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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!

The first week of November has kicked off a BUSY month with four Celebrate the Win donor luncheons across the Northeast TN District and lots of other things to plan and coordinate! Attendees heard directly from our Student Leaders on the impact First Priority is having in their lives and in their schools.

Emma Grace and Teagan, two of our middle school Student Leaders did a fantastic job speaking at the Greeneville luncheon. I was particularly struck by their words “more than a club” in describing how they have each taken on the responsibility and leadership of their club and are seeing lost friends attend and hear the Good News of Jesus.

A grandmother of one of our Student Leaders was particularly moved as she saw her granddaughter preparing to speak. She told me that recently she had lost her husband who taught Sunday school for 50 years. Then she smiled and added, “He would be so proud to see his granddaughter up there speaking about Jesus.”

Will, another First Priority Student Leader from Kingsport was asked how First Priority has impacted his life. He told of first hearing the Good News about Jesus after being invited to a First Priority club. Will gave his life to Jesus and then fully engaged in the club, volunteering as a Student Leader. Today, Will is speaking regularly to his peers about Jesus and has plans pursue a career in medicine where he can continue to share the Hope of Christ with many people.

As Will shared, his classmate and fellow First Priority Student Leader, Caroline, stood beside him smiling. Three years ago, Caroline spearheaded the effort to launch First Priority at her school and now she is seeing the fruit of her labor and obedience to following Jesus.

My friends, the Harvest is truly plentiful and it reminds me to ask you to join us and as Jesus said, “…pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

More than 20 individuals have joined us in the last 40 days as monthly financial partners and many others have become prayer partners or volunteered in a club. Thank You!

Has God prompted you to get involved with First Priority in some way?

Please consider participating with First Priority to help students in your area Take the Hope of Christ to Every Student.

Happy Thanksgiving!

David North
District Director
Northeast Tennessee

One week from today is #GivingTuesday 11.27.18. We are looking for 25 people who will partner on that day to support students leading Christian clubs in our nation. They are sharing the Hope of Christ in their school. Will you be one of those 25 who help them? On November 27th you will have the opportunity to partner with us on this journey. We thank you for your support.

Scott Emerine is one who has already said, “ YES!”. In this short video, he shares with us about how he supports First Priority as a parent, board member, campus coach and business leader. He also talks about how thankful he is for the support of people like you as he takes on all these roles.

As we enter into this time of Thanksgiving with family and friends we are thankful for those who have journeyed with us through prayer and financial partnership, whether it be as a volunteer, prayer partner or donor.

Have you ever thought about how big God really is? Have you ever stopped long enough to look up into the sky and think how big is the God we serve?

If you are like me, we have a tendency to put God in a three dimensional box that we have created out of our own experiences. In a society where we, for the most part, have our needs and wants taken care of, we pull God out of a box only when we are at church. We might run to Him on certain occasions (when we are in need), but we seldom think of God and his unbelievable creation. The Bible states in Ephesians 3:20 “ that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we even ask or think!”

Now I don’t know about you, but I can think of some pretty unbelievable stuff. Hollywood does a good job of blowing our minds with stuff, but God can do things we could not even dream of. Seriously, things we can’t dream of, wow! (I bet heaven is crazy cool) We use words to describe God, but are there really any that can even come close? If you read John’s account of his revelation in the book of Revelation and his description of things God allowed him to see, I bet it was hard to find the words. All these things are way above our understanding. I heard a guy say one time, “if you or I understood everything about God, He would be no bigger than our understanding.” That’s good!

In this new year let’s keep our minds on doing big things with a big God, like reaching campuses for Christ!

Mark Roberts
Associate Director
FP of America