First Priority held its 18th Annual SCORE (Students Count On Real Examples) Dinner on Thursday, April 26, 2012, at Grace Life Baptist Church. We would like to thank all those who attended and helped support this special event financially. The ministry of First Priority has been able to touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of students over the past 21 years because of faithful people like you.

The evening began with dinner and an award presentation. First Priority recognized Board Member and Bethel Baptist Church Pleasant Grove Youth Pastor Scott Douglas. Scott was presented First Priority's Volunteer Excellence Service Award for Christian leadership, love for students, commitment to the Lord, and years of involvement and leadership with First Priority Greater Birmingham. Scott is an active First Priority board member and has been strongly involved with First Priority for more than 15 years. Scott presently works closely with Pleasant Grove Middle and High School First Priority clubs. He has been the youth pastor at Bethel Baptist Church Pleasant Grove since 1995. He is a First Priority campus coach, is active in the community, supports First Priority and has attended several First Priority winter conferences and other ministry events. We are very grateful for Scott and his tremendous commitment and dedication to helping students and seeing them come to know Christ.

First Priority Greater Birmingham Executive Director Matt Wilson continued the evening with a ministry update and school highlight video. "One Hope... that is Jesus Christ," said Matt. "We've got to go to these students; that's what First Priority is all about." Debi DeBoer, First Priority area director for Shelby County and Hoover, shared about some incredible things God is doing in her area. On April 25, nearly 800 Hoover High School students attended Undivided/First Priority and 106 of those students made a decision for Christ. "Even if it was just one, just one student, that would be enough for me," said Debi. Then Debi shared about leaders stepping up at Berry Middle School. "Every Testimony Week students are lined up to share about what God is doing in their lives," said Debi. "Students stayed after school for several hours on a Friday afternoon to learn how to share their faith with other students." Debi said Pelham High School students sing Exodus 14:14 ~ "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Great things are happening on our campuses all over the Greater-Birmingham area. Students are sharing their faith with their peers and more and more students are coming to know Christ.

First Priority Greater Birmingham President Greg Davis then introduced specials guests John Erwin, Eleanor Brown and Ben Davies, who were all a part of the new Sherwood Film, "Courageous." John directed the second unit of the movie. Eleanor played the role of Kayla Hayes, wife of Cop Nathan Hayes in the film; and Ben played the role of Rookie Cop David Thompson. Each shared about how much they appreciate First Priority and how important the ministry is especially to those students who don't have a Godly outlet. We would like to thank each of them for joining and sharing in our special event.

We then heard from our special guest speaker Robert Amaya, who played the role of Javier in the movie Courageous. Robert is a bilingual professional actor/singer in Miami with a background in theater. He felt humbled and honored playing his character in the movie Courageous because it reminded him of his own father's struggles to survive in a new country with a family. Between projects, Robert travels across the nation singing and speaking at both English and Spanish churches, schools, and organizations about a variety of topics including fatherhood, honor and Christianity.

Robert began by sharing that he prayed that God would show him what to speak about during the dinner. He said he planned to speak about being real because, "Students Count On Real Examples." Robert read from Acts 5:1-11. He proposed the question, "Do you put up a front, a false impression of what people actually think about you, a lie?" The story of Ananias is about a hidden sin being exposed. "We have grown complacent in our hypocrisy," said Robert. "It's possible to work for God and never know Him and feel like a Christian and never be one." Robert referenced Matthew 7:22-23 ~ 22 "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Robert said the gospel exposes sin. When we lose sight of the gospel, we open up ourselves to evil. "Don't live a lie," said Robert. "God has given us the keys to new life; we're to go when He calls on us. Don't be self-righteous like Ananias. You might think you're just lying to your church, but you're not; you're lying to God." Robert encouraged everyone to put down their false pretenses and find rest in the Lord. "God forgives us, thieves, liars and hypocrites, He forgives us all. Turn from your sins and put your faith and trust in Him and you will find rest. Students are counting on real examples. Show them that the gospel saves all of us, who are pretenders."

Matt concluded our program by sharing that we need to examine ourselves and realize why we're here. Our purpose is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. "Students count on us and need real examples in their lives; let's lead by example."

We would like to thank our special guest speaker Robert Amaya for taking part in our event and sharing such a powerful message that we can all take to heart. Thank you to Grace Life Baptist Church for its hospitality in hosting this special event. We would once again like to thank everyone who attended our 18th Annual SCORE Dinner. Your time, finances and influence helped make this event a huge success. Many lives will be changed by the momentum that was gained from your efforts.

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Click below to view First Priority's 2011-2012 School Highlight Video

First Priority 2012 SCORE Dinner School Highlight Video

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