First Priority of Alabama

The Hope of Christ in Every Student

Thursday, May 4, is National Day of Prayer

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24 Virtues to pray over students in 24 hours

The first Thursday in May has been proclaimed a National Day of Prayer by the president of the United States. As you pray for our nation tomorrow, we would like to encourage you to pray for students, teachers, faculty and administration. Praying for students is not just a privilege…it’s a necessity. Students live in a tough world! Each day, students are subjected to literally thousands of offensive images and words. They 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. 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 as you pray on the National Day of Prayer. 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)

 

  1. 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)

Do we have childlike faith that God will answer our prayers?

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When you consider the power of prayer according to God’s Word, it should stir in us willingness to call out to Him whenever possible without doubt He will answer our prayers. This is exactly what we’re seeing in many of our schools in the Birmingham area – students calling out.
 
Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Witnessing a young generation seek God in prayer is always encouraging! First Priority’s FPKids program gives young students a platform to pray whatever is on their heart. Kids “believe without doubt, trust without reservation, live without reluctance, sleep without worry, and laugh without restraint.” This kind of faith can move the largest of mountains! Childlike faith in prayer is exactly what God is looking for. Faith can move a mountain but childlike faith and prayer can move God.
 
Matthew 18:3 says, “And he [Jesus] said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” When it comes to faith, adults tend to doubt. We’re skeptical. We’re tired. We try to intellectualize everything. We’re not sure God hears our prayers; or that even if He hears, He might have more important things to do than answer us. We complicate faith. On the other hand, many of the young students in our FPKids clubs have an unwavering faith. When asked to pray, there is no doubt they trust that God is with them and hears what they say. Is prayer active and alive in our schools? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” This confidence is contagious on many campuses. According to 1 John 5:14-15, we need to have this same confidence: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.”
 
Students don’t doubt. They ask and seek God with confidence in knowing that He will answer their prayers. They may be young, but their prayers and faith in God are powerful.
 
1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” So the question is, as adults, do we have this confidence and is this confidence contagious? Are we willing to cry out and believe? If you asked local students this question the answer would be “YES” every time!
 
James Cato

Area Director

We have a New Year’s Resolution – Will you take the challenge?

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pray button
We have a New Year’s Resolution – Will you take
the challenge?  
Experts say it takes 21 days to make a habit. How are your New Year’s resolutions going now that we are 19 days into the month? First Priority has a new challenge for you and it’s very simple… Pray! Will you commit to praying the following over the next 21 days? Students and teachers need your prayer and support; they live in a tough world. Our prayer is that you’ll be able to stick to the challenge, create a new habit of prayer and continue to pray throughout the year.
Here is the challenge for the next 21 days:
1. Pray for students to be bold about letting their light shine.
2. Pray for parents’ hearts to engage daily with their children.
3. Pray for all those who don’t know Christ.
4. Pray for God to place one person on your heart to begin to pray for every day that they will come to know Jesus.
5. Pray about supporting First Priority every month. No gift is too small.
6. Pray for our First Priority Board and Staff.
7. Pray for our school principals.
8. Pray for our teachers.
9. Pray for our students to have teachable spirits.
10. Pray for the churches by name that surround where you live.
11. Pray for the youth pastor at your church to have favor with his/her students.
12. Pray for Godly wisdom.
13. Pray for the Gospel to go forth in a powerful way.
14. Pray that we would truly love one another.
15. Pray for our governor and president.
16. Pray for protection over our nation.
17. Pray for revival here in America.
18. Pray for the truth of God’s Word to be spoken and not compromised.
19. Pray that God will provide students with wisdom and boldness when sharing Christ with their friends.
20. Pray for the safety of students, teachers and faculty in our schools.
21. Pray that students will unite together for the cause of Christ.
Will you take this challenge and commit to praying over the next 21 days?

New Year, New Opportunities!

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New Year, New Opportunities! 
  

It’s a new year filled with new opportunities! We hope you’ll take a moment to learn a little bit more about First Priority and the different ways you can be involved with this great ministry. The impact First Priority is making on students’ lives would never be possible without your prayer and support. Together, we can continue to reach students with the Hope of Christ. Let’s make 2017 the best year yet!
 
First Priority is a strategy for students to share the Love and Hope of Jesus Christ with every student in their school. We connect the CHURCH to the CAMPUS to share CHRIST with students. We are currently in our 26th year of ministry serving elementary, middle, junior high and high schools across the nation and world.
 
New studies from Barna say, “If Jesus is not already part of students’ lives by the time they leave junior high school, the chance of them professing 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.
 

First Priority helps the local church extend its ministry to school campuses. We partner together to work with schools to help set-up and organize clubs that meet before school that are student-initiated and student-led. The public school is the largest mission field in America. We provide Christian students with a platform, strategy and support for ongoing effective campus ministry outreach. These students are on a 9-month mission trip when school is in session. None of this would be possible without your help! There are several ways you can get involved:

 
Pray – The ministry of First Priority could never be what God truly wants it to be without consistent prayer. Ask your church congregation to pray over students and commission them to go and be disciples in their school. Please be in constant prayer for students who don’t know Christ, and for Christian students to be bold in sharing their faith. Pray for our staff, volunteers, faculty sponsors, campus coaches, students and schools. When you pass by a school, pray for that school. Make a school zone your prayer zone.
 
