This Week in the BRN Family 06.26.25

The BRN family gears up for Serve Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; BRN churches pour into the next generation; and one church baptizes and entire family - it's an exciting week for the BRN Family!

June 26, 2025
Macala Mays

First Haitian Metanoia Baptist Church donates $1,000 to Serve Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

On Sunday, June 22, First Haitian Metanoia Baptist Church in Lansdowne, Pa., presented Buff McNickle, BRN Director of Compassion Ministry and Partnership Development, with a check for this year’s Serve PA/SJ Initiative in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The church donated $1,000 to the two-day missional effort, which will take place this weekend, June 27-28. These funds will support the more than 400 volunteers that are expected to serve and the 40+ projects they will be completing! Please join us in praying for this incredible, cooperative service opportunity!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Harvest Church Indiana seizes gospel opportunities at Canal Days Fair

In a quiet town nearly 20 miles from their church, volunteers from Harvest Community Church in Indiana, Pa., saw the annual Canal Days Fair in Saltsburg as an opportunity to share the gospel with a community in need. Read More

Sports Camp creates opportunity for leadership development at Mason Dixon Baptist Church

Mason Dixon Baptist Church in New Freedom, Pa., held their third annual boys Sports Camp and inaugural girls Sports Camp June 16-20 for kids ages 3rd-6th grade. Simultaneously, the church held a Dance Camp for girls as well. However, the highlight for this year’s camps was found in the leadership development that took place behind the scenes with the high school and college-age volunteers. After a morning of pouring into those younger than them, 20 student volunteers stuck around for lunch and a time of leadership development, where they examined Scripture and how to practically apply it to their time with the kids.

Harborcreek Community Church prays over and sends out collegiate missionary

During their worship service on June 22, Harborcreek Community Church in Harborcreek, Pa., took time to pray over Hayden Fox, a young man who is starting his first year of ministry with DiscipleMakers. Hayden will be working with the collegiate ministry organization to specifically reach international students and share the gospel of Jesus Christ at the campus level. Please join us in praying for Hayden as he follows the call God has placed on his life to reach the next generation!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Kids Glow Worship Night at Harvest Church creates joyful environment for kids and date night for parents

On June 12, a Kids Glow Worship Night at Harvest Community Church in Kittanning, Pa., not only created a fun worship environment for kids, but also ministered to parents with a night out. Read More

St. John Memorial Baptist Church assists fellow Philadelphia church in first Evangelistic Community Day

Last Friday, St. John Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia assisted Greater Enon Missionary Baptist Church with their first Evangelistic Community Day. Volunteers from both churches spent the day passing out cherry water ice and offering prayer to neighbors in the North Philadelphia area. Community members also heard a gospel presentation.

SC saints continue faithful work on BRN Warren House

Last week, Baptist Resource Network (BRN) Executive Director Barry Whitworth and his wife Beth stopped by the BRN’s Warren House in Pittsburgh to visit with and encourage Randy and Pam Creamer. The Creamers, who serve with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, have faithfully been leading the renovations taking place at the Warren House. We are so grateful for these SC friends! Thank you Randy and Pam for all of your hard work!

Baptisms:

Calvary Church Harvest Fields baptizes entire family

On June 22, Calvary Church Harvest Fields in Boalsburg, Pa., held a special baptism service following their monthly Encounter Night. Pastor Dan Nold invited the attendees to exit the building and walk to the upper pond located on the church’s property to witness an entire family be baptized! The baptism was administered by Pastor Dan, NextGEN Director Jake Nold, and XYM Youth Director Jason Ponish.

Praise the Lord for this family and their faith in Jesus! Please join us in celebrating with them and the entire Calvary Harvest Fields 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!

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.