On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, First Priority Greater Birmingham held its 13th Annual Leader’s Summit at Valleydale Church. The Summit is a high-impact, one-day conference that features live music and inspirational messages geared toward highly motivated student leaders and teacher sponsors involved in First Priority campus clubs. This year’s conference focus was “Fight the Good Fight” based from 1 Timothy 6:11-14.
Nearly 600 students, teachers, youth leaders, parents and volunteers from 50 intermediate, middle, junior high and high schools across Central Alabama attended this year’s event. Local school boards of education continue to endorse the program, allowing a group of students to attend during the school day and count the event as a field trip. Superintendents continue to excuse First Priority students and teacher sponsors to attend because they see the value in this type of leadership training event. They also witness the positive impact it makes on students’ lives. Superintendent of St. Clair County Schools Jenny Seals told us she continues to approve for students to attend because, “I know that our students will walk away with valuable leadership information that will help to prepare them for whatever paths they may choose.”
Praise and Worship Band More Than This kicked-off the morning with upbeat and interactive music that led students into the presence of God. To correspond with the “Fight the Good Fight” theme, students were trained in rounds. Executive Director of Lift Tour and YPS Jeff Wallace led Rounds One and Two – “Entering the Fight” and “The Role of a Fighter.” Jeff encouraged students to flee worldliness and pursue Godliness. Jeff gave students three goals of a fighter: 1) Upwardly develop and know God yourself; 2) Inwardly develop and own your faith; 3) Make your faith known. Jeff concluded his training rounds with a Gospel presentation. We are very excited to announce that 10 students responded and professed Christ as their Lord and Savior!
Founder of Stained Glass Ministries and Living Deeper Ministries Jena Forehand led Round Three “Arming for the Fight” and encouraged students from Numbers 14:24 – Caleb had a different spirit and followed God wholeheartedly. Jena provided students with four ways to have a “Caleb” spirit: 1) Be positive – stop whining; 2) Be passionate – believe God, He can do it; 3) Be patient – we are winning when we out wait the enemy…Caleb waited 40 years to possess the land; 4) Be persistent – never give up.
During Rounds Four and Five, led by First Priority Greater Birmingham’s Debi DeBoer and James Cato, students received intense training on our HOPE strategy. They were also trained on the 3 Crowns Gospel presentation, which is a new evangelism technique that includes a video and guide on our Web site to help students share the Gospel daily with their sphere of influence.
Following the HOPE training, students enjoyed lunch from Chick-fil-A and cookies from Bud’s Best Cookies. Also at this time, we held a separate lunch for teachers to encourage them and show our appreciation for all their time and help with First Priority clubs.
To close out the day with Round 6 “It’s Worth the Fight,” students heard an inspiring testimony from First Baptist Church Moody Youth Pastor Joel Davis. Joel shared the traumatic birth story of his son, Noah, and the fight that he and his family have fought over the past few years. Joel encouraged students saying, “It’s worth the fight because the victory is eternal. Don’t be surprised when you find joy in the fight and blessings throughout the battles.” Students left enthusiastic and ready to “Fight the Good Fight.”
“I had so much fun learning about God and how to use Him in my school today. What a great way to start off the year.”
– First Priority Student Leader
“The Leader’s Summit was very informative, inspirational and gave me a great opportunity to spend quality time with the students outside of their school setting.”
– Angie, Teacher Sponsor
“What I loved most about Leader’s Summit was the emphasis of the Gospel all day leading up to how to present the Gospel with the 3 Crowns witness tool. It was great to open with a powerful speaker who gave a presentation of the Gospel, another speaker to hit home that it is Christian students’ responsibility to saturate their campus with the Gospel, then another speaker who trained students with a witness tool, and finally, Joel and his family to drive the point home! I loved the flow of the day with the emphasis all on the Gospel of Christ!
– Christal, Teacher Sponsor
