Listen to Dr. Rick Forbus as he talks about where he is leading us this spring through fasting, prayer, service and being intentional in our FP Clubs. This is an exciting time for First Priority! Some of our directors and coordinators also speak out about what’s happening in their area and some of the best practices that help them as they lead their local FP Chapters.
There are so many stories to tell. So many lives changed. It’s amazing to come to work each day and get to read story after story of what God is doing in our schools across America. And to think, when I started working for First Priority, I wasn’t even looking for a job. I thought I was coming on to fulfill a temporary need of extra staff for a month or two and then I would be done. But God knew so much more than I knew and he placed me here for a reason. A year and half later, I am so thankful that this job was more than a month long position. God knew what I needed and when I needed it.
I want to share with you some of the stories from our clubs that I have the privilege to read everyday as they come across my email.
“We had a teacher come that was invited by another teacher to hear the gospel shared by a student. The teacher filled out a response card noting that he was giving his life to Jesus for the first time. He was a member at the Church of the Latter Day Saints”
“This week was Engage week for us. We had 3 students share their story and 2 students respond to the gospel!”
“As we talked about who God was and presented the gospel to them, 2 students made a decision for Christ. It was amazing!!”
“We tried to wait to tell you, but we just couldn’t! 33 more students heard the good news of the Gospel…and said yes to Jesus this week!”
“5 more students responded to the Gospel this month! We believe that students reach students and have the ability to make a major impact on their campus through First Priority Clubs. Thank you for investing in students!”
This is just a small sample of what I get to see every day. First Priority is changing lives for Christ. I’m so grateful to be a part of the movement and am glad God’s timing is perfect.
A student leader from a local high school was invited to speak at another high school on Engage Week. He shared his testimony about being angry at his father after his parents separated. His anger affected his family, his friends and his performance at school. After not speaking with his father for a long time, the Lord began working on his heart and calling him to forgiveness. He was able to forgive his father and release his anger.
During his testimony, he encouraged other students to give their lives to Christ and to forgive those who have hurt them.
The next day, a student from the school posted on social media that he had heard the student speak at the First Priority club meeting and it motivated him to call his father, with whom he had not spoken to in 4 years. He shared how the speaker had motivated him to forgive his father and to re-establish a relationship. He also shared that his father was planning to see the son in the next few weeks.
Praise God!
Amber Johansen
Executive Director
FP Tampa
It’s amazing to hear story after story of students lives being transformed. Here is a powerful one that we wanted to share.
Hannah is an 8th grader. Last year, Hannah learned to share the Romans Road. In August of this year, Susie came up to Hannah in PE class and asked “why are you different, like why are you weird?” Hannah told Susie her story and Susie responded “I want that”. Hannah shared the Romans Road and Susie accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Fast forward to November and it is Engage week. Susie is a leader now and opens up club with prayer, Allyson shares her story and Hannah leads with (you guessed it) The Romans Road. When the invitation is given 41 students respond and are Saved by the Blood of the Lamb. What a picture of what First Priority is about, students on mission everyday, everywhere, even PE class. Praise God for what He is doing and has already done.
Casey Jones
Executive Director
FP North Alabama
After the Gospel was delivered (3 Crowns presentation) at MMS’s Engage Week Party, 2 students decided they want to follow Jesus for the first time! Even cooler: 2 Christian student leaders decided to sign a Decision to Disciple Card with them, committing to take them to church and First Priority every week, and read through the Book of John! There was also 1 student who decided to become a student leader for First Priority.
Sean Hall
FP Director
FP St. Louis Metro East
September and October were truly incredible months of ministry in schools around the ArkLaTex! Today we celebrate the news that so far this school year:
The gospel has been presented over 60 times by student missionaries and 111 lost students made the decision to accept Christ as Lord!
Last year, a total of 123 students came to Christ in the entire school year, and we aren’t even finished with fall semester! Praise God! We are so excited for all of these new believers as they begin their journey with Jesus and get connected with a local church for discipleship! In addition, two brand new clubs have launched at Hallsville Jr High School and North Desoto High School! God is truly moving in our region and we are grateful for your partnership to make a difference on the mission field of local middle and high schools! Please continue to pray for these student missionaries as they influence their schools for the gospel!
Nearly 600 students gathered together at Citywide on September 27th to worship the Lord and celebrate what God is doing in the ArkLaTex!
