First Priority held its 19th Annual SCORE (Students Count On Real Examples) Banquet on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at The Harbert Center. 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 22 years because of faithful people like you.
The evening began with music, provided by Alabama School of Fine Arts students Jay Nelson and Vernon Johnson, followed by dinner and an award and scholarship presentation. First Priority recognized Former Board Member Gail Jones. Gail 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. Gail has served as a First Priority board member and has been strongly involved with First Priority for 13 years. Gail currently works closely with First Priority clubs in the Bibb County Network. She is active in her church and community, supports First Priority and has attended many First Priority winter conferences and other ministry events. We are very grateful for Gail and her tremendous commitment and dedication to helping students and seeing them come to know Christ.
A local network of churches from the Highway 78 area sponsored two scholarships that were awarded to First Priority student leaders. We would like to congratulate Alexis Allen and Anesia Allen who received these awards for Christian leadership, academic excellence, involvement and leadership in a First Priority club and commitment to a local church. Alexis and Anesia are seniors at Minor High school. They have both been involved with First Priority for six years, and have served on prayer and encouragement teams. First Priority Area Director James Cato says, “Being a former campus coach and now serving as area director, it has been a joy to watch these ladies grow spiritually over the years and pray for and encourage their lost friends for Christ.”
First Priority Greater Birmingham Executive Director Matt Wilson continued the evening by providing a national and global ministry update. Not only is First Priority in schools across the country, but around the world as well. We received the privilege of hearing from First Priority Leader Peter Abungu, who is from Nairobi, Kenya. Peter teamed up with First Priority Founder Benny Broffitt to start First Priority clubs in Kenya. We watched a video that gave an overview of how First Priority has made a positive difference in schools in Kenya. Because of the impact First Priority is making, peer pressure has been reduced, drug abuse and sexual activity have been reduced, and students have grown closer to God spiritually. Over 40 students have given their life to Christ in 2013. It is a blessing to see how God is using the ministry of First Priority on the other side of the world. We look forward to learning more about changed lives in Kenya.
We then heard from our special guest speaker Chan Gailey, head coach in the NFL. Chan has served on the Advisory Board of First Priority of America and First Priority Global. He and his wife Laurie have financially supported First Priority for many years. Chan and Laurie’s sons, Tate and Andrew, were some of the first students to be involved in First Priority when it began in the early 1990s. They have been faithful church members in every city where he has coached and have had a great Christian witness and ministry wherever they have lived.
First Priority Founder Benny Proffitt held a Q&A/Interview style session with Chan. Benny began by asking Chan to share about his faith growing up and while coaching. Chan said he was raised in a Christian home. As a coach, he would hold player Bible studies and do things to try to encourage players as they faced day-to-day problems. Chan said family has always been very important to him. Family values and being a dad have always been at the forefront everywhere he has coached. Benny then asked Chan what it was like to be the head coach at Dallas. “God has a sense of humor for sure,” said Chan. He said he didn’t think he would ever be a head coach and he especially never thought he would be the head coach for the Dallas Cowboys, America’s team. “It was an amazing run,” said Chan. “Jerry Jones told me he lost the greatest man he had ever worked with when I left. There were stories of revival at Dallas. I always tried to do the right thing.” Chan mentioned the impact Pat Summerall made on his life in Dallas. He said Pat held a Bible study and that is where he became a Christian, where he really came to know Christ. Chan said he was baptized when he was 11 years old but led a life like the Israelites seeking after the Ark of the Covenant for help instead of relying on God. He said it was Pat that helped lead him to a real personal relationship with God.
Benny closed by asking Chan about his children’s involvement with First Priority. They were involved with First Priority when it began over 20 years ago. Chan said it’s the parents’ job to teach, lead and guide their children, but First Priority makes a major impact when parents aren’t doing their job. “First Priority provides a vehicle for kids to share with kids.”
We would like to thank Chan for taking part in our event and sharing such a powerful message that we can all take to heart. We would once again like to thank everyone who attended our 19th Annual SCORE Banquet. 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 SCORE Banquet
