Math Teacher Mr. Darius Williams speaking to Duran South Jr. High First Priority students

Nearly 100 Duran South Junior High School students attended First Priority on March 20, 2012. A few students shared the following about First Priority:

“First Priority is great. I get to listen to the words of people and learn about what they have been through and how God has helped them. I have a good day when I come here every time.” – Tyler

“First Priority is here for people who may not attend church.” – Anna

“First Priority is a time when we can all come together and learn about Christ.” – Reagan

Math Teacher, Mr. Darius Williams who is involved with First Priority, then shared the following story with the students about two brothers who were young and alone: “There were two brothers who had to take care of themselves. They were poor and had to sleep under a tree. They would oftentimes see their mother from the school bus walking along the road with no shoes or shirt on. They had to wear the same pair of clothes and shoes every day. The oldest brother kept John 3:16 close and started following God. He went on and graduated with a 4.2 GPA in the 10^th grade. He was very successful in college and became a school teacher. The younger brother did not do well. He had behavior problems because he didn’t have parents. He had to be put into special education classes. To this day, the younger brother still can’t believe he grew up without parents.”

Mr. Williams then told the students that the older brother that he just told them about was himself. He said times were very tough growing up. He questioned God and asked, “Why?” He said God told him, “I will never leave you; nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 and Deuteronomy 31:6) “During it all I believed in John 3:16,” said Mr. Williams. “God spoke to me and said He wanted to use me.”

“Despite what you go through as a child, your past does not dictate your future,” Mr. Williams said. “I am proof that you can accomplish every goal in life. I was determined that one day I would be somebody. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for God.”

Put your faith and trust in God. He will “never leave you nor forsake you.” He will use you. Don’t let your past keep you from being who God wants you to be today.

Duran South First Priority Leadership Team

by Donna Funderburke McKinley

Teens will abuse alcohol for a variety of reasons, but how can you tell if your teen is at risk? What sort of warning signs should you look out for?

Although any teen is susceptible in abusing alcohol, there are certain groups of individuals that may be at more risk than others. Click here to read more and find out if your teen is at risk.

Bragg Middle School First Priority Club Students

We are working on a First Priority Club “Year in Review,” and we need your help! Please send us pictures from your club meetings and events. Give us an update on your attendance and salvations. Let us know specific things your First Priority Club did this year to reach students for Christ. Please help us out! We would love to include your pictures and updates in our “Year in Review.” It will be a great recap of the 2011-2012 school year and you don’t want to miss out! Please submit pictures and updates/recaps to info@gofirstpriority.com. Also, if your club is planning any “End of school year” or summer events, please send that information to us as well. We truly appreciate your help and can’t wait to hear from you!

Daniel Payne Middle School First Priority Students with Christian Rap Artist Hallel H.P.

Grab your float, beach towel and sunscreen and get ready for a load of fun at Spring Valley Beach Water Park! If you’re looking for a fun-filled place to take the whole family for the day, then Spring Valley Beach is the perfect get-away. Centrally located in Blountsville, Ala., just an hour from Birmingham, this family-oriented water park has something to offer everyone. Owner Travis Gilliland says, “The Park is a family business with family values.”

Gilliland says on an average day, between 500 and 1,000 people come out to the Park. It has the largest pool in the southeast at 150 feet wide by 500 feet long, accommodating quite a few people. For smaller children, there is an interactive play area with several water slides sectioned off from the larger area. The Park has seven main water slides. Gilliland says the Park’s newest addition, 360 Rush, is the first one of its kind in the world. Introduced last season, 360 Rush offers pulse-pounding thrills by delivering a whole new dimension to high-speed thrill rides. According to Splashtacular Entertainment Inc., the company that designed, engineered and installed the 360 Rush, after entering separate launch modules, riders’ adrenaline begins to surge as they await the countdown for simultaneous release. Launching down near-vertical entry tubes, rider speeds rapidly accelerate, peaking at up to 30 mph.

“You can be any age,” says Gilliland. “We have parents that bring their children and I’ve seen the children grow up and bring their children. It’s been a great turnover throughout the years.” And, safety is first at Spring Valley Beach. Gilliland says, “We try to pride ourselves on having nice and attentive guards. Every lifeguard we have is Red Cross CPR Certified.”

