FP Decatur Makes the local news...

First Priority launches Fifth Quarter meetings, student clubs in area
Campus-based Christian First Priority student clubs will start soon in some local schools, said Brandon Starnes, city director in Decatur for First Priority America.

He said 70 people, including students and teachers, attended a training session.

“We want to equip students to reach the biggest mission field in their lives, their schools,” said Starnes, student minister at Westmeade Baptist Church.


Many of the 8,500 students in schools in Morgan County are not involved in churches, he said.

First Priority campus clubs meet weekly on campus during non-curriculum time. They are non-denominiational, student-initiated and student-led, leaders said.

Groups at Austin High and a school in Madison are ready to begin First Priority clubs, he said.

Starnes said that equal access laws allow students to run Christian clubs at their schools just as other organizations.

First Priority, along with churches and businesses, are sponsoring fall Fifth Quarter gatherings after football games. The first will be at Decatur Baptist Church on Aug. 27 from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Bobby Bonner, a former Cardinals baseball team member, will speak.

Starnes said makeup training sessions for anyone interested will be Sept. 12, 19 and 26 at 2 p.m. at Westmeade’s youth building, The Refuge at 1626 Runneymeade St. S.W.

For more details, call Starnes at 256-606-7925.

Melanie B. Smith

On the Net

First Priority Decatur, www.fpdecatur.org

First Priority on Facebook, www.facebook.com/fpdecatural