Promote – Share the vision and mission of First Priority within your circle of influence. Pray about who would be blessed and interested to know about and support the mighty work that God is doing on our school campuses. We have a lot of resources available that you can share with others at firstpriorityal.com. Ask your church to give First Priority opportunities to speak and raise awareness about the ministry. Encourage your church’s youth pastor to promote First Priority with your youth group and to encourage students to attend club meetings, be on leadership and to invite their lost friends.
 
Participate – First Priority is always in need of volunteers. Most of the students in our schools will never step foot in a church, but they will attend school. We need to go to them. Encourage members of your church to get involved with First Priority and to participate and connect with students on our campuses. E-mail us at info@firstpriorityal.com to get involved.
 
Provide – Support First Priority financially and help ensure that every student in our area is reached with the Hope of Christ. It takes $3,000 to fund each school that we serve. I would like to encourage you to help support one or several of the more than 200 schools across the Greater-Birmingham Area. CLICK HERE to support First Priority. Call205.871.8886 or visit firstpriorityal.com to learn how you can join this Gospel movement to advance the Kingdom of God.
 
Will you commit to praying about how you can be involved with First Priority?

See You at the Pole is THIS Wednesday!

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See You at the Pole is THIS Wednesday! 
See You at the Pole™ (SYATP) is THIS Wednesday, September 28. We hope you will join the tens of thousands of students in our area and millions world-wide as they participate in the 26th annual SYATP. We want to make sure you have all the resources you may need to prepare for this special day. We hope you’ll visit our SYATP Web page for downloads that include logos, posters, social media graphics, news release, list of rallies that will be held on the night of SYATP and so much more! We hope you’ll check out the awesome media coverage for more information as well!
On Wednesday morning, please plan to listen to 93.7 WDJC radio and share the victories and struggles associated with this momentous day. Please call in to the radio show at 205.327.9352 to report the number of students that gather around the flagpole at the school you attend. Please also listen to First Priority Greater Birmingham President Greg Davis on 92.5 FM or 850 AM WXJC Wednesday afternoon. Please send your SYATP pictures to info@firstpriorityal.com or post them directly to our Facebook Page. 
On Wednesday, September 28, make sure your family and community CRY OUT together and take part in one of the LARGEST prayer movements in our nation. GATHER at your school flagpole, PRAY for friends, families, teachers, schools and our world. ASK God to reveal who He is to your campus. PRAY, SEEK AND TURN TO GOD.

See You at the Pole Media Coverage 2016

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Instagram Photo

See You at the Pole “We Cry Out” was Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. Students all over the globe joined together at their school’s flagpole in prayer for their friends, school, city, state, nation and the world. Many lives were touched, changed and challenged by one of the nation’s largest prayer movements. We would like to thank our local media for helping to create awareness for this monumental day. Below are links to media interviews, videos and articles from this year’s See You at the Pole.

Fox 6 Media Interview

Fox 6 Media Coverage

Fox 6 News Article

ABC 33/40 Media Coverage

Al.com News Article and Video

Hoover Sun News Article and Videos

See You at the Pole is less than a month away! Get your resources!

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Get your resources for See You at the Pole! 
See You at the Pole™ (SYATP) is right around the corner and we want to make sure you have all the resources you may need to promote this special day! We hope you’ll visit our SYATP Web page for downloads that include logos, posters, social media graphics, news release, list of rallies that will be held on the night of SYATP and so much more! Don’t wait, start promoting SYATP at your school and church today!

Please plan to join the tens of thousands of students in our area and millions world-wide on Wednesday, September 28, as they participate in the 26th annual SYATP. Before school, students will join together at their school’s flagpole to pray for their friends, families, teachers, school, city, state and nation to God. SYATP is a student-initiated, student-organized and student-led event.

This year’s SYATP theme is “We Cry Out“ and the scripture verses are Psalm 24:3-6 – “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And, who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face-even Jacob.” This year’s theme message encourages us to seek God. With the current state of our country, we believe this year’s theme is perfect. We are encouraging students, school faculty, families, businessmen and women, everyone, to cry out in prayer for our nation.
For 26 years now, SYATP and First Priority have been about encouraging students to lead-out in prayer, live-out their faith and ask God to reveal who He is not only on their own campus but all over the United States and the world. SYATP brings students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools and families, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campus, country and world. First Priority will once again coordinate our state’s efforts through: awareness, students gathering at their school’s flagpole, and community rallies planned for the evening of SYATP.
On Wednesday, September 28, make sure your family and community CRY OUT together and take part in one of the LARGEST prayer movements in our nation. GATHER at your school flagpole, PRAY for friends, families, teachers, schools and our world. ASK God to reveal who He is to your campus. PRAY, SEEK AND TURN TO GOD.

Will you pray for our students?

