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Kristina Sears

Feb 15
Love0

By First Priority Of America

We have turned the corner of January and are nearing the end of the first full week of February. God is at work in so many little stories and in so many kids’ lives through their FP Clubs. It’s amazing to hear the stories of students reaching students with the hope of Jesus. Here is one story from a club in FP Lakeshore.

A 6th grader attended FP Club after being invited and reminded about the club through the school announcements. At the first club meeting in January, the student leaders wanted to share the story of Jesus birth as they had missed the opportunity due to a snow day in December. During a turn and talk to your neighbor time, the girl who was visiting said she was confused. She didn’t know that Jesus was born in a manger, she thought he was born in a crystal. The leader who was sitting at the table was able to share the truth with her. She’s been back at FP Club every week. It was a good reminder that even though we have a church on every corner, there are still those who have never heard the truth of Jesus.

Another beautiful story out of FP Permian Basin also involved a 6th grader. “One of the six graders wanted to be the host of their club that day, but was afraid because she had never prayed out loud before. Before I as a club mentor could say “hey, it’s OK I’ll help you pray,” another student who is in sixth grade, said “here, let me teach you!” God is so good!”

Jan 26
Love0

May we leave a legacy of love for Jesus that remains long after we are gone

By FP Success Story, Local FP Communities

by Rachel Gardiner, Executive Director

We have truly had a year of unprecedented growth here at FP Johnston County. From volunteers to clubs to student leaders we are blown away by how God continues to grow and provide for our ministry. To be honest with you, I wasn’t too sure what would happen as students returned to campus post-COVID. I, like many of you, felt nervous, unsure, but still hopeful. Yet, I had no clue what God had in mind for us.

The past two years for our team at FP Johnston County have been marked by prayer. We’ve added staff members, board members, two paid interns, and countless student leaders and volunteers. We’ve seen God build, tear down, re-build, and make new. He’s provided for us financially. He’s been faithful to give wisdom, clarity, unity, and encouragement. This is His work after all, not ours. We are building His Kingdom, not our own castles.

Through the growth and provision, I found myself leaning into God’s presence more than ever before. As we build, we must build upon His firm foundation and as we grow, we must be guided by His Spirit. We do not want to make one decision, one action without His authority and guidance.

Through this period of growth, I began to reflect on where we have come from and dream about where we can go. God has graciously allowed me to be a small part of this ministry for the past 4 years and it has been such a sweet season to be a part of the work He is doing. As I reflected and as I dreamed, I felt as if God gave us an “anthem” that would keep us faithfully grounded to our mission through it all:

This is our anthem. This is why we host training events. This is why we gather for prayer walks on campuses all across the county. This is why we equip, encourage, and disciple students. This is why we wake up early and get to bed late. This is why we send emails and write letters. This is why we raise money and gather for fellowship. This is why we don’t give up.

Our mission remains to see the hope of Christ in every student. Our goal for each aspect of ministry under that mission is to leave a legacy of love for Jesus that remains long after we are gone. I see generations and generations, their children and their children’s children, carrying a revival of the faith that we are a part of now. Long after our names are meaningless dust, may the work of our hands leave a legacy that boasts of the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jan 20
Love0

Look what God has done this school year!

By First Priority Of America

We are already two weeks in to a new year. It’s hard to believe that 2023 is upon us. We are excited to report what God has already done this school year and can’t wait to see how He moves this second half of the year. Since the start of the 2022/23 school year we have seen almost 30,000 students attending 732 FP Clubs. Almost 5000 students have begun a relationship with Jesus Christ and over 4200 student leaders have been trained. And that’s just since September. Please be in prayer that these numbers will continue to rise the remainder of this school year so that more and more students will find the Hope in Christ.  

What an exciting time to be a part of this ministry that is focused to see the hope of Christ in every student. A club mentor at a school in FP Permian Basin shares this: 

“First Priority has not only created an awesome opportunity for kids to hear the gospel it has helped grow my junior high and high school youth groups. It is so heart warming to see kids excited about Jesus! I know First Priority has blessed my church and I hope it has blessed other churches in our small town as well.”

If you are interested in partnering with us to take the hope of Christ to every student, there are many ways we need your help. You can become a prayer partner here. You can get involved in your local area to either spread the word about First Priority or get involved in supporting a local club. You can also partner with us financially by clicking the button below. Thanks for all you do and for caring about the future generation. 

Partner

Nov 15
Love0

Are you prepared?

By First Priority Of America

Are you prepared to join in the global generosity movement taking place on November 29th? GivingTuesday inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. At First Priority of America, we are committed and prepared to fulfill our mission “To Take The Hope of Christ To Every Student”. YOU could help us do that this year by giving a Student Leader, a Leader Club Kit with all the resources they need to start a club.

