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:
BRN pastors and ministry couples recharge at NAMB Refresh Retreat in Philadelphia, Pa.
Pennsylvania/South Jersey ministry couples enjoyed three days of encouragement at the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) Refresh Retreat in Philadelphia, Pa., held April 22-24 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Many members of the BRN Family attended – including Dr. Larry Anderson, BRN Director of Church Health and Evangelism; Dr. Brian King, BRN Executive Board president; BRN Executive Director Dr. Barry Whitworth; and many of our PA/SJ pastors and ministry leaders.
Those who attended enjoyed encouragement through worship, fellowship, and powerful messages from Dr. Robert Smith, professor of Christian preaching at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, and other keynote speakers. The BRN extends a special thank you to NAMB for hosting this uplifting retreat!
Great Commission Church serves nearly 50 during pantry ministry
On Saturday, April 20, Great Commission Church (GCC) in Philadelphia, Pa., served 49 individuals during their pantry ministry. In addition to giving away food and meeting physical needs, GCC volunteers were able to pray for their neighbors and tell them about the love of Christ!
Cambodia missionaries equip saints at Wrightsdale Baptist Church
On April 24, members at Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., were challenged and encouraged by missionaries Pat and Jeanne Hartfield, who serve in Cambodia. The Hartfields shared with Wrightsdale’s mission groups the process they went through to become missionaries and explained how half of the world’s population has never heard the gospel. The gathering was a special time for the local and global church!
Memorial Baptist Church hosts The Singing Men of Texas for Sunday worship
Worship was extra special for Memorial Baptist Church in Gettysburg, Pa., on Sunday, April 21, as the church hosted The Singing Men of Texas. The Singing Men of Texas is a musical group made up of full-time, part-time, and retired ministers of music as well as other church staff members and laypeople who are dedicated to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through music in local churches, in our nation, and abroad.
BRN podcast wins at annual Baptist Communicators Association awards banquet in Richmond, Va.
The Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) met at the International Mission Board’s (IMB) home office in Richmond, Virginia, for its annual workshop April 22-25. Baptist communicators from across the nation, representing various Baptist publications and state conferences, gathered for a time of professional development and mutual encouragement.
On April 24, BCA held its annual awards banquet at the Hippodrome Theater, where the BRN took home second place in the Audio-Visual Communications category for its Celebrating Cooperative Missions Podcast! Macala Mays, Associate Editor of BRN United and host of the podcast, accepted the award on behalf of the BRN. We look forward to next year’s BCA workshop! The BRN extends a special thank you to the IMB for hosting the BCA workshop.
Baptisms:
Senior pastor at Macedonia Baptist Church in Norristown, Pa., baptizes six before retirement
Macedonia Baptist Church in Norristown, Pa., witnessed six individuals, four youth and two adults, commit and declare their faith in Jesus Christ through baptism at their Friday Fire Baptism and Prayer Service on April 5. These were the final baptisms that Macedonia Senior Pastor Byron L. Craig performed before his retirement on May 31. Praise the Lord for these new brothers and sisters in Christ, and for Pastor Byron’s faithful years of ministry! Please join us in celebrating with the Macedonia Baptist Church family!
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!
