This Week in the BRN Family 05.29.25

BRN Evangelism Grants help churches with outreach and special events; we celebrate new life in Jesus through baptism; and we welcome a new church to the BRN Family - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

May 29, 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:

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Women encouraged with afternoon tea at Harvest Church in Kittanning, Pa.

On May 10, the tables were set for a classic tea party at Harvest Church in Kittanning, Pa., to bless the women of Harvest and the surrounding community with a time of encouragement and fellowship. Read More

Redeeming Grace Church hosts Memorial Day picnic

Taking advantage of the warm Memorial Day weather, Redeeming Grace Church in Bethel Park, Pa., hosted a church-wide picnic! The day was filled with sunshine, good food, and plenty of time to fellowship with dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Olympic-style game night invites students into gospel arena at Restored

Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., used BRN Evangelism Grant funds to host an olympic-style game night for students, creating a space for the youth to have fun and hear the gospel. Read More

Reclamation Church Monroeville installs new elder

Recently, Reclamation Church in Monroeville, Pa., came together to install a new elder, a young man named Aaron. The church spent time praying over Aaron and his wife April as they embark on this new season of ministry. Praise the Lord for this young couple and their call to serve at Reclamation! Please join us in praying for them and rejoicing with Reclamation Church Monroeville.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Putt-putt event at Reclamation Greensburg helps engage new youth

A youth putt-putt outreach event at Reclamation Church in Greensburg, Pa., helps students build relationships and consider the gospel. The event resulted in two new students attending Reclamation’s youth group! Read More

Baptisms:

Harvest Community Church celebrates three baptisms

On Sunday, May 25, Harvest Community Church in Corry, Pa., celebrated three people going public with their faith in Jesus through baptism! Praise the Lord for these individuals and the new life they found in Christ! Please join us in rejoicing with them and the entire Harvest Community Church family.

Welcome to the BRN Family:

Welcome to the BRN Family: God’s Field Church

Nearly three years ago on Oct. 9, 2022, Pastor Ken Sachs and his wife Akiko launched God’s Field Church in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.

“I got the call to church planting…and also my wife felt the calling as well, of course not as a pastor, but to support and to help me as we started engaging in Ambridge,” said Sachs. Read More

Collegiate Corner:

‘Many responses to the gospel’ reports BCM associate director at Drexel University

Jane Elliot, associate director of BCM at Drexel University, reflects on her past quarter of interacting with students and the various responses she witnessed to the gospel. Read More

Gospel shared through care packages at PSU Mont Alto

Austin Burton, campus missionary to Penn State Mont Alto, shares how a BRN Evangelism Grant helped him to prepare care packages for college students and engage them with the gospel. 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.