God gave Benny a dream and a vision to reach the next generation for Jesus Christ. God used Benny’s 30 years of experience as a youth pastor, high school teacher and basketball coach to form a ministry that became First Priority.

Since 1985 when the first group of First Priority students formed in Irving, TX to 1990 in Birmingham, AL where a city implemented the strategy until today, Benny has poured his life into fulfilling this vision that God birthed in him. He returned to Nashville in 1995 to launch First Priority of America. Since then, he has spoken and done training in over 1,000 US cities.

In 2010 Benny and Marilou launched First Priority Global. They have traveled, trained and launched First Priority on 5 continents. He has appeared on ABC, CNN, TBN and numerous other radio and TV talk shows. He had a feature article in Time magazine. He has authored books and training manuals that share his passion and vision for reaching the next generation.

Benny and Marilou have 3 married children and 9 grandchildren. They live in Thompson Station, TN. In 2023 they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Dr. Ben Birdsong is no stranger to First Priority. He began in ministry when God called him to start a First Priority club in his high school, was called to ministry through that same First Priority club, and served as a First Priority Campus Coach, supporting youth pastor, and board member. Ben served in local church student ministry for 12 years and missions ministry for 3.5 years before joining the team at First Priority Global.

Ben has bachelors degrees in Marketing and Human Resource Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Masters of Divinity degree from Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry student focusing in Ministry to Emerging Generations from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Ben was licensed and ordained to the ministry at the Church at Brook Hills in July of 2009.

Ben has a heart to see the gospel multiply through students sharing their faith with their friends and discipling their peers to be passionate followers of Jesus. He is excited to see what God will do through the ministry of First Priority Global as we expand to the continent of Europe.

Ben lives in Birmingham, AL, with his wife, Liz, and their two British dogs, Lady, a King Charles Cavalier, and Lily, a Welsh Corgi.

Peter has been serving as a pastor and doing youth ministry through camps and trainings for the past 18 years in India, which is the youngest nation in the world with 700 million people under the age of 29.

Peter launched FP strategy In India and they are growing pretty rapidly, currently he is working on launching the strategy in many Asian Countries. Peter also serves on several national and international bodies of youth ministry with the desire to reach out to every single young person with the message of Hope through Jesus Christ. His favorite quote is: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” C.T. Studd. Peter and Jona have two children, Shiney and Johann. They live in the west part of India.

Before joining First Priority Global, Brian and his wife Sabrina served for 18 years in local Church youth ministry and also international missions in an undisclosed eastern country that is predominately Muslim. They both have a desire to see young people reach young people for Christ and the Gospel advance among the nations.

Brian serves and offers valuable expertise in both our First Priority Global Strategy Expansion as well as our Operations and Training Team. Brian and Sabrina live in Murfreesboro, TN.

Bud serves as Business Manager and Compliance for First Priority Global. He is a retired lawyer and Special Counsel for FPGM. Bud lived 57 years in the suburbs of Memphis, TN. He taught High School Bible one year and worked in youth ministry for 6 years, including 4 years with Youth for Christ Memphis.

He graduated from the University of Memphis Law School with a J.D. degree and practiced law in Tennessee and Mississippi for 35 years while continuing to teach Bible in churches. He has developed and taught Bible courses in Latin America and Africa. Bud and Connie share 8 children and 18 grandchildren. They live in Franklin, TN.

Michael brings a solid portfolio of international mission experience with a special focus in Asia. Michael served in the United States Marine Corps. Michael worked in banking, sports graphics, and insurance before moving to Kathmandu, Nepal with his family in 2014 to serve remote the Buddhist villages in the Himalayan Mountains.

He is very excited about the opportunity through First Priority Global to continue serving unreached people groups around the globe and to bring them the Hope of Jesus Christ! Michael has two children, Jack and Isabelle. Michael lives in Huntsville, AL, in the USA but his heart is still in Asia.

Phil has a wealth of youth ministry expertise. Since 1980, he has been a Youth Speaker, Worship Leader, Student Pastor, and a Youth Ministry Trainer. He holds degrees in Religious Educ. / Youth Ministry from Ouachita Bapt. Univ. and Southwestern Bapt. Seminary.

Phil served as a Student Pastor in churches from 1982-2013 and as a missionary in Spain from 1986-88. As a Youth Pastor, he has been implementing the First Priority strategy since 1992. Phil has been on the FPG staff since 2013. Phil and Windy have two daughters Brittany and Candace, one son-in-law, Drew; and one son, Connor. They live in Rogers, Arkansas.

Ken brings over 25 years as youth minister and mentoring across Africa. Ken has been part of the First Priority Africa training team for over 10 years. He is a trained theologian with a Bachelor of Divinity as well as a Postgraduate degree in Counseling Psychology.

Ken leads the FP expansion initiative for the Continent of Africa. Since coming on board full time with First Priority Global, under his leadership, First Priority has expanded in Africa launching the FP strategy in 5 new Nations; Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Rwanda, Ghana and Mozambique. Ken and his wife Ruth reside in Nairobi-Kenya with his family of Five. They have 2 boys, Victor & Amani, and their daughter, Lulu.

Peter is a native Kenyan, where, in 2010 he launched and led First Priority in Kenya. Peter received his training in Theology and Christian Youth Work through South West Youth Ministries (SWYM), in partnership with Moorland Theological College in the UK.

He has been in youth Ministry over 20 years. In 2002 Peter launched Swahiba Youth Ministries Network in the Kibera Slums of Nairobi where he implemented the First Priority Strategy for 12 years. First Priority Kenya became the launching point to expand First Priority across Africa. Peter and Julie have 3 children, Baraka, Joy, and Abby. They live in Nairobi, Kenya.

Joey has been a part of First Priority at every level. He led First Priority as a student by starting clubs in both his middle and high schools, fulfilled roles as a campus coach and a youth pastor at his local church, and served on the local, national, and global teams. He is honored to help steward the vision of First Priority.

He is motivated every day by the Great Commission of Jesus Christ for every nation, to raising the next generation to be followers of Jesus in word and action, redeemed and restored by faith in the finished work of Jesus, fulfilling the mission of Jesus, operating in the power and authority of God’s Holy Spirit, according to God’s will.

Joey lives in Thompson Station, TN with his wife Jackie and their 3 children Ruby, Griffin, and Priscilla.

Keith served as a local church pastor for 41 years. He knew the Lord was moving his heart to reach the nations. Keith’s lifelong commitment to discipleship taught him that discipleship is a student-to-student process of seeking God, pursuing Christlikeness, and hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit who leads us all into truth.

His desire to make disciples of every tribe, tongue, and nation led him to join the First Priority Global mission. God has always fashioned his heart for students so First Priority fit perfectly. Keith and his wife, Janis have been married over 40 years. Keith and Janis live in Spring Hill, Tenn. They have three sons, two lovely daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren.