 2023 he found himself praying for his next pastoral opportunity. 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.