This Week in the BRN Family 07.24.25

BRN churches send teams to participate in international missions; VBS fun and summer outreach continue; and many celebrate new life in Christ through baptism - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

July 28, 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:

LifeWay Baptist Church partners with believers from all over the world to serve in Moldova

Recently, 10 individuals from LifeWay Baptist Church in Philadelphia, along with dozens of young people form the U.S., Germany, Poland, and Moldova, spent a week on mission in Moldova! This multi-nation mission team conducted day camps for kids and evangelized to locals. Please join us in praying for this team and for the people of Moldova!

New Creature Baptist hosts Fruits of the Spirit VBS

Last week, New Creature Baptist Church in Philadelphia hosted a VBS for the children in their community. Mrs. Maude Petit-Frere, wife of Pastor Ernst Petit-Frere, and her daughter, Rebecca, spent the week teaching students about the Fruits of the Spirit and engaging kids in fun, gospel-centered activities. BRN Ethnic Church Advancement Consultant Noelson Chery stopped by for one of the nights of VBS!

Youth missionaries and leaders of FBC Crestmont land in Puerto Rico

Last week, First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa., sent out a team of youth missionaries and leaders to San Juan, Puerto Rico! The team will spend eight days on mission in Puerto Rico, serving in different ways and sharing the gospel along the way. Please join us in praying for these students and their leaders as they live out the Great Commission.

Volunteers at Greencastle Baptist Church initiate Ready Church ministry

Recently, a team of volunteers from Greencastle Baptist Church in Mercersburg, Pa., stepped up through their Ready Church initiative to clean up downed trees. The Ready Church ministry is a Disaster Relief initiative that helps meet urgent needs while bringing the hope of the gospel.

Learn more about how your church can become a DR Ready Church at brnunited.org/dr.

Riverbend Community Church partners with Center Valley group for kickball tournament

On July 17, Riverbend Community Church in Allentown, Pa., hosted its first annual Riverbend Kickball Tournament! After being challenged by Center Valley Community Group, Riverbend met the community group at Hanover Township Community Park for a friendly game of kickball. It was a great night of camaraderie and competition!

Millcreek Community Church invites VBS families to worship and Family Fun Day

On Sunday, July 20, Millcreek Community Church in Erie, Pa., concluded its week of VBS with an indoor worship service, followed by an outdoor Family Fun Day. The event allowed the church to serve its members and the families in its community with free food and plenty of family friendly activities!

Baptisms:

Big Woods Bible Church celebrates eight creekside baptisms

Following their church service on Sunday, July 20, Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven, Pa., gathered at the banks of a nearby creek to celebrate eight individuals going public with their faith in Jesus! Praise the Lord for these baptisms and for these brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in celebrating with them and the entire Big Woods Bible Church family.

Students proclaim their faith through baptism at First Baptist Church of Delaware

On Sunday, July 20, First Baptist Church of Delaware in New Castle, Delaware, celebrated baptism. The church witnessed young people coming forth and boldly proclaiming their belief in Jesus! Praise the Lord for these baptisms and these brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in rejoicing with them and the entire FBC Delaware family.

Edinboro Community Church celebrates baptism and Family Fun Day

Edinboro Community Church (ECC) in Edinboro, Pa., celebrated the baptism of a young man named Nate on July 20! It was an exciting Sunday as the church witnessed Nate go public with his faith in Christ and then hosted a Family Fun Day following the service. Praise the Lord for Nate and his faith in Jesus! Please join us in celebrating with him and the entire ECC family.

Ministry Milestones:

Agape International Baptist Church rejoices over 19 years

Agape International Baptist Church in Philadelphia celebrated its historic 19th anniversary on Sunday, July 20! Senior Pastor Jackie Wleh and his wife, Johnetta, extend a special thank you to their BRN Family as well as BRN Ethnic Church Advancement Consultant Pastor Noelson Chery and everyone else who attended the church’s special anniversary service.

Congratulations Agape International! We are so grateful for your 19 years of ministry and your continued faithfulness to the gospel!

In the News:

Cross Creek Community Church VBS featured on 28/22 News

Vacation Bible School at Cross Creek Community Church in Trucksville, Pa., caught the attention of local media outlets! The VBS was featured in a news story on 2822News.com, the online platform for WBRE/WYOU. Read the full story by clicking here.

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.