After serving in student and missions ministry in local church contexts for several years, the Lord called Ben Birdsong to serve as the European Director for First Priority Global Ministries in June of 2024. First Priority had been a part of Ben’s story from his high school years where he started a First Priority club at his school and felt called into ministry when he saw that God could use someone like him to make a difference.
Ben and Liz Birdsong will continue to be based in Chelsea, Alabama, but will support leaders, establish connections, and conduct training sessions in Europe several times ayear. Due to the wonders of technology, doors can be initially opened online to befollowed up over a meal or coffee in person. Supporting leaders to reach the next generation has been a passion and desire of Ben’s for years, and it has been exciting tosee how God has created a perfect ministry alignment with First Priority Global Ministries.
Why Europe?
Europe is a continent where the gospel has been forgotten and, in many places, has been replaced by secularism. A place that was a foundation for much of our Christian roots in America has become a place where churches are mostly empty, and the continent is 2.9% Evangelical Christian (according to the Joshua Project).
Many churches have little to no youth ministry, and the next generation has been forgotten by many churches. Throughout history, revivals have begun through the next generation. When students catch a passion for the gospel and sharing Jesus with their friends, communities begin to change.
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How Does First Priority Global Help?
At First Priority Global, we come alongside students, leaders, local churches, and
communities with an intentional strategy to empower and equip the next generation to reach their friends for Jesus. With a four week repeating cycle, students are:
- Praying for their friends who don’t know Jesus yet
- Learning strategies to effectively share their faith.
- Holding each other accountable to live their faith by being good witnesses through their lifestyle.
- Being challenged to be bold and be “fishers of people.”
- Sharing their own stories of what God is doing in their life.
- Coming together with an intentional outreach to share Jesus with their peers.
As we travel around the world, we meet leaders seeking a clear, simple, and student-led way to empower the next generation. It is incredible to see people’s eyes light up when they see that First Priority can be an answer to their prayers to reach the next generation.
How can you help.
God is the One who does His work through us as we seek to follow Him. Doing His work in missions requires a team to pray, to encourage, and to give. We are seeking people to join our team in prayer, encouragement, and monthly giving support. No amount of any of these things is too little, and it is a blessing to see how God unites His church together for His mission.
Contact Ben at 205.907.6623 or ben@firstpriority.global
First Priority Global Ministries is a 501(c)(3) corporation. First Priority Global Ministries retains full control over funds donated to First Priority Global Ministries and discretion as to their use in order to ensure that the funds will be used to carry out First Priority Global Ministries’ functions and/or to accomplish its purposes. Therefore, although we will make every attempt to accommodate donor requests, any designation concerning how a donation should be spent will be considered advisory only. All donations received for specified projects which exceed needed funds for said project will be used for other First Priority Global Ministries projects or expenses.