This Week in the BRN Family 07.16.26

Students live on mission at BRN churches; VBS continues throughout our two-state region; and churches partner for worship gatherings - it's a great week in the BRN Family!

July 16, 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:

Kids at Reclamation Church Monroeville pack 200+ backpacks for local children

Kids at Reclamation Church Monroeville are living on mission! Earlier this week, over 40 children from the church packed 220 backpacks with school supplies for kids in their community. All of the supplies was donated by students who attended Reclamation’s annual VBS outreach, “Power Up.” The church will distribute the backpacks in August during the Pitcairn Annual Fireman’s Jubilee.

PBCI partners with two local churches for outdoor worship service

Last Sunday, Philadelphia Bible Church International (PBCI) in Philadelphia teamed up with two other local churches for a joint worship service at Warwick County Park. The churches enjoyed a sunny, outdoor service and then a meal together. What an encouraging time together as brothers and sisters in Christ!

MFuge mission team partners with Great Commission Church to complete local projects

This past week, Great Commission Church (GCC) in Philadelphia hosted a MFuge mission team. This team of young people worked hard to help the church complete projects and serve their community. GCC expressed great gratitude towards the mission team and is hopeful that the experience provided a valuable taste of ministry for the students!

Nebo Baptist Church hosts fellow local churches and ministries for night of worship and missions

Nebo Baptist Church in Nanticoke, Pa., recently partnered with Iglesia Rio de Vida and Wyoming Avenue Christian Church for a night of worship and missions. Throughout the night, the churches enjoyed worshipping together and hearing from Y-Not-U Ministries as well as other speakers. What a great time of Kingdom collaboration!

MINISTRY MILESTONE: Christian Faith Fellowship Church celebrates 30 years of God’s faithfulness

On Sunday, July 12, Pastor Ricky Wilson and Christian Faith Fellowship Church in Downingtown, Pa., celebrated 30 years of God’s faithfulness! In honor of this ministry milestone, Pastor Hal Hopkins presented Pastor Wilson and his wife with a commemorative plaque on behalf of the Baptist Resource Network.

Congratulations Pastor Wilson and Christian Faith Fellowship! We are so grateful for you and for the many ways the Lord has worked through you these past 30 years!

Churches across PA/SJ pour into the next generation through VBS

The thrill of Vacation Bible School continues throughout Pennsylvania/South Jersey! Baptist Resource Network (BRN) churches continue to pour into the next generation through VBS and other outreach events for kids. Here’s just a quick glimpse at some of the VBS fun happening across our two-state region:

Harvest Church – New Bethlehem | New Bethlehem, PA

Millcreek Community Church | Erie, PA

Fellowship CrossPoint Church | Chesterfield, NJ

Calvary Christian Church | Philadelphia, PA

Rolling Hills Church | Verona, PA

Baptisms:

Central Baptist Church celebrates baptisms following week of VBS

Following their weeklong VBS, Central Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Pa., witnessed two students trust Jesus as Lord and be baptized during the church’s VBS wrap up pool party. Praise the Lord for these two sisters in Christ and for using Central Baptist’s VBS to draw them to Himself!

Central Baptist Church also extends a special thank you to Greencastle Baptist Church for sharing their VBS materials and contributing to Central’s VBS.

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.