John Carruth
FP ArkLaTex
The 2017 – 2018 school year is in full swing and so are the First Priority clubs on many campuses. However, there are still some campuses that we are praying will open this semester.
Will you join us in prayer for these specific campuses?
- Atlantic High
- Gateway Environmental
- Jeaga Middle
- John T. Smith Middle
- Killian High
- MAST Homestead
- Miami Arts Charter
- Northport K-8
- Okeechobee High
- Palm Springs Middle
- Polo Park Middle
- Redland Middle
- Renaissance Charter in Cooper City
- Sawgrass Springs Middle
- School for Advanced Studies
- Somerset Middle
- Somerset Charter
- Vineland K-8
- Westpine Middle
These schools have not been able to hold a First Priority meeting yet this year but our prayer is that they will be able to kick off before the students are out for Christmas break! Some are in need of a faculty sponsor, some in need of a coach, and others just needing to have their first meeting. Thank you for praying with us for these clubs!
Chris Lane
Executive Director
Psalms 103: 1-5
Bless the Lord,
O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it has always been the most low-key of all the others. In recent years, we have gone away and gathered family for outdoor fun and gigantic cooking scenarios (30+ people assigned meals in rotation). Other times it has been a small family gathering, quiet conversations and football on TV (and outside) with some “hauling up to the house” some firewood.
I love the non-pageantry of Thanksgiving. I love the non-gift giving of Thanksgiving. For some reason, it seems to hold at bay the emotional stress that can stalk the best of us at Christmas. I can remember going and cutting a Christmas tree from the woods after Thanksgiving Day. I can remember watching football with my Dad and talking about “nothing” and falling asleep on the couch.
Eucharist is the centerpiece meaning of Thanksgiving for Christians. From the Greek, Eucharist means gratitude or, eucharistos, meaning grateful. An expanded Greek meaning is charizesthai which means to show favor. And, to enlarge the meaning even further, we find from charis, the Thanksgiving meaning of showing favor, grace and gratitude. Shouldn’t we worship our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ with the full meaning of Thanksgiving this season? Can we do this and stay relaxed and uncomplicated? I’m hoping so! We can give Him gratitude, favor, grace and thanks for the payment for our sin on the Cross.
I’m going to try again to make Thanksgiving uncomplicated. The convergence of all He has done, is doing, and going to do in and through us at First Priority of America is worth thanking Him for! I am already thanking Him for 10,000 professions of faith by the end of school this year. Join me in praying for that and believing He’ll use you to spread the Gospel message. Be the encourager that our volunteers, team members and students need. Give thanks with a grateful heart. Sing this with me:
10,000 Reasons
Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
The sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes
You’re rich in love
And You’re slow to anger
Your name is great
And Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find
Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
Yes, I’ll worship Your Holy name
I’ll worship Your Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
Jesus I will worship Your
Holy name
Worship Your Holy name
Songwriters: JONAS MYRIN, MATT REDMAN
© CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Nancy and I are honored to serve with you,
Rick Forbus, PhD
President – CEO
FIRST PRIORITY OF AMERICA
On our 6 campuses this semester, nearly 100 students have been trained as missionaries to their school! Over the course of last year, 87 student leaders were trained, meaning we’ve seen an increase of the church uniting to reach the lost on campus.
These leaders are Christian students who claim themselves as missionaries to their school, active in inviting students, and learning how to share the Gospel message. They also participate in planning and presenting the different weekly roles of First Priority.
Sean Hall
FP Director
FP St. Louis Metro East
What an amazing month for our First Priority Chapter in Stanford, Kentucky! We had 6 decisions for Christ in our first week of club meetings! The celebration doesn’t stop there. We launched 3 new clubs during the months of September and October. That means that we will have the opportunity to be the salt and light to hundreds of students at those campuses. Our new clubs are Woodlawn Elementary, McKinney Elementary, and Fort Logan High School. Please pray for these new schools as we train missionaries to share the Hope of Christ with their peers. We also would like to recognize our new campus coaches and faculty sponsors for joining us in the good fight. Thank you all for your hearts for our students and schools. Above is a photo from one of our schools at our recent See You At The Pole event where hundreds of students gathered to pray for national day of prayer. See we still pray in school!
Shawn Ingram
FP Director
FP Heritage
