First Priority of Alabama

The Hope of Christ in Every Student

Join Our Race to 100 Challenge!

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What if I told you that for just $25 per month a student’s life could be changed forever? Yes, you read that right! That’s a large pizza and an order of bread sticks once a month. We would like to inform you about our Race to 100 campaign. We’re racing to find 100 people to give $25 per month for the next 12 months. That’s $300 a year. Your monthly gift will be used immediately to develop campus ministry for students on their local school campuses. Our goal is to reach every school in 22 school systems across Central Alabama; that’s nearly 170,000 students. But, we can’t do this alone, we need your help. Will you prayerfully consider joining our race and giving $25 per month for the next 12 months?
 
The following are 12 important reasons to join the Race to 100:
  1. The largest mission field in the state of Alabama is the public school.
  2. More students will be equipped to share the Gospel with their peers.
  3. New resources will be developed to train students with evangelistic tools to share the Gospel.
  4. New First Priority clubs in middle and high schools will be started across our area.
  5. We will be able to reach a younger generation by starting new FPKids clubs in elementary schools.
  6. We will hear more student testimonies of “I came to know Christ through my First Priority club.” For some students, First Priority is the only youth group they are exposed to.
  7. First Priority’s HOPE Strategy works! Students come to know Christ every month.
  8. First Priority connects local churches as the body of Christ to build the Kingdom of God.
  9. A First Priority volunteer will make a difference in the lives of hopeless students.
  10. You will help students promote See You at the Pole on their local school campuses.
  11. You will help provide doughnuts, biscuits, pizza, drinks and other incentives for more students to attend club meetings and hear the Gospel.
  12. Students who respond to the Gospel will continue to be followed-up with by the local church.
 
For more than 25 years, First Priority has worked with local churches to raise up a generation of students who will choose to make Jesus Christ their First Priority. For years, church leaders have heard the claim that nearly nine out of 10 Christians accept Jesus as their Savior before the age of 18. If that statistic was accurate in the past, it no longer depicts U.S. society. Now Barna says that, “If Jesus is not already part of their lives by the time they leave junior high school, the chance of them accepting Him as their Lord and Savior is very slim (6% to be exact).” That is why we unite the body of Christ with a plan of action to influence the school with the Gospel.

Please prayerfully consider continuing your important partnership with the ministry of First Priority by joining our Race to 100. Thank you for your continuous support!
 

You’re invited to our Back to School Bash!

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Please support First Priority and bring your kids out for a fun day at Sky Zone! On Sunday, August 12, First Priority is having a Back to School Bash at Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Hoover. Kids (elementary/intermediate) are invited to jump and play from 1-3 p.m. while parents, ministry leaders and teachers attend an FPKids training in one of Sky Zone’s meeting rooms. And, youth (middle/high) are invited to jump from 3-5 p.m. We will have a First Priority training during that time as well for youth and student leaders. The cost to jump is $16 per person and this includes socks. Please purchase tickets at Sky Zone on the day of the event, not online. If you plan to attend the FPKids training, please register online HERE. Registration online is only for the adults attending the FPKids training. For more information, please call 205.871.8886. Students are encouraged to bring a back to school supply item to donate to those in need. We look forward to seeing you at Sky Zone in Hoover on Sunday, August 12!

Help us put Bibles in the hands of student leaders

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We have a wonderful opportunity to place a Bible in the hands of every First Priority student leader so they can effectively share the Gospel on their school campus, but we need your help! Would you be willing to purchase Bibles for students to have on campus? You can buy 10 Bibles for $25, 20 Bibles for $50, 30 Bibles for $75, 50 Bibles for $125, or make a general donation to buy more Bibles. The First Priority Bible includes the following inserts: Plan of Salvation, Campus Prayer Guide, First Priority Club Leader Guide, HOPE Cycle, New Believer Bible Study, and Gospel Bible Study.
 
We would love to be able to place a Bible in the hands of student leaders and new believers; will you help us today? We will be purchasing these Bibles over the summer so they will be ready for students when the new school year begins in the fall. We also desire to give a Bible to every student that attends our 2018 Leader’s Summit. Please help us continue to reach students on the public school campus with the hope of Christ by sponsoring Bibles. The Bibles will be shipped to First Priority and we will distribute them to students. You can click below to sponsor online or you may send a check to: First Priority of Alabama, P.O. Box 59365, Birmingham, AL 35259. Please note “Bibles” in the memo line. Thank you for your consideration and support!

