First Priority held its first City-Wide Network Meeting of the year on Thursday, April 26, 2012, at Regions Park. More than 100 youth leaders across the Greater-Birmingham area attended for a time of equipping, encouragement and fellowship. Everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch from Chick-fil-A.

Our special guest speaker Javier from the movie “Courageous,” Robert Amaya, brought an inspirational message about keeping the focus on Jesus Christ in youth ministry. Robert read from Matthew 21:12-15 ~ 12 “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.’ 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant.”

“God is pleased when God is at work,” said Robert to begin his message. Robert shared a story about a group of students who went on a mission trip to share the gospel and minister to those in another country. He said the students began to see God at work and people coming to know Christ, and then God began to work in their own lives. One by one, students started confessing their sins and realizing what they needed to be doing back home. “Jesus was at work,” said Robert.

Robert encouraged the youth leaders not to take the focus off Jesus Christ in youth ministry. “Interacting with your kids through games, movies and jokes are great, but don’t let those things rob your students of encountering God,” said Robert. “As it says in verse 12, Jesus had to clear out the temple so that He would be the focus. Jesus attracts those who are in desperate need for him… the blind, the lame; they needed someone to intervene. Don’t take the focus off Jesus. Show your students Christ and make Him the focus.”

Robert told the youth leaders that Christ attracts the afflicted and to be encouraged because their teenagers would shout His praises as the children did in verse 15. “Heaven will be filled with gospel responders,” said Robert. “Don’t hinder your students. Preach the gospel and keep your focus on Christ.”

Point 11 Ministries Director Bruce Morgan was in attendance to provide youth leaders with educational material about the Christian camps and retreats his ministry offers. Bruce gave away four FREE passes to one of Point 11’s premier parks. Also in attendance was Spring Valley Beach Water Park Owner Alan Gilliland, who provided each youth leader with a FREE pass to the Park as well as information about everything the Park has to offer groups and families. Please take time to visit both organizations’ Web sites below. First Priority gave away several bags of really great youth ministry resources. Jon Walden with Revocation Radio and Christian Rap Artist Hallel H.P. were also in attendance.

We would like to give a special thanks to everyone that attended and joined us for a great time of growth and fellowship. We would also like to give a special thanks to Point 11 Ministries, Spring Valley Beach and Regions Park for helping to make this meeting a huge success. We would like to give a special thanks again to Robert Amaya for an amazing message and words of encouragement.

Click here to view City-Wide pictures or tag yourself here

Click here to learn more about Point 11 Ministries

Click here to learn more about Spring Valley Beach