Sean Hall, First Priority Director for St. Louis Metro East, invites us to read about one of his student leaders and how God was calling him to do more in his school.
Meet Grant
Grant is in his sophomore year at O’Fallon Township High School. He served his school through First Priority for the first time this semester. God has given him strong compassion, a desire to listen to the hurting, and the guts to lead in front of his peers.
Our Interview
Brad (his Campus Coach), Aaron (his Pastor), and Sean (Area Director) recently enjoyed interviewing Grant over a couple baskets of Dairy Queen fries. Here are some highlights:
“God was calling me to do more than just sit around and go through the usual casual thing that I was always going through. I decided to take the initiative I was originally getting from thechurch and take that into my school, and I felt a calling for it. Sure enough I ended up on stage giving the gospel. I think it started at church and eventually progressed out of it. I definitely felt God working through that moment with me.”
Q: Is it easy or tough to step up in our faith?
To step up in your faith you have to take the initiative to do it, and I think that’s challenging for most. You have to give the time to do it. Impacting someone is taking the initiative to go talk to them.
Q: What do you think First Priority can do for your school?
It can bring people to understand exactly what this whole Christianity thing is. It [First Priority] is welcoming and non-judgmental, even if no one knows them. It’s the best place they can go with questions. Church is the best place, but First Priority is the best place to start off. Another thing that First Priority can do is help them [Christian students] understand what they’re supposed to do for the Kingdom.
Q: How would you encourage Christian students who want to leave “churchy” things outside of school?
Who do you think you really are: the “school kid” or the “church kid”? I’m the church kid–the one who’s not afraid of their faith. The one who doesn’t care about popularity– because it’s not going to matter in 3 or 4 years. It’s not… think about who you really are… I used to be a different person on and off campus as well. God is calling me to be who I am at church.
Q: What would you say to students who don’t really know who Christ is?
Come talk to me.