On Feb. 13, 2017, a group of seven churches in our Shelby County Network partnered with First Priority to organize school assemblies at Oak Mountain Middle School. The assemblies were held throughout the day during Physical Education classes and taught students about the 7 habits of highly effective teens by Sean Covey. Our goal was to come alongside the school and provide content to help make our teenagers more successful. Students learned about the following 7 habits of highly effective teens: 

 

1.  Be Proactive – Take responsibility for your life and actions – don’t blame others. (Ben Birdsong, Meadow Brook Baptist Church)

2.  Begin with the End in Mind – Define your dreams and goals and strive for them. (Jody Hooven, Christ Church United Methodist)

3. Put First Things First – Schedule your priorities, not prioritize your schedule. Think about what is important and plan for it. (Jason Richardson, Inverness Vineyard Church)

4.  Think Win Win – Have an “everyone can win” attitude. (Josh Knierim, Valleydale Church)

5.  Seek First to Understand Then Be Understood – Listen to people sincerely. (Debi DeBoer, First Priority Greater Birmingham and New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church)

6.  Synergize – Work together as a team to achieve more. (Robbie Crawford, Shades Mountain Baptist Church)

7.  Sharpen the Saw – Renew yourself regularly. (Alex Lovorn, North Shelby Baptist Church)

 

We strive to do whatever it takes to reach students and train them to be successful in life. We have also started mentoring 8th graders by doing 5-minute interviews with each of them on their report card. We do this in order to speak life over them and help them set goals to be more successful in the classroom. Students have truly enjoyed the encouragement they have received from this new program.

 

We would like to thank our local churches for partnering with us to inspire teens across our area. We would also like to thank school administration and teachers for allowing us to walk alongside you and your students to help encourage and mentor them.

 

Inverness Vineyard Church’s Jason Richardson talking with students about the importance of scheduling priorities