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Commit today to pray! 
Students are starting back to school this month and they need our prayers. 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. 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 and schools 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)

 

  1. 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)

See You at the Pole Date and Theme Announced

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Mark your calendars now for one of our nation’s largest prayer movements! 

We would like to invite you to mark your calendars now for this year’s See You at the Pole™ (SYATP). We hope you will join the tens of thousands of students in our area and millions world-wide on Wednesday, September 28, as they participate in the 26th annual SYATP. Before school, students will join together at their school’s flagpole to pray for their friends, families, teachers, school, city, state and nation to God. SYATP is a student-initiated, student-organized and student-led event.
This year’s SYATP theme is “We Cry Out“ and the scripture verses are Psalm 24:3-6 – “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And, who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face-even Jacob.” This year’s theme message encourages us to seek God. With the current state of our country, we believe this year’s theme is perfect. We are encouraging students, school faculty, families, businessmen and women, everyone, to cry out in prayer for our nation.
For 26 years now, SYATP and First Priority have been about encouraging students to lead-out in prayer, live-out their faith and ask God to reveal who He is not only on their own campus but all over the United States and the world. SYATP brings students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools and families, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campus, country and world. First Priority will once again coordinate our state’s efforts through: awareness, students gathering at their school’s flagpole, and community rallies planned for the evening of September 28.
Begin planning now! Here you will find many resources and tools to help you prepare for this special day. We will have local resources coming soon! In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us at 205.871.8886.
On Wednesday, September 28, 2016, make sure your family and community CRY OUT together and take part in one of the LARGEST prayer movements in our nation. GATHER at your school flagpole, PRAY for friends, families, teachers, schools and our world. ASK God to reveal who He is to your campus. PRAY, SEEK AND TURN TO GOD.

How First Priority began and how you can help!

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Learn how First Priority began and how you can help! Now is the time! 
First Priority began, informally, in 1990 with local youth minister Benny Proffitt as the visionary and leader. First, in only a handful of Over the Mountain schools, the vision quickly formalized into a functioning non-profit organization in 1992 under the leadership of businessman Tommy Brigham. Over the years to follow, First Priority practically exploded on every High School and Middle School campus in Greater Birmingham. From the late 1990s through the late 2000s, First Priority of Greater Birmingham served these schools and focused on making ministry at each school the best it could be.
First Priority of Greater Birmingham flourished for many years under the leadership of Board Chairmen Tommy Brigham, Garry Ard, Mark Peeples and Tom Lambert. Executive Director Greg Davis, who first volunteered with the organization in 1994, joined the staff in 1996 and continues today as President of the organization. From that small group of men, the vision of First Priority spread like wildfire.
Six schools have now grown to over 200 in central Alabama alone, involving approximately 13,000 students every week during the school year. As more churches began implementing First Priority in their communities, the movement spread outside Alabama. As a result, Benny Proffitt left Birmingham to form First Priority of America, which has now touched all 50 states.
Here’s what’s happening with First Priority across the United States:
–          200+ communities being touched by First Priority
–          2,605 First Priority clubs in the U.S.
–          186,000 Students attend First Priority each month
–          7,715 commitments to Christ during the 2014-2015 school year
–          2,500 networked student ministry leaders and churches
In the late 2000s, with the dip in the economy and loss of funding, First Priority was forced to reduce its staff and, therefore, began losing effectiveness in many of the communities that had been served for years.
In 2011, with the culture changing and more and more parents asking First Priority to help them establish campus evangelism for younger children, the idea of FPKids became imperative to accomplish. We are now entering our fifth year of implementing FPKids, a strategy for churches and parents to partner together around schools to empower elementary and intermediate students to influence their school with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Last year, 35 schools and nearly 3,500 students participated in FPKids, and the numbers continue to rise this year as new clubs are starting. The FPKids strategy focuses on teaching students to know and do what “Jesus Said.” The curriculum consists of four parts that are repeated every month: Read It, See It, Live It, Tell It. Each month, students Read and learn what Jesus Said; they See how His teaching changes them and the marks it leaves on them; they experience real ways to Live out the truth with love; and they encourage each other to Tell others about Jesus. FPKids is taking God’s Word and putting it into action on campus.
So how can you help? We would never be able to do what we do without your prayer and support. There are several ways you can get involved:
Pray – This ministry can never be what God truly wants it to be without consistent prayer. Please pray for our staff, volunteers, faculty sponsors, campus coaches, students and schools. When you pass by a school, pray for that school. Pray for those students who don’t know Christ. Pray that Christian students will be bold in sharing their faith.
Promote – Share the vision and mission of First Priority within your circle of influence. Pray about who would be blessed and interested to know about and support the mighty work that God is doing on our school campuses. We have a lot of resources available that you can share with others.
Provide – Support First Priority financially and help ensure that every student in our area is reached with the hope of Christ. It takes $3,000 to fund each school that we serve. We would like to encourage you to help support one or several of the more than 200 schools across the Greater-Birmingham Area. CLICK HERE to support First Priority.

We hope you will begin praying now about how you can serve First Priority during the 2016-2017 school year. Call 205.871.8886 or visit firstpriorityal.comto learn how you can join this Gospel movement to advance the Kingdom of God.
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