First Priority held a series of campus ministry trainings this weekend to help equip students with tools to be effective leaders on their campus. The three days of training seemed to be a highlight for many students in our local community. With joint worship and breakout sessions, students learned about the ACTS strategy and were given tools to impact their school and community with the hope of Christ. With school just around the corner, students came from all over the Birmingham and surrounding areas to hear from First Priority of America's Brandon Starnes. Brandon challenged students to share their faith and take time to pray for the hurting and lost. First Priority Greater Birmingham area directors led the students and campus coaches in breakout sessions that concentrated on the high points of ACTS, a 4-week strategy that students implement during their First Priority club meeting time:

Accountability - students are encouraged to hold each other accountable to what God calls them to do. Proverbs 27:17

Challenge - students are motivated to live fully devoted to Jesus Christ. Acts 15:32

Testimony - students share how they met Christ, what Christ is doing in their life, and they are motivated to pray for a specific un-churched, lost friend. 1 Peter 3:15

Seek - Christian students invite and bring un-churched, non-Christian friends to a non-threatening environment to hear a clear presentation of the gospel and provide them with an opportunity to respond to Jesus Christ. John 4:35

Students walked away this weekend eager to lead and share the hope of Christ with their peers. We would like to thank all those who attended and participated. We would also like to give a special thanks to Brandon Starnes and Heather Lindsey Band for sharing and taking part in such an important weekend. If you missed the trainings and would like a First Priority area director to hold a training at your school, please don't hesitate to contact us at 205.871.8886 or info@gofirstpriority.com.

Click here to view pictures from the trainings or tag yourself here

"My favorite part of every First Priority training is when the students realize that they already know how to do everything we train. The beauty is that most of the students have already been equipped to start accountability groups, share their story, and share the gospel. We have some incredible local churches, parents, and youth ministers to thank for that. But, then the catch comes. They already know what to do, but they've only done it in "church." Now, when they are sent onto the campus it changes everything. The students' eyes light up and they finally understand. Only they are the Body of Christ in their schools equipped to share the Hope of Christ with every student." ~ Joey Proffitt, First Priority Creative and Area Director

Join us for a time of prayer on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Railroad Park, 1600 1st Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35233. We will be gathering to pray for the lives of this generation. For more information, call 205.871.8886. We hope you'll join us!

Registration is now available for Alive in the Mountains (AITM) 2013. All Alive details as well as the registration packet are available at www.aliveinthemountains.org. Be sure to check it out and take advantage of the $89* per person rate!

We hope you, your youth group and family will join us for this life-changing retreat. Your students will be challenged to live, share and defend the ultimate truth in a world full of doubt. If you have any questions, please call 205.871.8886 or e-mail info@gofirstpriority.com.

Click here to download Registration Packet

Click here to view pictures from last year's Alive in the Mountains

Click here to view Alive in the Mountains 2011 Video