Help us put Bibles in the hands of student leaders

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We have a wonderful opportunity to place a Bible in the hands of every First Priority student leader so they can effectively share the Gospel on their school campus, but we need your help! Would you be willing to purchase Bibles for students to have on campus? You can buy 10 Bibles for $25, 20 Bibles for $50, 30 Bibles for $75, 50 Bibles for $125, or make a general donation to buy more Bibles. The First Priority Bible includes the following inserts: Plan of Salvation, Campus Prayer Guide, First Priority Club Leader Guide, HOPE Cycle, New Believer Bible Study, and Gospel Bible Study.
 
We would love to be able to place a Bible in the hands of student leaders and new believers; will you help us today? We will be purchasing these Bibles over the summer so they will be ready for students when the new school year begins in the fall. We also desire to give a Bible to every student that attends our 2018 Leader’s Summit. Please help us continue to reach students on the public school campus with the hope of Christ by sponsoring Bibles. The Bibles will be shipped to First Priority and we will distribute them to students. You can click below to sponsor online or you may send a check to: First Priority of Alabama, P.O. Box 59365, Birmingham, AL 35259. Please note “Bibles” in the memo line. Thank you for your consideration and support!

TOMORROW is National Day of Prayer

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The first Thursday in May has been proclaimed a National Day of Prayer by the president of the United States. This year’s theme is “Pray for America – UNITY,” based upon Ephesians 4:3, which challenges us to mobilize unified public prayer for America, “Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” The National Day of Prayer is positioned to pray for our nation to experience unity.
 
Our country desperately needs prayer now more than ever before. We would like to encourage you to take time tomorrow to gather with your family, coworkers, friends and intercede on behalf of your community, leaders and nation. Prayer brings people together; it brings unity. Pray for our president and government officials. Pray for our great nation that’s currently broken. Pray for our students, teachers and school administrations. Pray for their safety. School shootings are becoming rampant. Students face an enormous amount of peer pressure to become part of what is considered normal by the world’s standards. Without prayer, these students will not be able to stand against the insurmountable odds they will face from childhood until they leave this world. Click here for 24 Biblical virtues you can pray over students tomorrow.
 
There are many prayer gatherings and events happening all over the country tomorrow. Click here for more information about National Day of Prayer, resources and to find events taking place in your community.

24 Biblical Virtues to Pray Over Students

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24 Virtues to pray over students

Please join us in praying for students, teachers, faculty and administration. Praying for the students in our area is not just a privilege…it is a necessity. Students live in a tough world! Each day, students are subjected to literally thousands of offensive images and words. They also face an enormous amount of peer pressure to become part of what is considered normal by the world’s standards. Without prayer, these students will not be able to stand against the insurmountable odds they will face from childhood until they leave this world. Please pray for the safety of each school campus. Please be in constant prayer for students who don’t know Christ. Please pray that Christian students will be bold in sharing their faith and that God will take away any fears they may have. When you pass by a school, pray for that school. Make a school zone your prayer zone. The prayers for our students are endless. We have put together a prayer guide to help you. Below are 24 Biblical virtues that you can pray over students. Will you join this prayer movement? Commit today to pray!

  1. Salvation—”Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” (Isa. 45:8; 2 Tim. 2:10)

 

  1. Growth in Grace—”I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 3:18)

 

  1. Love—”Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them.” (Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:2)

 

  1. Honesty and Integrity—”May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection.” (Ps. 25:21)

 

  1. Self-Control—”Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do.” (1 Thess. 5:6)

 

  1. Love for God’s Word—”May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb.” (Ps. 19:10)

 

  1. Mercy—”May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

 

  1. Respect (for self, others, and authority)—”Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands.” (1 Pet. 2:17)
  2. Biblical Self-Esteem—”Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:10)

 

  1. Faithfulness—”Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.” (Prov. 3:3)

 

  1. Courage—”May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions.” (Deut. 31:6)

 

  1. Purity—”Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions.” (Ps. 51:10)

 

  1. Kindness—”Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” (1 Thess. 5:15)

 

  1. Generosity—”Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.” (1 Tim. 6:18-19)

 

  1. Peace-Loving—”Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace.” (Rom. 14:19)

 

  1. Joy—”May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Thess. 1:6)

 

  1. Perseverance—”Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them.” (Heb. 12:1)

 

  1. Humility—”God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all.” (Titus 3:2)

 

  1. Compassion—”Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion.” (Col. 3:12)

 

