This Week in the BRN Family 06.25.26

BRN churches celebrate the dads in their community for Father's Day; the final BRN summer deacons' training is held; and VBS gets underway at many BRN churches - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

June 24, 2026
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 churches across PA/SJ honor dads on Father’s Day

This past Sunday (June 21), many of our churches across Pennsylvania/South Jersey honored and recognized the dads in their community for Father’s Day. We praise the Lord for these Fathers who are seeking the Lord, leading their families well, and raising their kids to know the mighty name of Jesus! To all fathers – biological, adoptive, spiritual – we are thankful for you!

Here are just a few Father’s Day moments from around the BRN Family:

One Hope Church | Absecon, New Jersey

The Vine Calvary Chapel | Schnecksville, Pennsylvania

Calvary Christian Church | Philadelphia

Christ Commission Ministries | Berlin, New Jersey

First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church | Philadelphia

Prayer tent presents gospel opportunities for Redeeming Grace Church

Last Saturday (June 20), Redeeming Grace Church in Bethel Park, Pa., connected with its community by hosting a prayer tent at Bridgeville Community Day. At the local event, volunteers from Redeeming Grace prayed with community members who stopped by the tent and shared the hope of Jesus through gospel conversations.

Rolling Hills Church hosts Deacons’ Training for western region

On Saturday, June 20, Rolling Hills Church in Verona, Pa., hosted a deacon training seminar for the BRN’s west region, just outside of Pittsburgh. Three BRN churches sent participants to learn about becoming “A Deacon on Purpose” with Dr. Ryan Day from Wrightsdale Baptist Church. This was the final deacons’ training in a series of three different training opportunities.

Dr. Ryan Day reported that it was a great day of training! Our prayer is that these men will be encouraged and equipped to serve Jesus and His churches. A special thank you to Pastor Greg Drayer and Rolling Hills Church for hosting this special training event.

VBS continues across Pennsylvania/South Jersey

As the VBS season gets underway across our two-state region, many of our BRN churches jumped into the Vacation Bible School fun this past week! No matter when your church’s VBS or summer outreach takes place, we are thankful for all our PA/SJ churches who are pouring into the next generation this summer!

Here are just a few VBS moments from this past week in our BRN churches:

Wrightsdale Baptist Church| Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania

First Baptist Church of Delaware | New Castle, Delaware

Grace Baptist Church | New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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.