This Week in the BRN Family 07.10.25

BRN churches focus on reaching the next generation through VBS and summer outreach and we celebrate baptisms - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

July 10, 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:

VBS and summer outreach opportunities focus on reaching the next generation across PA/SJ

Summer is in full swing, and with it so is Vacation Bible School! Many of our churches across Pennsylvania/South Jersey are pouring into the next generation by hosting VBS. Praise the Lord for these little ones and the faithful saints who are teaching them about Jesus! Here are just a few snapshots of VBS from a few of our BRN churches:

Cambodia Baptist Church and First Haitian Metanoia Baptist Church

Cambodia Baptist Church in Philadelphia recently partnered with First Haitian Metanoia Baptist Church in Lansdowne, Pa., to host a VBS. Pictured below is Pastor Sambath Ros (Cambodia Baptist) and Pastor Noelson Chery (First Haitian Metanoia) during the closing ceremonies.

Wrightsdale Baptist Church

At the conclusion of their VBS week, Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., invited all of their VBS kids and families to church, where they saw more than 300 in attendance! They also hosted a celebration luncheon following the worship service.

Cornerstone Fellowship

During their VBS, Cornerstone Fellowship in Erial, New Jersey, challenged kids to collect non-perishable items that can be donated. Team Butterfly collected the most and won the opportunity to soak their VBS leaders!

Fellowship CrossPoint Church

This week, Fellowship CrossPoint Church in Chesterfield, New Jersey, is hosting Kids Adventure Camp! Like VBS, the camp is designed to teach kids all about Jesus and how to live out the Gospel.

Calvary Christian Church

Teachers, volunteers, security workers, parents, and kids made VBS come to life this year at Calvary Christian Church in Philadelphia! It was a full team effort and an awesome three days of VBS.

Volleyball tournament opens door for gospel conversations at Cornerstone Nepali Church

On June 28, Cornerstone Nepali Church in South Park, Pa., hosted a community-wide volleyball tournament. Through the outreach event, Pastor Bhim Biswa and members of Cornerstone Nepali were able to connect with their neighbors and share the love of Christ. Praise the Lord for what He is doing through this church plant! Check out a brief video of the event here!

Baptisms:

Harvest Community Church celebrates five going public with their faith in Jesus

On Sunday, July 6, Harvest Community Church in Corry, Pa., celebrated five baptisms! Praise the Lord for these individuals who were obedient in publicly declaring their faith in Christ! Please join us in celebrating with them and the entire Harvest Community 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.