Over the last few weeks in the Birmingham Metro Area there have been several young teens commit suicide. When I look at this situation, obviously my heart breaks. I get mad. Tears begin to well up in my eyes. The one word that comes to mind in situations like these is HOPE. Why did they think there was no HOPE in this life?

We look at our culture and we must realize that it is broken. Our teens live in a self-centered world where self-esteem and self-indulgence have been the great inheritance from those before them. If you don’t think it is broken, just look to our great state in the middle of the Bible belt. Our suicide rate is at a 51 year high.

The Federal Centers for Disease Control reports that suicide is a serious public health problem, the third-leading cause of death among youth. For youth between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. It results in approximately 4,400 lives lost each year.

Deaths from youth suicide are only part of the problem. More young people survive suicide attempts than actually die. A nationwide survey of youth in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the United States (U.S.) found that 15% of students reported seriously considering suicide, 11% reported creating a plan, and 7% reported trying to take their own life in the 12 months preceding the survey. Each year, approximately 149,000 youth between the ages of 10 and 24 receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries at Emergency Departments across the U.S.

So our cry must be: There is Hope. There is hope that is found only in Jesus Christ. It is because of that we may bless this generation with this message and say “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” To see The Hope of Christ in Every Student it will take all of us working together as the Body of Christ to share this message and reach this generation.

When crisis hits our city, we have an easy time throwing down our pride, ambition, agendas, and names to work together. Look at what is happening to our teens one more time. We ARE in a crisis. Let’s work together to see things change. This is why we wake up every morning and do what we do at First Priority. It is our mission to build a generation around all of these hopeless teens that will cry out: There is Hope!

…rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer… Romans 12:12

Matt Wilson

Executive Director

First Priority Greater Birmingham