This Week in the BRN Family 04.10.25

Deacons gather and train at BRN Hub; churches host spring events; and we celebrate baptisms and ministry milestones - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

April 11, 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:

Active and prospective deacons reflect and grow at BRN Deacons’ Training

On April 4, the Baptist Resource Network hosted a Deacons’ Training at its Harrisburg Hub. The training was led by Wrightsdale Baptist Church’s Pastor Ryan Day, who led a room full of active deacons and prospective deacons in a training session that covered a variety of deacon responsibilities, such as leading by example, serving the people, supporting the pastor and staff, and protecting the peace in their churches. It was an encouraging and energetic day of learning and growing!

Mental Health Summit at Zion Church seeks to bridge mental health and faith

On April 3, Zion Church in Clarion, Pa., hosted a Mental Health Summit. Seeking to bridge the topics of mental health and faith, the event equipped individuals and church leaders with the skills, tools, strategies, and resources to better manage their mental health and that of their congregations.

During the day, guests heard from mental health professionals and local organizations that focus on mental health. Guests also took time to collaborate and share how they can have an impact in their own communities when it comes to mental health.

Browns Mills Baptist Church hosts first annual Women’s Day Service

On Sunday, March 30, Browns Mills Baptist Church in Browns Mills, New Jersey, held its first annual Women’s Day Service. The theme of the service was “The Importance of Women in Ministry,” with guest speaker Lorraine Land. At this service, all of the women leaders of the various ministries within the church were honored for their accomplishments with flowers. The highlight of the service was the announcement of the church’s very first Woman of the Year, which was Karen Shells. Karen received this honor for her work as Assistant Church Clerk as well as her hard work in many other ministries.

Pastor Dr. Maurice Mimms commented on the day, saying he looks forward to training and empowering many more women in the church and the surrounding community to work in ministries through the church.

Rain holds off for Redemption City Church Egg Hunt

On Sunday, April 6, the rain stopped just in time for Redemption City Church in Philadelphia to host their Easter Egg Scramble! Through this outreach event, Redemption City served more than 300 kids and their families. Kids of all ages had a blast searching for eggs at Lemon Hill and hearing the true reason for celebrating Easter!

Baptisms:

Four are baptized at LifeWay Baptist Church

On Sunday, April 6, LifeWay Baptist Church in Philadelphia rejoiced over four individuals going public with their faith in Jesus by being baptized! Praise the Lord for new life in Jesus! Please join us in celebrating with these individuals and the entire LifeWay Baptist Church family.

Ministry Milestones:

Harvest Community Church in Corry, Pa., celebrates first anniversary

This past week, Harvest Community Church, a church plant in Corry, Pa., celebrated their one-year anniversary! Congratulations on year one Harvest Community Church! We are so grateful for all the Lord is doing through you and for your faithfulness to spreading the gospel in Corry.

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.