  1. Faith—”I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them.” (Luke 17:5-6; Heb. 11:1-40)

 

  1. A Servant’s Heart—”God, please help my children develop servant’s hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men.” (Eph. 6:7)

 

  1. Self-Discipline—”Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.” (Prov. 1:3)

 

  1. Gratitude—”Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 5:20; Col. 2:7)

 

  1. A Heart for Missions—”Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among the peoples.” (Ps. 96:3)

Andy Erwin shares his story at City-wide

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First Priority held its second City-Wide Campus Ministry Network Luncheon of the year on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham. Nearly 100 youth leaders and children’s ministers across the Greater-Birmingham Area attended for a time of equipping, encouragement and fellowship. Everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch from Ragtime Cafe.
 
Our special guest speaker was Andy Erwin, co-director of the new film “I Can Only Imagine.” First Priority Greater Birmingham President Greg Davis and YM360 President Roger Davis interviewed Andy in a Q&A type setting. Andy shared his story about working in the movie industry and creating faith-based films like “I Can Only Imagine” that provide opportunities for the Gospel to be shared. Andy is very passionate about his work and believes he is called to move youth emotionally to a place where they want to know more about Christ. “The movie is an evangelistic tool,” said Andy.
 
Andy also shared about “I Can Only Imagine” resources that YM360 and City on a Hill partnered to develop. These resources include a youth ministry Bible study, student devotional, video series, church campaign kit, small group kit, journal and much more. The movie and resources allow you to grow deeper with your students. These tools are great for churches and families who want to help others see themselves through God’s eyes and find healing in his approval, purpose and eternal hope. For youth ministry resources, click here. For church resources, click here.
 
We would like to thank Andy for sharing his story about the movie industry and his passion to provide opportunities for the Gospel to be shared through the making of faith-based films. We would also like to give a special thanks to YM360, Servant Life and Fund The Nations/52Threads, who sponsored our Lunch and helped make it a huge success. Representatives from these organizations provided youth leaders with educational material about their camps, programs and upcoming events. Please take time to visit their Web sites for more information. We would like to thank all those again who attended and joined us for a great time of growth and fellowship. Be sure to check out photos from the event and tag yourself!
 
Click below to watch the trailer and learn more about this incredible movie!

I Can Only Imagine in theaters today!

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I CAN ONLY IMAGINE opens in theaters across the U.S. TODAY! Gather your youth group, friends and family together, get your tickets, and then experience this incredible true story. A compelling story of forgiveness that shows us we are never too far from God’s love and our eternal home in Heaven. This is a perfect movie to bring students, friends, neighbors, or family members that need to hear the story of God’s love. You can also get group rates here.
You can find resources by clicking on the image below that can help teenagers get the most out of this powerful story of forgiveness, hope and redemption. 

3x your impact! Support First Priority just by shopping!

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Did you know that you can support First Priority just by shopping on Amazon? That’s right, when you designate First Priority of Alabama as your charity of choice at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase to First Priority. What’s more, from now until the end of March, Amazon will triple the donation rate to 1.5% on your first eligible purchase! We hope you’ll take advantage of this great and simple opportunity to support First Priority. All you have to do is log-in to your Amazon account HERE and begin shopping; it’s that simple!
 
Amazon’s program called AmazonSmile allows shoppers to select their favorite charitable organization to receive a percentage of the purchase as a contribution from Amazon. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know, the same products, same prices, same service! The benefit: you are helping First Priority reach students with the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
 
CLICK HERE to get started today. Designate First Priority of Alabama as your charity of choice and start shopping! You will know your purchase is supporting First Priority when you see, “Supporting First Priority of Alabama” in the top left corner of Amazon’s Web site.

Join us for reTHINK Student Apologetics Conference

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Who’s waiting for your students? When they leave the relative safety of their homes, youth ministry or church, who is waiting for them at school, or the university? What contrary ideas will the culture throw their way? What challenges will confront their faith in Christ? How will they answer questions about the LGBT movement, Islam, the reliability of the Bible, evolution, etc.? Are they ready?
 
The reTHINK Apologetics Student Conference exists to provoke a new generation to rethink their worldview, recapture the truth, and then reengage the world for the cause of Christ. This conference is designed for junior high, high school and college-aged students. It will be held Friday, April 20 – Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, 2200 Briarwood Way, Birmingham, AL 35243. This is a great conference for families, youth groups, anyone! For more info, schedule, list of speakers and to register, click here. This is going to be such an incredible conference for your students!
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