Spring Valley Beach is perfect for families, church groups, company picnics and family reunions. The Park provides free sunscreen, grills for cooking and large and small pavilions for picnics. So, whether you’re looking to relax by the pool or explore the thriller water slides, Spring Valley Beach is a perfect destination.

The Park is scheduled to open for its 2012 season on Saturday, May 19. For more information about Spring Valley Beach, call 205.429.2075 or visit www.springvalleybeach.com.

(Click flyer to enlarge)

Please help us get the word out! Please post the above flyer on your Facebook page and print and distribute in your church and community!

We would like to invite you to join us for a series of youth rallies this summer:

THE RISING

Philippians 2:2

Standing United To Reach Many

Rally 1: June 6th @ Adamsville Chruch of God

Worship by: Chris Morris Band

Vision Cast: First Priority Area Director James Cato

Message: David Little

Rally 2: July 11th @ New Life Worship Center in West Jefferson County (Right past Miller Steam Plant Road)

Music by: BEST (Carrying the Cross)

Message: Gordon Eads

Rally 3: August 8th @ Sharon Heights Baptist Church

Music by: Billy Smith Band

Speaker: Micah Dormann

Rallies start @ 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday night

Unite The Kingdom

Reach The Community

For more information, please call James Cato at 205.410.6297.

We would like to invite you to join us for First Priority Night with the Birmingham Barons, Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Regions Park. Bring the whole family or your church group for a fun-filled evening. It will be a great night for baseball and softball team parties as well. Your group will enjoy a pre-game event, ticket to the Barons game, pizza and a drink in a souvenir cup for only $10 per person. Click on the link below to learn about our Special Guest Hallel H.P. who will be performing during our pre-game event. Come out and enjoy a time of fun and fellowship. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., the pre-game event will start at 5:45 p.m. and the game will begin at 6:30 p.m. The deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, May 14. TICKETS ARE PRESALE ONLY. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time to ensure we order the appropriate amount of pizza and drinks. Purchase your group’s tickets by calling 205.871.8886.

Click here to view pictures from last year’s event

Click here to learn about our Special Guest Hallel H.P.

Click here to vote for Infomedia’s Video

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“First Priority has given the students on our campus a club where they can feel safe and can come and worship without fear of getting in trouble or made fun of,” said Casey Collins, Leeds High School student and First Priority Leader. “It helps students learn how to worship, pray, and learn more about our God every week.”

Casey has been a member and leader of First Priority for the past six years. Along with her commitment to First Priority, Casey is very involved in different school organizations and her church. She is the senior class vice president, National Honor Society vice president, FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) president/state vice president of programs, Peer Tutor- Programs Chair, FCA secretary, Yearbook editor, Quill and Scroll senior editor and Leeds High School Club Day creator. Casey is also a part of W.A.V.E Student Liaison, Eco- Scape Mad Scientist Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Drama Club, Chamber Diplomat, Heritage Panel, Scholars Bowl, FBLA, Dual Enrollment, Honors Classes, Student Government Association, Leeds High Sisterhood, Flag Football Team, and Junior Optimist Club. Casey is a youth leader and missions committee member at Valley View Baptist Church. She works at Leeds Elementary After School-Care Program, is a part of Youth Empowerment Program, is the Fire Prevention Queen, Leeds High School Miss “Leeder,” and Voted Leeds High School Miss Greenwave.

Casey recently opened up to us about how First Priority is changing the lives of students in her school. Casey took time to share the following with us:

First Priority: How many members attended First Priority when you first attended? How many members attend now?

Casey: In middle school, we averaged about 12-15 students every Wednesday. Today, we have between 20-25 weekly.

First Priority: Are you a leader in First Priority? If so, how long have you been a leader? What are your responsibilities as a leader?

Casey: Yes, I have been a leader since I joined in sixth grade. I usually do the announcements and assist with lining up speakers and activities each week.

First Priority: What makes you standout in First Priority?

Casey: I have been in First Priority for six years and I care a lot about outreach and strive for our club to maintain as active as possible.

First Priority: Why do you have a passion for First Priority and believe in it?   

Casey: First Priority to me can help reach students who don’t go to church. We can be an example for students at our school and spark an interest within them through our activities and speakers.