For a one-time gift of $149 you can provide the resources for a student leader to run a club. This includes:

  • Bibles
  • Club Leader Guide
  • Prayer and Invite Cards
  • Student Response Cards/Pens
  • Posters and advertisement
  • Everything else needed to start a club

Please consider giving a one time gift of $149 on November 29th to help a student leader have the resources they need to start a club.

 

Sep 08
Love0

Hey I know you, you’re a Christian too?

By Local FP Communities, First Priority Of America

The 2022-23 school year has begun everywhere across the nation and we are already hearing some amazing stories. One of our newest Districts, Cincinnati, is seeing God move in many ways. Here is just a small part of what God is doing there.

From District Director, Justin Theriot, “On Thursday 8/25 FP Cincinnati did our first club training with students, campus coaches, and faculty sponsors! We had eight students present, 5 churches represented, the campus coach and the faculty sponsor. I was not really sure what to expect. The high school students represented every grade and also did not run in the same circles at Batavia HS. Some did not even know each other.

I heard multiple times, “Hey I know you, you’re a Christian too?” Friendships and bonds were being formed.

I asked the students to be bold and pray us out. Two students raised their hands and gave that awkward,” oh you can do it” almost simultaneously. I chimed in with, “how about you both pray? You dial and you hang up.” As we were praying you could feel the thankfulness and sincerity in their voices. One student prayed, “God, you know I have been praying for a way to share you at my school. I think this is it.”

I am so thankful for what we are already seeing God do in FP Clubs across the nation. God is on the move. Will you help support the furthering of His Kingdom so that together, we can take the HOPE of Christ to every student? Thank you for being a part of the First Priority movement. Sharing our mission with others helps our future generation be able to share their story and see their peers come to know the love of Jesus.

Mark Robbins, FPoA President

Sep 01
Love0

FPoA hires Janice full-time and hires a new Event and Resource Coordinator

By First Priority Of America

First Priority of America, a 501c3 nonprofit ministry focused on empowering students to reach their friends with the HOPE of Christ, announced today that the ministry has promoted Janice Blanchett to a full-time role of Executive Assistant and Bookkeeper and has hired Susan Cagna as the part-time Resource and Event Coordinator.

“We are excited that Janice will be available full-time in the Nashville office to meet the growing needs of First Priority of America. She is a huge asset as we expand to reach new areas,” said Brad Schelling, Director of Ministry Operations.

Janice serves as the Executive Assistant to our President, Mark Robbins and EVP of Development and Ministry Relations, Warren Robold. She also works closely with our accountant as our Bookkeeper. Janice is responsible for “all things” administrative, keeping our FP Office running smoothly and recording all donations and expenses. She is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, and earned a Bachelors of Science degree in 1985 with an emphasis in Journalism.

She also writes children’s books in her spare time. Janice and her husband, Mark have been married 34 years and have 5 children: James, Jared, Jillian, Jessica and John Mark. They also have two grandchildren, Liam and Porter.

Susan works for First Priority of America as the Resource and Event Coordinator. Susan is married to Thomas Cagna, and has two children: Sarah, who attends Lee University, and Alex, who is a junior in high school. She has been a Congregational Pastor at Christ Church Nashville for over 24 years. She also serves on the altar care and prayer teams. She helps lead the Married Life Sunday School class and also serves as the Special Event Pastor for the Women’s Ministry.

She owns and operates an etiquette business that teaches self confidence, interview skills, speech, and table manners to children and teens.

Susan loves the outdoors, beautiful flowers, a good book, and spending time relaxing with family, friends, and her three cats. Her favorite scripture is Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know:.”

Systems and Communications Director, Kristina Hedstrom, adds, “We are thrilled to add Susan to our team here in the Nashville office and are thankful for the opportunity to add more staff as we continue to grow.”

Aug 09
Love0

Looking towards the new school year

By First Priority Of America

Summer is flying by. Students are headed back to the classroom as schools in many states across the nation begin this month. Other schools will start in September, but all of them are gearing up for their FP Clubs to kick off this 2022/2023 school year and to see more and more students come to know Christ than ever before. We are excited to see so many prayer walks, student leader training events, fundraisers and more, filling up the calendar and getting the word out about students reaching students with the hope of Christ!

Two of the states where we have a lot of club concentration, are having a ‘weekend of prayer over students’. In both Tennessee and Alabama, there will be believers gathering at schools praying over students, teachers, staff, and administrators as they head back to one of the biggest mission fields. Will you join us in praying for everyone heading back to school soon? You can let us know you prayed here.

 

 

Jun 30
Love0

First Priority of America Hires Season Tingler and Stephen Summit for the Kansas City District!

