Students and Movements - City-Wide Recap - First Priority of Alabama

First Priority held a City-Wide Network Meeting on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, 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 Scott’s Koneys.

Our special guest speaker Dr. Alvin Reid, professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., brought an inspirational message about students and movements. Dr. Reid read from Matthew chapter 4 of the Bible. Verses 18-20 say, 18 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ 20 And they immediately left their nets, and followed him.” Dr. Reid said the church needs more “immediately” when responding to the needs of our world. Many of the movements that change the world are led by students.

Dr. Reid spent a great deal of his message talking about an idol that has crept into our lives and into the culture of our churches: Christian subculture, or the Christian “bubble.” Dr. Reid is referring to the subculture that creates distinctively “Christian” trappings, but has lost the soul of the gospel. Dr. Reid said the Christian subculture has made Jesus trivial to many, and made the gospel remarkably unattractive to unbelievers. He said he has been in conversations with friends recently that don’t know Christ, and has seen how the Christian subculture has been more effective in turning people off to Jesus than it has been in demonstrating originality. The Christian subculture has gotten in the way of a true Christian movement.

Dr. Reid focused on eight different things that happen to so many of us who do love Jesus but who also grew up in the Christian subculture. Click here to read about each and to learn more about Dr. Reid’s thoughts on the Christian subculture. We hope you will also take time to check out the following links for more from Dr. Reid. Click here to read about student ministry training at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Click here to read about Dr. Reid’s thoughts on youth camps. And, click here for information about Dr. Reid’s book, “Join the Movement.”

Representatives from youthministry360, Interlinc and Gulf Shores Beach Retreat were also in attendance to provide youth leaders with educational material about their programs and upcoming events. Please take time to visit their Web sites below. These groups also gave away several nice gifts. Youthministry360 gave away three bible study curriculum packs on “Focus: A 6-Lesson Study on the Book of Colossians.” Click here for more details. Interlinc gave away an iPod touch and free music downloads. And, the Gulf Shores Beach Retreat gave away two weekend beach retreats in Gulf Shores.

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 youthministry360, Interlinc, Gulf Shores Beach Retreat and Regions Park for helping to make this meeting a huge success. We would like to give a special thanks again to Dr. Alvin Reid for an amazing message and words of encouragement.

Footer