“I am watching with my own eyes Jesus become the First Priority at West End Academy,” said West End Academy First Priority Campus Coach Sandy Clayton. West End Academy is one of the first inner city schools to implement a First Priority Kids club in the Birmingham area.
With the approval and support of its principal, West End Academy launched its first club meeting in November 2011. Sandy said the principal’s belief is that children are constantly in a negative environment and the gospel is their one hope. “Because of the support we have received from Principal Cooper-Young, Christ City Church and First Priority, we believe a new generation is being raised-up in the West End community that is going to break the generational cycle of crimes, drugs, gangs and fatherless children,” said Sandy.
Fifty 3rd-5th grade students attended the first club meeting in November. At the most recent club meeting, 140 students attended. Sandy said 23 students have accepted Christ since the first meeting and 12 of those made decisions for Christ last week when presented the gospel message with the “Cross” since it was Easter Week.
Students help facilitate the meeting by leading the opening prayer, reading scripture from the Bible, explaining the monthly virtue, participating in drama, helping lead praise “dance” songs, participating in appreciation service projects for the principal and teachers and prayer walking around the school.
Each month, students are challenged with a virtue and scripture to focus on. First Priority Area Director James Cato said February’s virtue was “Uniqueness,” from Jeremiah 1:5 ~ “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
“It is amazing the response from the kids,” said James. “Seeing it first-hand is an eye-opener of what God can do if we make an effort as the body of Christ to reach out. Over 100 kids gather hungry every week and even get upset when they miss a club meeting. Students are challenged every week to love like Christ and be an example of that love to everyone.” James said students received the opportunity to demonstrate their love by writing “thank you” cards to teachers. “When we love as a Church and unite in the community, the message of Christ goes forth like never before,” said James. “It was great to see love in action.”
“We have a team of about 10 adults from Christ City Church and two mothers from the community who attend weekly to serve at First Priority and assist First Priority Teacher Sponsor Coach Darral Bethel, who has been a huge blessing,” said Sandy. “He believes in the light of Christ exposing darkness not only in the students but the school and community as a whole, and passionately serves at First Priority each week to bring Jesus to the school campus!”
Sandy said students are being mentored and discipled through First Priority. “We have brought in different people to speak such as previous gang members and missionaries. It is important to us to keep “Godly men” in front of the kids to provide what they all lack, fathers, and Godly influence and role models,” Sandy said. “We have been so blessed with an enormous amount of support from Christ City Church, the community and school that has allowed us to impact students’ lives and raise up a new generation for Christ.”
