This Week in the BRN Family 05.01.25

Churches host impactful spring events; ministry leaders prepare for VBS with BRN training; and we celebrate baptisms and ministry milestones - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

May 2, 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:

PA/SJ ministry leaders land in Zambia ready to serve

On April 24, Pastor Ricky Wilson, senior pastor at Christian Faith Fellowship in Downingtown, Pa., led a team of 29 individuals from Pennsylvania/South Jersey to Zambia, Africa! This team, made up of pastors, pastor’s wives, BRN team members, and other ministry leaders, will be serving churches in Zambia for two weeks. So far, the team has helped lead and facilitate a marriage enrichment conference, VBS, a women’s conference and a pastor’s conference.

Please keep this team in your prayers as they serve in Africa and come alongside the faithful saints and churches there!

FBC Rochester bears fruit through Ladies Tea event and Annie Armstrong offering

First Baptist Church of Rochester in Rochester, Pa., held their third annual Woman’s Tea on Saturday, April 26. The event was facilitated by Karen Walker, wife of Pastor Larry Walker, who served at West Hills Baptist Church for over 20 years. FBC Rochester was praying for 70 women to attend, and they had 72 register!

During the event, speakers shared how they had turned physical problems into spiritual victory. Two ladies were honored for inviting 10 and 11 ladies respectively, while another lady was presented a gift of care as she recently lost her husband.

FBC Rochester concluded the weekend with worship on Sunday, during which they rejoiced over completing their Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO). This year was a historic giving year for the church as they contributed more to AAEO than ever before!

Color run displays ‘beautiful expression’ of Keystone’s care for community in Montgomeryville, Pa.

Keystone Montgomeryville hosted a successful and joyful free color run at Montgomeryville Elementary School on Saturday, April 26th. Over 200 people participated in the colorful event, enjoying inflatables and free refreshments. During the event, Keystone welcomed a visit from the Chick-fil-A cow and the presence of their missions partner, Bold Hope. Bold Hope provided free face painting and shared impactful ways to support children through their sponsorship program.

Despite the unpredictable weather, the event was a beautiful expression of the church’s desire to connect with and serve local families. It was a day filled with laughter, community spirit and opportunities to learn about extending God’s love globally.

BRN training highlights VBS as one of the most ‘strategic’ outreach opportunities churches can offer

On April 26, the BRN hosted 15 people for a VBS Training led by Christy Kraus, BRN VBS consultant and director of kids’ ministry at Wrightsdale Baptist Church. These individuals represented three different BRN churches, and together they explored why VBS is still one of the most strategic ways to reach families – because reaching kids means reaching homes with the gospel.

“VBS is one of the most strategic moves a church can make to reach its community and grow God’s Kingdom. My prayer is that each attendee left encouraged and equipped to cast a clear vision for their teams, excited to share the life-changing truths of Magnified VBS, and confident in the impact their church can have this summer,” said Kraus.

Churches and VBS coordinators are encouraged to reach out to Christy Kraus for support and guidance as they prepare to host their own VBS/summer outreach. Christy can be reached via email at [email protected].

Baptisms:

God’s grace celebrated through baptism at Renaissance Church in Pittsburgh

Renaissance Church in Pittsburgh saw God’s grace on full display through the life and baptism of Sophia on April 27! As shared on Renaissance’s Facebook page, Sophia’s faith with Jesus became real to her as she was preparing to go to college. When she started college, she joined a Cru Bible study and found real community and a real relationship with the Lord.

Praise the Lord for Sophia and her baptism! Please join us in celebrating with her and the entire Renaissance Church family!

Bedrock Fishtown rejoices over new life in Christ

On April 20, Bedrock Fishtown in Philadelphia celebrated the resurrection of Christ not just by word and song, but also through baptism! During the Easter worship service, members of Bedrock Fishtown witnessed a young lady go public with her faith in Jesus by being baptized.

Praise the Lord for this sister in Christ! Please join us in rejoicing with her and the entire Bedrock Church family!

Ministry Milestones:

Harborcreek Community Church honors ministry legacy of Pastor Jim Hodge

This past Sunday (April 27) was a day of celebration and gratitude at Harborcreek Community Church (HCC) in Harborcreek, Pa., as the church honored the retirement of Pastor Jim Hodge and his wife Sherri.

After more than 50 years in ministry, and the last eight at HCC, which started as a church plant, Pastor Jim shared his final sermon, leaving the congregation with a message full of hope and faith. That afternoon, over 200 people gathered to celebrate the Hodges’ ministry legacy. Friends from across the years came from near and far to honor their lasting impact on countless lives.

Pastor Jim and Sherri have modeled faithful, Christ-centered leadership. Their love for the Church and their community has left a lasting imprint. As shared by the congregation of HCC, “We are deeply thankful for their service and excited to see what God has in store for them in this next chapter.”

Congratulations on such a beautiful legacy, Pastor Jim and Sherri! We are so grateful for your faithful service to HCC and the many ways you have served the Kingdom over the years. Thank you!

Calvary Christian Church celebrates 105 years of ministry

Calvary Christian Church in Philadelphia recently celebrated its 105th anniversary. What an incredible ministry milestone! The church celebrated with special music during worship and by sharing a meal together after the service.

Congratulations Calvary! Thank you for faithfully proclaiming the gospel to the Philadelphia area for so many years and for your continued Kingdom work. We are grateful for you!

Collegiate Corner:

Semester winds down for New Life Campus Ministry at PennWest California

New Life Campus Ministry at PennWest California University in California, Pa., hosted their final game night of the semester this week. Students invited their peers to play games and spend time in prayer.

Please join us in praying for these students as they prepare to wrap up their semester and, for some, graduate and move on to the next season of life the Lord has for them.

New Life/BASIC college ministry at PennWest Clarion distributes ‘exam bags’

This week, students a part of New Life/BASIC college ministry at PennWest Clarion University in Clarion, Pa., took time to pack and distribute “exam bags.” The purpose behind these bags is to bless fellow students as they head into finals week and show them the love of Christ before the semester ends.

Please join us in praying for the students at PennWest Clarion and for the students striving to share the gospel with their peers before the leave campus.

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.