This Week in the BRN Family 08.27.26

This week in the BRN family, school is back in session as college students return to colleges and universities across Pennsylvania/South Jersey and campus missionaries return to campus to share the Hope of Jesus - it's an exciting week in the BRN Family!

August 27, 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:

Campus ministries across Pennsylvania/South Jersey welcome students and prepare for fall semester

This past week, many colleges and universities across our two-state region welcomed students back to their campuses and launched another academic year. Through first week activities and Bible studies, BRN Next collegiate missionaries and BRN churches engaged with students and started another year of reaching the campus with the Hope of Jesus! Check out a few campus moments below:

PennWest Clarion BASIC ministry engages students through Welcome Week outreach and Bible study

During Welcome Week at PennWest Clarion in Clarion, Pa., BASIC campus ministry participated in the university’s organization fair, held their first Bible study of the semester, and interacted with students through Soularium, a tabling evangelism tool.

The ministry had a full room for their first Bible study and engaged in meaningful conversations with students through the outreach events. BASIC at PennWest Clarion is led by Campus Missionary Scott Underhill.

New Life Penn State hosts a sweet start to the semester with Creamery social

This week, New Life campus ministry at Penn State University in State College, Pa., welcomed students back to campus and hosted their first gathering on Tuesday, Aug. 25. This semester the ministry will focus on prayer, deepening students’ understanding of the topic.

The New Life ministry also utilized a BRN evangelism grant to host an ice cream social at the Penn State Creamery, where one of their student leaders shared about Jesus. Over 50 students attended the event, with over half not identifying as Christians. New Life Penn State is run by BRN Next Gen Consultant and Campus Missionary Eric Reiber and Campus Missionary Will Sams.

Greater Philadelphia campus ministries prepare for students to return

Campus Missionary Brady Rennix leads several campus movements on colleges/universities in the Greater Philadelphia region. Currently, Rennix serves at Delaware Valley University, Gwynedd Mercy University, Montgomery County Community College, Chestnut Hill College. He trains student leaders and partners with college professors and local church volunteers to have weekly Bible studies, evangelism tables, prayer tents, and connection events.

Rennix also serves as a chaplain for the Delaware Valley football team and other sports teams at the campuses he serves. While the fall semester has begun at many of the campuses Rennix serves, others will start in the coming weeks.

PennWest California New Life kicks off first week of semester with on-campus worship service

On Sunday Aug. 23, New Life at PennWest California in California, Pa., collaborated with two other campus ministries to conduct an on-campus church service for freshmen. Around 25 freshmen attended the service. On the same day, the campus held a new student-only club fair. During which New Life recruited about 45 students.

On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the New Life ministry held their first Bible study of the semester. The group welcomed nearly 40 students and introduced that they would be studying the book of Micah throughout the semester. Following the Bible study, Campus Missionary Rebekah Vaughn shared that she looks forward to discipling students throughout the semester.

Drexel University BCM hosts summer term Bible study and prepares for Welcome Week

As students at Drexel University in Philadelphia wrap up their summer term, Campus Missionary Brian Musser and his wife Jennifer, who run Baptist Campus Ministries at Drexel, are preparing to welcome new students on Sept. 12. Drexel’s Welcome Week will take place Sept. 12-20, with the first day of classes being on Sept. 21. Please pray for the Mussers and their ministry as they prepare to welcome students back to campus.

Additionally, throughout the summer, the Mussers hosted a Sunday evening Bible study for students. During one of the Bible studies, students heard from local Pastor Alonzo Johnson, who is the senior pastor at Believers Bible Fellowship.

Athlete’s Bible Study at LHU kicks off first day of classes with Bible study and first day of school pictures

On Aug. 24, Athlete’s Bible Study at Lock Haven University (LHU) in Lock Haven, Pa., kicked off the first week of classes by offering first day of school pictures in the morning and hosting their first Bible study of the semester in the evening. During their first Bible study, the campus ministry welcomed 86 students, with 25 of those students being non-athletes.

Throughout the first week of classes, the ministry was able to connect with new and returning students. Athlete’s Bible Study is a campus ministry of Big Woods Bible Church and is led by Robbie Mays, associate pastor of campus ministry at Big Woods Bible Church.

Welcome to the BRN Family

Rebekah Vaughn | PennWest California, California, Pa.

After a year of serving as a Baptist Resource Network (BRN) Next intern at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, alongside BRN Next Gen Consultant and Collegiate Missionary Eric Reiber, Rebekah Vaughn felt the Lord calling her to remain in Pennsylvania as a campus missionary — but not at Penn State. Read More

Will Sams | Penn State University, State College, Pa.

Following graduation, Will Sams’ initial plan was to move back to northern Virginia and work for the government, but by the time his junior year of college rolled around God made clear that He had a different path for him.

Not entirely sure what the Lord had in store, Sams accepted an internship with the college ministry he served in as a student at Virginia Tech. Eventually, this opportunity led him to Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Read More

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.