First Priority: How has First Priority changed your life?

Casey: First Priority has given me the opportunity to meet a variety of new people that I may not have ever been able to meet. I have been to every leadership meeting and have had the chance to hear from fantastic speakers and learn so much.

First Priority: Do you believe First Priority is effective on your campus? Why/How?

Casey: I do. It allows us to reach students who we cannot reach throughout our churches.

First Priority: What are specific things your First Priority club has done on campus to reach students for Christ?

Casey: Recently, we had a prayer walk where we walked through the halls and prayed silently for the students in our school. We try to have guest speakers every week provide new and exciting things for students to come see.

First Priority: How is First Priority changing lives on your campus?

Casey: First Priority has given the students on our campus a club where they can feel safe and can come and worship without fear of getting in trouble or made fun of. It helps students learn how to worship, pray, and learn more about our God every week.

First Priority: Have you witnessed friends and other students come to know Christ through First Priority?

Casey: I have seen students come to know Christ at functions such as the Leadership Conference and Saw You at the Pole, but none personally on our campus.

We would like to thank Casey for opening up and sharing with us how First Priority is changing and influencing lives on her campus. We are very encouraged that students find safety and comfort in First Priority. We appreciate Casey’s outreach efforts to reach the unchurched and for leading by example in her school.

Our special guest speaker Javier from the movie “Courageous,” Robert Amaya, brought an inspirational message about keeping the focus on Jesus Christ in youth ministry. Robert read from Matthew 21:12-15 ~ 12 “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.’ 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant.”

“God is pleased when God is at work,” said Robert to begin his message. Robert shared a story about a group of students who went on a mission trip to share the gospel and minister to those in another country. He said the students began to see God at work and people coming to know Christ, and then God began to work in their own lives. One by one, students started confessing their sins and realizing what they needed to be doing back home. “Jesus was at work,” said Robert.

Robert encouraged the youth leaders not to take the focus off Jesus Christ in youth ministry. “Interacting with your kids through games, movies and jokes are great, but don’t let those things rob your students of encountering God,” said Robert. “As it says in verse 12, Jesus had to clear out the temple so that He would be the focus. Jesus attracts those who are in desperate need for him… the blind, the lame; they needed someone to intervene. Don’t take the focus off Jesus. Show your students Christ and make Him the focus.”

Robert told the youth leaders that Christ attracts the afflicted and to be encouraged because their teenagers would shout His praises as the children did in verse 15. “Heaven will be filled with gospel responders,” said Robert. “Don’t hinder your students. Preach the gospel and keep your focus on Christ.”

Point 11 Ministries Director Bruce Morgan was in attendance to provide youth leaders with educational material about the Christian camps and retreats his ministry offers. Bruce gave away four FREE passes to one of Point 11′s premier parks. Also in attendance was Spring Valley Beach Water Park Owner Alan Gilliland, who provided each youth leader with a FREE pass to the Park as well as information about everything the Park has to offer groups and families. Please take time to visit both organizations’ Web sites below. First Priority gave away several bags of really great youth ministry resources. Jon Walden with Revocation Radio and Christian Rap Artist Hallel H.P. were also in attendance.

We would like to give a special thanks to everyone that attended and joined us for a great time of growth and fellowship. We would also like to give a special thanks to Point 11 Ministries, Spring Valley Beach and Regions Park for helping to make this meeting a huge success. We would like to give a special thanks again to Robert Amaya for an amazing message and words of encouragement.

Click here to view City-Wide pictures or tag yourself here

Click here to learn more about Point 11 Ministries

Click here to learn more about Spring Valley Beach

First Priority held its 18th Annual SCORE (Students Count On Real Examples) Dinner on Thursday, April 26, 2012, at Grace Life Baptist Church. We would like to thank all those who attended and helped support this special event financially. The ministry of First Priority has been able to touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of students over the past 21 years because of faithful people like you.

