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Local FP Communities

“Can I See Some I.D. Please?”

By Local FP Communities, Northeast TN

This blog post was written by David North.

There’s a lot of talk about IDENTITY these days among students. We repeat the phrase “Know who you are in Christ“ at church, but I’m not sure we’ve done a very good job of explaining what that means and why it matters.

And now we are seeing the consequences of abandoning that conversation and allowing culture to hand out new identities to students -and even new categories!

Our students need to know some things about identity. Everything, I mean everything, flows out of knowing Who God is and who he made you to be.

Identity is a big deal to God, and it should be a big deal to us. The world and our Enemy wants us to identify ourselves by our sin and struggles.

God identifies us by our purpose and our potential. Sometimes He even changes peoples name just to make the point! Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul and the list goes on.

At First Priority we are training students to let their friends know that God made them for a purpose-and He is prepared to give them a new life, a new identity, and a better future if they will just come to Him.

Partner with us in this identity war and let’s see what God does!

Blessings,

David North, District Director, NE Tennessee

The Worst Job

By Local FP Communities

When I was growing up, kids helped out around the house. Imagine that. We mowed the yard, raked leaves, washed dishes, folded laundry, picked up our rooms, took out the trash, swept floors and fed the pets just to name a few. I didn’t exactly look forward to it, but I did it. And honestly, it felt good, like I had done something productive, even noble.

But there was one job I absolutely despised. Stirring. I would be walking through the kitchen on my way outside to play and my mom would stop me and ask me to stir something while she worked on other parts of the meal. It was miserable, first because it required me to stand still and second because there was no clear sign, to me anyway, of when this torture would end. Just stand there, in one spot, and swirl this stuff around until you collapse or Jesus comes back. I think they even named a mental illness after it, stir crazy.

And then I came across this verse a few days ago.

“And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God.”

God stirs! It might sound strange, but this came as a great relief to me because I have felt the entire weight of “stirring up” people and for keeping them stirred up. Honestly, sometimes it can be frustrating and even exhausting. But it can also be very rewarding when you see others get motivated and take ownership of their role. Hebrews 10:24 says we should consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. And I will continue to do so. But now, I add a prayer to my stirring efforts. “Holy Spirit, will YOU stir up people for this work?” You see, God can stir people in ways that I cannot. So I ask Him. It’s all through your Bible. God stirs people up for things.

Is He stirring you? I pray He is.

If so, contact me or the Area Coordinator for your county and ask how you can partner. Or to find out how to become a financial partner just click on the link below.

Blessings!

David North
District Director NE Tennessee

Crediting God with what we Learn

By Local FP Communities, Leadership Development, Podcast

This week’s podcast revisited Chris Lane speaking at our Fall Conference. He touched on the fact that God is at work in First Priority of South Florida, and God is bringing Him along for the journey. He is God’s faithful vessel, and Chris calls others to be God’s vessel too. God has called you to bring the Gospel to the unreached community, students. Chris goes on to list the 10 things that God has taught him in his 25 years with First Priority.

Get to versus got to attitude: There is nothing too small, the kingdom of God is at hand, and we should be glad we get to do it. Our attitude matters!

Satan hates me and you, and he wants to ruin our lives: Satan is working non-stop every day to prevent us from doing ministry. He is a thief (John 10:10), and he hates you! But stand strong in the Lord who gives you life.

People are greater than accomplishments: We cannot sacrifice our family for accomplishments in ministry. Not only family, but even your team! Relationships are important, and we need to make sure we are intentional in maintaining them.

Having an eternal mindset: We have to be careful about this! What are the things in your life that you can bring with you to Heaven? The Word of God and souls, the things that matter most.

Stay focused and fight missional creep: Over the course of time, you may feel a bit off-mission. Our strategy-based mission helps us set us apart from others! Stay focused on your clubs’ journeys.

Be bold and share the God-sized vision he has given you: Expand your vision for Him. Pray and ask God to show what he has in store for you to bring his vision into reality.

Be teachable: It is important to ask questions, be coachable, and always be willing to learn. We have to start out by learning. We cannot do things if we previously haven’t learned how to do them yet. God has given us His Word as our textbook, use it!

Do you spend time with people or invest in people? We aren’t going to live forever. Have you made the investments into people to take over for when you won’t be here anymore? The legacy we need to leave needs to be better than before, to help bring the next people to success.

We must celebrate regularly: Celebrate what God is doing in your area! When we celebrate, we don’t forget what we are doing and why we are doing it. But we also don’t get burned out. Remember God is faithful, and don’t lose trust in his plan.

Reflect over the ways Chris has learned from God these last 25 years. Find ways God has taught you in your time with First Priority, and how it can help you in ministry for the years to come. You can listen to the podcast here.

