This blog post was written by Hannah Blackburn.

On this week’s podcast, our hosts Steve Cherrico and Brad Schelling sat down with special guest Rachel Gardiner. Rachel had always felt called to ministry in some way, and her journey to First Priority started as a high school English teacher. As a teacher, she was invited to guest speak at her school’s First Priority club, which is how she found out about First Priority. 

Our hosts discussed some challenges about being a teacher while in a public school setting, the largest one being an emphasis on separation between church and state. Many teachers do not understand their rights and the ways that they can provide students with resources that can point students to Jesus. Rachel discussed the balance of legalities and where that meets the character of Christ. She highlights that students are led to Christ more through acts of service and seeing Jesus through her, rather than through dramatic altar calls in a club meeting.

Rachel started at First Priority in 2019, and has grown exponentially in her confidence and purpose since then. She ultimately realized that God’s calling on her life was to reach the unreached with the Gospel, and uses training and relationship building to reach those students daily. Legally, Rachel has partnered closely with school and administration and the board of education, making sure they know First Priority is there to help and serve them, rather than go against them. Rachel highlighted the intentionality behind coming alongside students and making sure they are plugged into a local church, which goes back to previous episodes about church partnerships. Rachel’s advice to First Priority staff and volunteers around the country is to focus more on Christ and what He is doing now and less on statistics and goal setting, and she is excited to see where God takes First Priority in the future!

This blog post was written by Hannah Blackburn.

In this episode of the First Priority podcast, our host Brad Schelling sat down with a longtime friend: Joseph Daley. Joseph has a long history with First Priority, which started with being involved in the club at his school and currently by serving as a board member. Joseph and Brad discussed the many ways First Priority has impacted Joseph’s life and where he has seen God’s hand in the lives of students. Joseph was greatly influenced by his area director Debbie DeBoer (watch her podcast episode here), and she is part of the reason he went from being a First Priority student leader to becoming a board member. Joseph shares several personal stories from his journey through business and First Priority, and several examples of times when he has been able to overcome various obstacles.

Joseph challenges other business leaders to be involved in the First Priority mission. How can one do this? There are many ways, but it starts with identifying the vision of First Priority. Second, one must identify what they have that could contribute to the vision. This could be leadership seminars, speaking at leadership summits, leveraging relationships, or community connections. Joseph reminds us that God has given business leaders both the ability to gain great wealth and the responsibility for gaining great wealth. This means that business leaders are accountable for how and where they choose to spend their resources, since ultimately it all belongs to God. Joseph encourages his fellow business leaders to not only identify what they can do for the mission, but also to follow through with it no matter how small the act may seem. 

Joseph reminds us that the mission is difficult, and Satan will try to come stop us. He references the story of Paul from the Bible, who was beaten many times and received the maximum amount of 39 lashes each time. Joseph reminds us that Paul received the 39 lashes due to the ministry he was doing and the change he was making in Jesus’ name, and he challenges us to think about whether our lives would also warrant 39 lashes. Ultimately, it’s a spiritual problem that students are facing, and they’re missing the purpose found through being in God’s will. 

Watch this podcast episode to hear more stories from Joseph and Brad as they reflect and celebrate the impact of First Priority in the lives of themselves and others.

This blog post was written by Hannah Blackburn. 

In this episode of the First Priority podcast, our host Brad Schelling sat down with the First Priority president, Mark Robbins. Mark Robbins began as a First Priority director in one of the oldest chapters in the country, and he is very enthusiastic about the First Priority ministry and sharing some exciting new updates. One amazing First Priority update is that there are now over 1,000 clubs in the country! There have been 500-600 student leaders trained, and many areas are growing exponentially. In another exciting update, First Priority has seen 7200+ students come to know Jesus this school year! 

In a continuation of last week’s conversation, Brad and Mark got into the topic of the episode, business leaders and their impact on the First Priority network. The First Priority model focuses on five central networks: the students, student leaders and coaches, teacher sponsors, parents, and the business community. Brad and Mark discussed how business leaders and community leaders focus on the longevity of their community. People like this are central to the First Priority business model. When local business leaders work together with parents, students, pastors, and teachers, they become a huge network of Christians all working together to lead the next generation to Christ. Networking is a core theme of the First Priority model. Although networking through pre-established relationships can feel inconsequential, it’s those established connections that are the most important to creating a strong community of support. 

Next, Mark and Brad shared some advice for people new to First Priority. It starts with following God’s lead on your heart. This could mean not becoming distracted and discouraged when things seem to overwhelm you, but instead following God’s lead even when it doesn’t make sense to you. Brad brought up an example of when God led him to call his dentist, and long story short he was able to make a whole new network of business leaders excited about First Priority’s ministry. Business leaders and community leaders are a central part of the First Priority network, and working together with students, teachers, coaches, sponsors, and parents, First Priority is able to see God working and moving in the local community and bringing students to Christ.

This blog post was written by Hannah Blackburn. 

In this week’s episode of the First Priority podcast, Steve Cherrico and Brad Schelling sat down to continue their conversation from last week’s podcast with Larry Crawford. Themes from last week included church partnership, the local church, and being pro church, as well as a discussion of all the angles by which First Priority markets itself to the local church.

Engagement of the local church is not only important, it is absolutely crucial! Steve and Brad discussed the “Dead Sea Analogy” to explain why engagement of the church is so vital. The Dead Sea can’t house life because nothing ever flows out, things only flow into it. In the same way, many student ministries only have students come in, but never send them back out into the world. First Priority clubs create a way for local church’s student ministries to send their students back out into the world, which in turn breathes life back into their ministry.

Why do students lose their faith at college and what can prevent this from happening? Brad and Steve discussed how youth ministry helps students view their daily life as missional and causes them to engage their faith on a greater level. In partnership with First Priority clubs, this could look like a student inviting a classmate or athletic team member to a First Priority meeting. When these students get to college, their faith isn’t something they walk away from because they already view it as part of their daily life. This worldview creates greater opportunity for students to share their faith with their peers, whether that’s at school, college, or beyond!

Next Brad and Steve discussed yet another layer of benefit for local churches that partner with First Priority. Romans 12 talks about the importance of being the body of Christ. Many students don’t feel like they can discuss their faith openly at school, even though oftentimes there is a whole body of believers surrounding them. First Priority clubs provide a connection for students to find fellowship with other Christians at their school and a connection between students and local churches. Connect Week, in our EPIC Cycle, is solely dedicated to helping students find their local church family. Students want someone to say they belong, and the local church is the best place to find that community. First Priority can connect students with local churches AND other Christians at their school in a really amazing way!

Another benefit of partnership with First Priority is the encouragement of the local church. Oftentimes, the church can focus too much on the negatives of the modern childhood experience. First Priority gives churches a reason to CELEBRATE what’s going on at their local school when students come to know Jesus! Over and over, we have seen the awesome things God has done when students and the local church come together, and we at First Priority are incredibly honored to be even a small part of that!

Listen to the podcast today to learn more about engaging churches in school ministry!