The evening began with dinner and an award presentation. First Priority recognized Board Member and Bethel Baptist Church Pleasant Grove Youth Pastor Scott Douglas. Scott was presented First Priority’s Volunteer Excellence Service Award for Christian leadership, love for students, commitment to the Lord, and years of involvement and leadership with First Priority Greater Birmingham. Scott is an active First Priority board member and has been strongly involved with First Priority for more than 15 years. Scott presently works closely with Pleasant Grove Middle and High School First Priority clubs. He has been the youth pastor at Bethel Baptist Church Pleasant Grove since 1995. He is a First Priority campus coach, is active in the community, supports First Priority and has attended several First Priority winter conferences and other ministry events. We are very grateful for Scott and his tremendous commitment and dedication to helping students and seeing them come to know Christ.

First Priority Greater Birmingham Executive Director Matt Wilson continued the evening with a ministry update and school highlight video. “One Hope… that is Jesus Christ,” said Matt. “We’ve got to go to these students; that’s what First Priority is all about.” Debi DeBoer, First Priority area director for Shelby County and Hoover, shared about some incredible things God is doing in her area. On April 25, nearly 800 Hoover High School students attended Undivided/First Priority and 106 of those students made a decision for Christ. “Even if it was just one, just one student, that would be enough for me,” said Debi. Then Debi shared about leaders stepping up at Berry Middle School. “Every Testimony Week students are lined up to share about what God is doing in their lives,” said Debi. “Students stayed after school for several hours on a Friday afternoon to learn how to share their faith with other students.” Debi said Pelham High School students sing Exodus 14:14 ~ “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Great things are happening on our campuses all over the Greater-Birmingham area. Students are sharing their faith with their peers and more and more students are coming to know Christ.

First Priority Greater Birmingham President Greg Davis then introduced specials guests John Erwin, Eleanor Brown and Ben Davies, who were all a part of the new Sherwood Film, “Courageous.” John directed the second unit of the movie. Eleanor played the role of Kayla Hayes, wife of Cop Nathan Hayes in the film; and Ben played the role of Rookie Cop David Thompson. Each shared about how much they appreciate First Priority and how important the ministry is especially to those students who don’t have a Godly outlet. We would like to thank each of them for joining and sharing in our special event.

We then heard from our special guest speaker Robert Amaya, who played the role of Javier in the movie Courageous. Robert is a bilingual professional actor/singer in Miami with a background in theater. He felt humbled and honored playing his character in the movie Courageous because it reminded him of his own father’s struggles to survive in a new country with a family. Between projects, Robert travels across the nation singing and speaking at both English and Spanish churches, schools, and organizations about a variety of topics including fatherhood, honor and Christianity.

Robert began by sharing that he prayed that God would show him what to speak about during the dinner. He said he planned to speak about being real because, “Students Count On Real Examples.” Robert read from Acts 5:1-11. He proposed the question, “Do you put up a front, a false impression of what people actually think about you, a lie?” The story of Ananias is about a hidden sin being exposed. “We have grown complacent in our hypocrisy,” said Robert. “It’s possible to work for God and never know Him and feel like a Christian and never be one.” Robert referenced Matthew 7:22-23 ~ 22 “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Robert said the gospel exposes sin. When we lose sight of the gospel, we open up ourselves to evil. “Don’t live a lie,” said Robert. “God has given us the keys to new life; we’re to go when He calls on us. Don’t be self-righteous like Ananias. You might think you’re just lying to your church, but you’re not; you’re lying to God.” Robert encouraged everyone to put down their false pretenses and find rest in the Lord. “God forgives us, thieves, liars and hypocrites, He forgives us all. Turn from your sins and put your faith and trust in Him and you will find rest. Students are counting on real examples. Show them that the gospel saves all of us, who are pretenders.”

Matt concluded our program by sharing that we need to examine ourselves and realize why we’re here. Our purpose is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. “Students count on us and need real examples in their lives; let’s lead by example.”

We would like to thank our special guest speaker Robert Amaya for taking part in our event and sharing such a powerful message that we can all take to heart. Thank you to Grace Life Baptist Church for its hospitality in hosting this special event. We would once again like to thank everyone who attended our 18th Annual SCORE Dinner. Your time, finances and influence helped make this event a huge success. Many lives will be changed by the momentum that was gained from your efforts.

Click here to view pictures from our Dinner or tag yourself here

Click below to view First Priority’s 2011-2012 School Highlight Video

First Priority 2012 SCORE Dinner School Highlight Video