First Priority Of America

Christmas growing up in the Mississippi Delta was wonderful. I didn’t know that it was different. The harvest had just come in; cotton, soy beans, rice and silage, and we usually had experienced a few frosty mornings. It seemed that most everything began to revolve around Main St., the levee at Lake Ferguson and Deer Creek. Greenville, MS was as magical as Disney World if you were a little kid and had never seen Disney World. Main St., back in those days, was decorated beautifully and we actually went window shopping, sometimes ending up at the church (my dad always had a reason to stop by the church and check on things) or looking at decorations on the Levee.

Deer Creek was Leland, MS’s centerpiece at Christmas time. It was simply a creek running through flatlands with homemade Christmas floats anchored down somehow. They were illuminated, always the same, and fun to look at from the car windows. It probably took 12 minutes to see them all! What a night! My Mom always made a huge deal about everything, with hot chocolate, decorations and neighbor-drop-offs.

Neighbor drop-offs were candies, peanut brittle and an occasional fig cake for very important people. (This fig cake was and still is famous around the church and my family.) My Dad who could have easily run for Mayor, was Minister of Music and Administration at First Baptist Church in Greenville, MS for 50+ years. Some say he was the first full-time Minister of Music in the state, starting in 1954 in his 20’s. He was a churchman, a friend, a joke teller and great musician, planner and organizer. My Mom was the perfect match and companion. Both were (my Mom still is living and still creative) extremely creative and well-loved. They loved on just about everybody that would let them, of all walks of life and races. I thought everyone’s life was magical with lots of friends, Firestone Christmas albums playing on a huge stereo in the home, lots of baking, wrapping, and taking things to the janitor of the church and his family at Christmas time. I thought everyone’s Mom made angel costumes, shepherd head pieces and fed 50-60 teenagers for dinner after youth choir practice on Sunday afternoons. My sister and I were tortured by having to dress up in the heat of August for my Dad to take our pictures for the upcoming FORBUS CHRISTMAS CARD.

Jesus was the central character, Christmas music was the underscoring, and church candles painted the backdrop for growing up in the Delta. My parents’ year long benevolence got really ramped up at Christmas time. Homeless folks dropped by the church while I was there with my Dad and I watched him always do extra for them.

Never snow, but quite a magical remembrance, are the visions I recall. I could stand on the front steps of the church and see to the left across the street the Catholic Church and to the right the Jewish Synagogue. The Methodist Church was one street over. I can remember times when the church bells were in competition! Jesus was the reason for such memories. I was saved and baptized in that church.

I’m hoping many of the students who came to Christ this school year will find that Jesus changes their “scenery” at Christmas. No matter how lonely, dysfunctional the home may be; a saved teenager has a great chance to celebrate this Christmas. The Christ of Christmas changes everything and makes it spiritually magical wherever we find ourselves.

Nancy and I wish you all a Christ-filled Christmas. Never stop praying for the students of America to find Him! We need your support to see that every student has a chance to experience the Gospel.

Rick Forbus, PhD
President and CEO
rick@fpofamerica.com

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.

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

What if you could honestly change your city…for the good? Many of my executive coaching clients through the years have asked about legacy. I’ve coached Corporate CEOs, Executive Vice Presidents, Managing Directors, Project Managers, pastors and team members. Some business owners, school administrators, those looking for a transition and those who want to improve their career chances, have asked bluntly or just alluded to the topic of having a lasting legacy. Not everybody is interested in a legacy though. Of the hundreds of coaching clients, I’ve coached, it is only a small percentage that even care about leaving a legacy. Of those who do care about legacy, a large percentage just want to endow something that will bear their name after they’ve left this earth. The smaller percentage of folks, though, want to make a difference NOW! That’s how I coach people regarding legacy. I believe your legacy and my legacy is being built right now. It is as simple as answering this question, “what are you being while you are doing what you are doing?” I mean, what are you being today? Are you being kind, nondiscriminatory, fair, generous and benevolent? Are you being approachable, likable and positive? Have you never thought about this?

I now wake up wanting to make a difference in the schools across America through the model of ministry and evangelism called FIRST PRIORITY of AMERICA. As I lead this great organization, I still consider my daily “legacy-building” actions. Be likable today. Be approachable today. Be articulate about the Gospel message today. Be clear with your lifestyle today. Be the hardest worker in your company today as a testimony.

These are all legacy building blocks. You could change your city by making the legacy decision to sponsor a few schools through your church. You could change your entire county by talking with your student pastor, your pastor and Christian parents of several churches in your town about getting FIRST PRIORITY started. These are legacy decisions. It could be that a middle school student that hears about the love of Christ in their school, will one day be the mayor, the school superintendent or the Pastor, Rector or Bishop of a local church. If nothing else, starting a chapter in your town may change the crime rate, the collegial spirit of the future city council meetings!

Change your world through starting a FIRST PRIORITY CHAPTER in your community! It is a legacy decision. Ask me how.

Nancy and I are honored to serve with you in this ministry,

Rick Forbus, PhD
President and CEO
FIRST PRIORITY OF AMERICA
rick@fpofamerica.com

The Gift of the Good News!
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Christmas Greetings!

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year as we celebrate the greatest Gift ever given, Immanuel – God with us! As each year continues to allow more reflection on the years previous, I get to see all the more how God guides and blesses each of us through the seasons of life. This year I am excited to share that we have recorded 7,362 students coming to Christ in the year of our Lord 2012!
But there is more…

Our Team in South Flordia has 5,000 special edition Christmas Bibles being delivered to the F.P. clubs this month. As you can see in this picture, Brody Howell is loading up his trunk! With two more weeks left of school and it being Christmas, there are hundreds, if not thousands more who will hear the gospel, many for the first time ever!

Our Expansion Team is seeing movement in a dozen new areas as we head into the new year. With an average of 4 new clubs starting in 6 of our new communities in 2012, that’s a potential of seeing 48 new clubs in new schools in new areas for 2013!! And that’s not counting the new clubs that will rise up as our current local organizations grow larger and stronger. We fully expect our response rate to break 10,000 in the year 2013!

The month of December has traditionally been the most important month of giving for us throughout the year. Not only does it help us finish strong, but we rely heavily on the end-of-the-year giving to sustain us for the first quarter of the next year. As we face the challenge that lies ahead, may we ask you to purposely pray about what God would have you do? As the students, teachers, and campus coaches each do their part in the schools, as we at FPOA continue to do our part in building into churches to start new schools into 2013, would you consider being a part in praying for and partnering with us to share Christ on campus.

Sharing the Gift,

~ The FPoA Team ~