By First Priority Of America

(NASHVILLE, Tenn. — June 28, 2022) First Priority of America, a 501C3 non-profit ministry focused on empowering students to reach their friends with the HOPE of Christ, announced today the hire of Season Tingler as District Director and Stephen Summit as Area Coordinator in the Kansas City District.

Mark Robbins, President of First Priority of America said, “We are excited at FPoA to be launching the Kansas City district which will be expanding throughout Jackson and Johnson counties over the next 3 to 5 years. Season Tingler has accepted the position of District Director and Stephen Summit as an Area Coordinator”.

Season Tingler is the District Director for Kansas City. She lives in Missouri with her husband Jerad, daughter Elle, and son Cross. Season is an ordained pastor who served full-time on a church staff before joining the First Priority of America team. She has been a High School & Young Adult Pastor, Pastor of Spiritual Formation, and a Public School Teacher. Season founded and launched her first ministry in 2003 as a sophomore in high school, and has been serving in ministry ever since.

She has been leading in student ministry and coaching youth sports since 2007. Season has a heart for developing and empowering leaders to steward their influence and abilities to make a Kingdom impact.

Stephen Summit and his family live in the Northland of Kansas City, Missouri. Stephen graduated from William Jewell College in 2008 with his bachelor’s in history and education. He will soon have his Master’s in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University. Before joining First Priority in June of 2022, Stephen spent 11 years as a high school Social Studies teacher for Grandview C-4 School District. Stephen also serves in the Air National Guard as an officer for the 131st Force Support Squadron out of Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

Stephen serves in his local church as a youth group leader, adult small group leader, and drummer. Stephen and his wife, Alexa, have been married for 14 years and have two precious children, Grace and Shane.

Robbins adds, “We are looking forward in prayer and excitement to partner with local churches in raising up student leaders who will influence and reach their peers with the message of Hope in Christ”.

Jun 27
Love0

A great story from Chick-fil-A

By Local FP Communities

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” ~Ephesians 2.10

As the TN1 team bustles about this summer, laying the groundwork for new clubs to launch this Fall, we very much have the sense that God has been preparing things and has gone before us, laying out those good works for us to step into. It has been so encouraging to see people getting excited about the work ahead and what God will do. It’s contagious!

At a recent  network meeting, courtesy Chick-fil-A of Greenville, a young mother was sitting close enough to overhear our plans and turned around to ask if we could bring First Priority to her area. She told us her fourth grade son dresses himself up in a suit to go to school in case he gets a chance to preach!

This month we had network meetings for Greene County and Cocke County to begin the process of pairing Campus Coaches and churches to individual schools.  

We now have 7 of our initial 10 targeted schools in Greeneville covered by a Campus Coach and Cocke County isn’t far behind!  We will continue to seek additional Campus Coaches as we move on to identifying the Student Leaders and Faculty Sponsors for each school.

As we continue in our purpose, “to unite the church to equip students so that every teen on every middle and high school campus in the United States can hear the Gospel from a friend”,  we are praying  for others to come along and invest their time their talent and their treasure for this eternal purpose.

Campus Coaches, Faculty Sponsors and Student Leaders are needed in all 12 Tennessee counties that make up the 1st District.

If you would like more information about how you can connect with us please contact one of the First Priority folks listed below.

Grace to you,

David North, District Director

For more information about the TN1 District and/or to partner with the TN1 District click the button.

TN-1

Jun 01
Love0

First Priority of America hires Maggie Smith as the Resource and Event Coordinator

By First Priority Of America

First Priority of America, a 501c3 nonprofit ministry focused on empowering students to reach their friends with the HOPE of Christ, announced today that the ministry has hired Maggie Smith as the Resource and Event Coordinator.

We are extremely excited to be adding Maggie Smith as the Resource and Event Coordinator in our Nashville office where she will spend her days managing our inventory and online orders, as well as planning and coordinating the FPoA events such as the annual Fall Conference. Director of Ministry Operations, Brad Schelling said, “I am happy to add Maggie to the team in Nashville. With the growth of the ministry, we needed someone with her gifts and passion to take the lead on the resources and events. I am excited to see her take these areas to the next level in order to best serve the students, clubs, district, and chapters around the country.”

Maggie is excited to join First Priority of America and serve as the Resource and Event Coordinator. She is a graduate of Austin Peay State University, earning a Bachelors of Science degree with a concentration in Public Health. She came to know the Lord as a child but didn’t understand what a relationship with Jesus could be until a friend in high school poured into her. Since then, Maggie has served in a variety of roles in youth ministry and is passionate about leading youth to have a personal relationship with Jesus. She currently lives in Murfreesboro with her family.