This blog was written by Kenley Kizer

Faithful Disciples

By Local FP Communities, Podcast

As Christians, letting go and recognizing where Jesus can lead us is difficult. We may be fearful of the next chapter, or content at the place in life we are at. But when Jesus calls, we should answer! Ministry is a gift from the Lord to expand His kingdom. God calls us to be willing to expand it, to make disciples of many nations.

Matthew 4:18-19 “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon also called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “‘Come follow me’” Jesus said, “‘And I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”

Larry Bragg is the area director for First Priority of St. Louis Metro East. Larry has been with First Priority for 10 months. Before First Priority, he was the Managing Director of a Chick-Fil-A in his town. While making a delivery to a local high school, Larry was introduced to First Priority. God made it very clear that the door was wide open for him to join the First Priority family.

Larry has a passion for students since he was previously a youth pastor. He knew that First Priority was a way to get Christ to the kids in school. Larry trusted God and knew that where God calls, he should go. Larry is an example of what it looks like to surrender to God and follow what His will is for our life. In doing so, Larry is impacting students’ lives.

If you would like to watch this week’s podcast, click the link here.

This blog was written by Kenley Kizer

The Fire From the Spirit

By Local FP Communities, First Priority Of America

Do you ever feel spiritually hungry and thirsty? You know, when you are constantly feeling the need to be in reverence to God. He works like that! God knows your needs and that you need to submit to Him. With God, you don’t go hungry or thirsty. He has given us the Bread of Life with His son, Jesus.

Phil Springer joined Steve Cherrico at the First Priority National Fall Conference this year on the podcast. He told listeners that the kids in his clubs are hungry to hear the gospel. His clubs are growing, and a recently-opened club had over a hundred students at their meeting! One student in particular is on fire for Jesus, he says, and it only takes one to spark a flame.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

When we seek Jesus when we are hungry, He sparks the fire in our heart only He can provide. The Spirit of God! He provides us with His Spirit that can give us power in our faith to continue spreading the Word.

Our campuses are our mission field. We must have a passion for our students to have an eternity to spend with Christ. Continue pouring into the students to help fan the flame that the Spirit of God has given them. We are here to gather to help the students grow.

Reminder! Don’t forget that chapter spring meeting dates are out! May 7-8 in Decatur, May 12-13 in Ft. Lauderdale, and for First Priority District Staff: May 22-23 in Nashville!

If you haven’t had the chance to listen to this podcast, click the link here to watch it.

This blog post was written by Kenley Kizer

Lots Happening!

By Local FP Communities, First Priority Of America

There is a lot happening so far this school year in Upper East Tennessee!

Clubs in 36 Schools
25 Decisions for Jesus
Multiple New Club Launches

Let’s have a look!

  • Sevier County Junior High has launched with over 50 in attendance at their first meeting. 7 Students made the decision to give their lives to Jesus! Thank you Dominic, Connor and Kelsea for all your hard work to get this off the ground!
  • Tri-Cities Area Coordinator, Haley Wherry launched clubs at Church Hill Middle and Happy Valley High!
  • Cosby Middle and Cocke Co. High School have also launched.

Thank you to Daryl Crum, our new Area Coordinator Austin Hall, FBC Pastor Rich, Providence Pastor Stephen Neal and so many more who’ve made it happen. Also, a student at Parrottsville Elementary gave their life to Jesus!

Will you help us continue to launch new clubs so that more students hear the Gospel?

It takes 3 things…

  1. Faithful Financial Partners
  2. Fervent Prayers
  3. Focused Volunteers

Ask God what he would have you do and then send me an email.

I would love to talk with you.

Godspeed,

David North
davidnorth@firstpriority.club
District Director Upper East Tennessee
First Priority of America

Hope and Strength in the Face of Adversity: Lessons from James 1:12

By Local FP Communities, First Priority Of America, Podcast

When we are walking with God in life, there are times we can see His face shining upon us, and we know that life is good and He will be there for us when we need him. All we have to do is lean into Him and follow what He has commanded us to do. But what happens when things seem to not be going our way, and we feel as if spiritual warfare is all around us?

James 1:12 states, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Recognize the moments in your life when things get hard. Seek Jesus and ask Him to help guide you in those times. He will not forsake the ones that love Him. He is willing to answer you and protect you! Jesus has come to give us strength and peace to continue living for Him. By battling our trials, His light will shine and we will be able to display where our Hope is found. Jesus is worthy of all our praise, whether we are facing good or bad times.

When reading scripture, you see that there are people who won’t recognize Jesus as who He is. However, every time Jesus interacts with a demonic force, they know immediately who Jesus is and the power He holds. When we go through a similar experience, never forget how capable Jesus is!

On this week’s podcast, Brad Schelling met with the Executive Director of FP ArkLaTex, Michael Butler. Michael shared with Brad that he has seen God working in his area, but he also can see spiritual warfare going around his clubs. He notices that there will be great gifts from the Lord in the clubs, but sometimes not everything goes as planned.

To hear more about Michael Butler and the clubs of the ArkLaTex area, click here.

