Upon joining the First Priority team as an Area Coordinator in February 2022, Jody brings 28 years of ministry experience based out of his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.
Jody gave his heart to the Lord and received his Heavenly Father’s call to ministry in 1994 shortly before graduating from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Business Management degree in 1995. He realizes now that oftentimes the place of our deepest misery can actually become the birthing ground for our life-long ministry.
In March 1995, Jody witnessed his earthly father, who was very instrumental in his salvation, have a heart attack, breathe his last breath here on earth and step into eternity. This painful moment proved to be the catalyst sparking Jody’s deepest passion. He began getting to know God as his Father and sensed the Lord empowering him to go tell what many call a “fatherless generation” they are fatherless no more and introduce them to Him the way that Jody found Him!
The opportunity to daily receive and release his Heavenly Father’s heart in his home, neighborhood, community, city, circles of influence and on every school campus to every student and educator is the cry of Jody’s heart!
Next to salvation, the greatest day of his life was the day he and his bride, Sunny, said “I do!” on March 6, 2010!
While working a job she loved in the commercial mortgage field, Sunny began to feel the pull to help people. This began a journey which led to her start in ministry at a local non-profit that serves women. Since marrying Jody, she has partnered with him in various ministry roles. She is passionate about people finding and fulfilling their purpose in life. Their sons, Joshua and Justus, both enjoy training in martial arts and are ready to talk football stats any day of the week! Today, Jody, Sunny, Joshua and Justus have the awesome joy and privilege of ministering as a family to elementary, intermediate, middle and high school students in the city they now call home, Helena, Alabama.
Together, they believe God has created them to help pioneer a movement in and through the lives of this generation as the hope of Christ is revealed to every student! As a result, students transformed by Jesus can bring His eternal influence and impact to their friends, teachers, parents, siblings and extra-curricular activity peer groups.
They love intentionally serving, connecting and ministering to families, pastors, educators, business people, governmental leaders and community stakeholders for the purpose of God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven!
They invite you to join them in this amazing journey! Every person has a part to play! Do you know yours? Are you called to pray, participate on a campus, promote First Priority, partner financially or in multiple areas?
Feel free to email Jody. He would love to hear what’s in your heart, assist you if necessary in more fully discovering and developing your role, and walk alongside you as you help bring the hope of Christ to every student!