This Week in the BRN Family 09.18.25

BRN churches serve their communities by meeting needs; BRN Evangelism Grants help churches with outreach; and we celebrate new life and Christ and the lives of those who have gone before us - it's a full week in the BRN Family!

September 18, 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:

BRN churches team up for annual Hope 4 Philly event

On Sept. 13, Great Commission Church (GCC), Believers Bible Fellowship, and Riverside Community Church teamed up to bring hope to the West Oak Lane community in Philadelphia. The three churches hosted an annual event known as Hope 4 Philly, a block-party style outreach. Through Hope 4 Philly, residents were provided food, free haircuts, clothes, shoes, connection opportunities with local vendors, games, music, prayer, and, of course, a chance to hear the Gospel!

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Bedrock Church Fishtown continues Serve Philly outreach for third year

Sparked by a Send Relief Serve Tour in 2023, Bedrock Church Fishtown has faithfully continued a Serve Philly outreach event every year now for the last three years. This year, the church was able to serve across multiple neighborhoods, including Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond. Read More

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Walnut Creek Baptist shows ‘Christ’s love in action’ through Back to School Bash

On Aug. 23, Walnut Creek Baptist Church in Erie, Pa., hosted a Back to School Bash for their community. The church blessed more than 600 people with the outreach event, giving away backpacks and school supplies and sharing the love of Christ. Read More

Love of God on full display at Greater Exodus Baptist Church community event in Philadelphia

The love of God was on full display at Greater Exodus Baptist Church’s “Community Day” event. Prayer stations were set up for those in need of prayer, food was provided, and a variety of games and activities were available for children. The church also provided a time of praise and worship for the community, while Pastor Herbert Lusk lll proclaimed the Word of God and encouraged people to give their life to Christ. As a result, three people responded and received Jesus for the first time! Saint John Memorial Baptist Church served alongside Greater Exodus and Pastor Lusk for this event.

BRN EVANGELISM GRANT: Oil change ministry blesses widows and single mothers at Harvest Community Church

At the beginning of August, Harvest Community Church in Natrona Heights, Pa., hosted an oil change event for widows and single mothers in their community. Men from the church worked on the cars, while women volunteers welcomed the widows and mothers with coffee and conversation. Read More

Baptisms:

Baptism serves as reminder of hope in Christ at Greencastle Baptist Church

After a difficult week, members of Greencastle Baptist Church in Greencastle, Pa., were reminded of the great hope we have in Jesus as they watched two young men confess their belief in Jesus and be baptized! Praise the Lord for these brothers in Christ! Please join us in rejoicing with them and the entire Greencastle Baptist Church family.

Several go public with their faith in Christ at Harvest Community Church

Last Sunday was an exciting day for Harvest Community Church in Corry, Pa., as the church witnessed multiple people publicly proclaim their faith in Christ and be baptized! Praise God for these brothers and sisters in Christ! Please join us in celebrating with them and the entire Harvest Community Church family.

Grace Baptist Church celebrates new life in Christ

On Sunday, Sept. 14, Grace Baptist Church in New Bethlehem, Pa., celebrated with Darion, a young lady within their body, as she made the decision to go public with her faith in Jesus by being baptized! Praise the Lord for Darion and her new life in Christ! Please join us in rejoicing with her and the entire Grace Baptist Church family

In Memoriam:

In Memoriam: Lara Kristin Echerd

Lara Echerd, age 46, peacefully passed away on Aug. 25, 2025, after a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. Lara spent a number of years serving with the BRN’s Collegiate Ministry Team in PA/SJ, impacting the lives of many college students. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 at the State College Alliance Church in State College, Pa. Family will receive friends at 10 a.m. The service will be live streamed at https://live.scalliancechurch.com.

The BRN is so grateful for Lara’s impact on the next generation here in PA/SJ and for her years of ministry. Please join us in praying for Lara’s family, friends, and loved ones. Read Full Obituary

In Memoriam: Dr. An Van Pham

Dr. An Van Pham went home to be with the Lord in May 2025, shortly after moving back to his home country of Vietnam. Dr. Pham served Pennsylvania/South Jersey as the coordinator for language church extension in 1996. Better known for his role as a North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionary and Georgia Baptist state missionary, An Van Pham had a heart and passion for church planting. In 2007, he received the “Asian Church Planting Missionary of the Year” award from, then, Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page.

The BRN is so grateful for Dr. An Van Pham’s service to PA/SJ and to the Kingdom. Please join us in praying for An Van Pham’s family, friends, and loved ones. Read Full Obituary

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.