This blog post was written by Kenley Kizer

Embracing God’s Plan

By Local FP Communities, First Priority Of America, Podcast

Answering God is sometimes a difficult task, but being able to pray and differentiate His
voice from others is important. God will call you to follow His plans, and may even ask you to do things that make you uncomfortable, but no harm can come from following His will for your life.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 states, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the
LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”

When we are seeking God, by calling out to him in prayer, we are allowing Him to use us as His vessel. His plans have never been to harm us or cause us hurt, but rather to teach us obedience and show us what good things may come from trusting Him.

Brad Schelling sits down in this week’s podcast to talk to Jacob Sharp. Jacob is the
Ministry Director of Rutherford Co. for First Priority of Greater Nashville. Jacob tells
listeners that he had prepared to say “YES!” to whatever God had planned for him next. Within the next day, he received a call asking if he was interested in being a First Priority campus coach at Rocky Fork Middle School.

Jacob was able to follow God’s voice and be an example of what obedience to the Lord
looks like– all because he was willing! If you would like to hear more about what God is doing in Jacob’s life, watch Brad Schelling and Jacob Sharp here.

 

This blog post was written by Kenley Kizer

Fight or Flight

By Local FP Communities

We often use a football game as analogy for how First Priority is intended to work, with the Students Leaders being compared to the players on the field, adult volunteers as the Coaches for the clubs and the Faculty Sponsors as the referees. But what students face in their schools every day is not a game on an athletic field is it? It is spiritual warfare on a battlefield. And there is more at stake here than bragging rights and a pendant. We aren’t even two months into the school year and I have already heard multiple reports of students who gave up hope and ended their lives.

In the middle of all of this parents and students are making decisions about how they are going to deal with what is unfolding around them. Fight or Flight. These are the ONLY two options. Some parents make the hard decision to pull their kids from the public system and either home school or send them to a private school. But to the ones who feel called to stay I say take the fight to the enemy.

Reminds me of some lines from the movie “Lord Of The Rings”.

Aragorn to King Theoden upon learning that the enemy was just a days march away. “Ride out and meet them in battle!”

Theoden: “I will not risk open war.”

Aragorn: “Open war is upon you wether you would risk it or not.”

Fear and complacency keep many from engaging. But don’t be fooled, your Enemy knows where the battle is and is ALL IN.

Students are the ones who have the strategic position in the schools. They have a word of HOPE that their friends need and the freedom, for now, to share it. So Take Ground!

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
~2 Corinthians 10:3-4.

First Priority is opening multiple new fronts in this battle in several counties this Fall, with new clubs planning launches in Washington Co., Sevier Co., Johnson Co., Hawkins Co., Greene Co., and Cocke County.

First Priority students have responded, with one Student Leader sharing the Hope of Christ with 80 students who attended their club. Another First Priority Club partnered with a church for a tailgate party at their school’s big rival game and one Student Leader shared the Good News about Jesus to crowd of around 100 bystanders.

Have you asked God if He wants you to get involved with First Priority? Pause today, take minute to get still and quiet and ask God if He wants you to support this work.

Let me know what He says…

David North
TN1 District Director

A Sling and a Prayer

By Local FP Communities

Have you ever used the expression “…on a wing and a prayer” ? Do you ever wonder how these idioms get started and go back to look them up. Well I did just that this morning.

Turns out the expression originated during World War ll from the film “The Flying Tigers”  when one of the pilots lost one wing of his plane and was attempting to land on “just a wing and a prayer”.

When God is building our faith, He often puts us in situations where our resources appear to fall well short of the need. But He typically doesn’t just say, “all right, out of the way, I’ll handle this.” No. He requires that we make use of the little we have and then pray for Him to miraculously stretch it to meet the present need. He seems to prefer to take the little we have and multiply it, instead of creating something from nothing. Why?

I think it is because God wants us to partner with Him, work together. He wants a relationship. If you look back on the creation account in Genesis, it seems this was the last time God made something out of nothing. Once man entered the scene, God began to enlist him in everything He wanted to do on this earth.

Adam had a garden to work, Noah an arc to build, Moses had a stick and Esther had influence. You might recall a young shepherd boy soon to be king whom you might say was, “livin’ on a sling and a prayer.”

Too often, we think like Andrew when he was faced with a hungry crowd of thousands. “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

We see our lack and assume God must not be asking anything of us. But that isn’t how God wants us to think. Quite often, the place of our insufficiency is exactly where God wants us to jump in.

Where do you feel you are already stretched too thin? Why not ask God if He wants to do something there. Is it time? Money? Maybe you think of yourself as the one talent guy in the parable. Here’s a tip. Don’t bury it!

Prayerfully consider if God is asking you to partner with Him in the work at First Priority. Good things continue to unfold! This school year we have seen over 150 decisions to follow Jesus!

So pick up your sling, give it a whirl, say a prayer and let’s see this GIANT of unbelief in our schools come tumbling down!

Sincerely,

David North

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