The First Priority Podcast

It’s Personal, It’s Relational, and the Time Is Now | Align 2025 Recap

In Session 3 of the Align 2025 series, Permian Basin leaders Shane and Natalie Kenny share what it really takes to build a sustainable First Priority ministry that lasts beyond any one staff member, student leader, or season. Their message is clear: sustainability is not just about club mechanics, it starts with roots. A heart that stays soft for the city. Relationships that go deep with the local church and school leaders. And a sense of urgency to act because the harvest is ready.

This episode wraps the three main Align sessions and sets up the upcoming breakout episodes.

Key Takeaways

• Sustainability starts before the club starts. Shane and Natalie emphasize building a ministry foundation that can outlive you, not just launching a weekly meeting.

• Personal first: love your city and your schools. Ministry becomes fragile when frustration replaces compassion. They challenge leaders to reclaim a burden for their community and campus.

• Potted vs. planted. A powerful metaphor throughout the session: you can travel like a potted plant, or you can put down roots and build something that stands the test of time.

• Relational ministry beats transactional ministry. Networks are not the goal. Serving people is. They challenge leaders to stop viewing relationships as a means to an end.

• Mobilize beyond youth pastors. Relying only on youth pastors for volunteers is not sustainable. Their model expands the volunteer base across the local church, including parents and community members.

• Go through the front door. They stress the importance of meeting principals, building trust with administration, and showing up to serve schools consistently.

• Create the environment so students can lead. Their focus is building the “wall” around student leadership so students can step up with confidence and consistency.

Reflection Questions

• Do I feel compassion for my city right now, or am I running on frustration?

• Am I operating relationally or transactionally with schools, churches, and leaders?

• Who is “on the wall” with me, and where do I need to expand my volunteer base?

• Have I built roots in my community, or am I still trying to lead like a potted plant?

Storytime with Steve - How Student Testimonies Are Changing Campuses - Align 2025 Recap

Brad and Steve bring Storytime with Steve to the Align 2025 conference for a powerful look at how God is moving through Student Leaders across the country. North Alabama Director Ashley Bell shares her own testimony, along with her daughter’s story of faith through suffering. Staff from multiple areas jump in with raw, real stories of students who are overcoming depression, addiction, bullying, loss, and deep personal battles while choosing to share the hope of Christ with their friends. This episode is honest, encouraging, and a reminder that students are leading the way in ways only they can.

Pray, Plant, Press On – Align 2025 Recap

📍 Recorded Live from Align 2025, Nashville, TN

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💬 Episode Summary

In this episode of The First Priority Podcast, Brad and Steve kick off a brand-new series recapping highlights from Align 2025, First Priority’s annual leadership conference. With 65 leaders gathered in Nashville, this event brought together directors, coordinators, and support staff from across the country to unite under one mission: taking the hope of Christ to every student.

The hosts revisit Session One, featuring Chris Lane, Director of First Priority South Florida, who delivered a powerful message centered on three words: Pray. Plant. Press On.

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🔑 Key Takeaways

• Pray – Start with prayer and stay in step with the Holy Spirit. Chris challenged leaders to pray fervently, to believe for impossible things, and to ask God to move in every school and student community.

• Plant – You can’t plant without a plan. Be intentional about where and how you invest your time and leadership. Know what seeds you’re planting and what you’re praying will grow.

• Press On – Don’t quit before the harvest comes. Whether you’re a director, coach, or student leader, perseverance produces character and hope. Keep pressing toward what God has called you to do.

💡 Challenge for This Week

Reach out to another director, coach, or student leader and talk through what Pray, Plant, Press On means for your ministry. Remember—linking arms with others isn’t a burden, it’s a blessing.

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If this episode encouraged you, leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review, share it with your team, and subscribe so you don’t miss the next five episodes in the Align 2025 series.

The Secret to a Healthy Student-Led Club | Season 6, Ep. 13 | The FP Podcast

Brad and Steve dive into what makes a First Priority club truly healthy. They start with a powerful story from Middle Tennessee — a club that grew from just a handful of students to 130 during an Invite Week — and use it to unpack the heartbeat of club health. From being a student-led ministry and remaining gospel-focused, to training coaches, engaging churches, and keeping consistent through the four-week cycle, this episode is packed with real stories, practical wisdom, and honest conversation about what it takes to see lasting growth.

Show Notes:

• Story Time with Steve: a faithful campus coach and record-breaking I-Week.

• How student-led ministry creates lasting impact.

• Staying gospel-focused and mission-aligned in every meeting.

• The Five STARS Club Evaluation — why it still works.

• Practical tips for training Campus Coaches and Teacher Sponsors.

• When to pause, refocus, and rebuild a club.

• Encouragement for leaders walking through seasons of transition.

Resources Mentioned:
📄 Five Star Club Evaluation - firstpriority.club/resources

How to Build a First Priority Club That Lasts | The FP Podcast | Season 6, Ep.12

On this episode of the First Priority Podcast, hosts Steve Cherrico and Brad Schelling dive into what it takes to build a First Priority club that lasts. They start with an inspiring story from East Tennessee, where a Student Leader’s boldness not only reached her school but also began to impact her unsaved father in unexpected ways.

From there, Steve and Brad unpack the practical steps for launching and sustaining a healthy club: identifying student leaders, engaging school staff and churches, training leaders, and putting the right resources in place. They also explore why it’s important to set realistic expectations, lean on proven processes, and trust God’s timing when starting something new.

Listeners will walk away with encouragement, practical tools, and a reminder that First Priority is a tool in the hands of students, empowering them to share the hope of Christ in their schools and beyond.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

• A powerful testimony of a Student Leader reaching her father through prayer and the gospel.

• Identifying leaders, gaining school approval, and building a network of support.

• Using resources like the EPIC Guide, prayer cards, and the First Priority app!

• Planning around key dates such as Invite Week, See You at the Pole, and Christmas outreach. 

• Keeping clubs student-led, gospel-focused, and sustainable long term.

📌 Resources Mentioned:

• First Priority HOPE Resources

• First Priority EPIC Resources

• Club Resources

Telling the Story: Local Marketing, Student Voices, and Building Trust with Rachel Gardiner | The FP Podcast

Steve and Brad are back at it with special guest Rachel Gardiner, First Priority Director in North Carolina. In this conversation, Rachel gets real about the challenges and victories of local ministry marketing and storytelling. From navigating unnecessary competition between churches and Clubs to building long-term trust in the community, she shares what she’s learned over six years of leading and growing her district.

You’ll hear how students themselves have become the most powerful storytellers, why authentic partnerships matter more than forced ones, and the creative ways Rachel and her team have engaged parents, pastors, and businesses in the mission. She also opens up about unexpected wins—like students leading bold fundraising efforts during COVID—and practical tips like the “1-2-3 card” that makes connecting with new people simple and effective.

This episode is full of encouragement for leaders at every stage. Whether you’re brand new to First Priority, a seasoned director, or simply passionate about seeing students reach students, Rachel’s wisdom and stories will remind you that the Great Commission is bigger than any one club or organization—and that prayer, persistence, and storytelling are the keys to lasting impact.

Building Strong Community Partnerships with Larry Franks | Season 6, Ep. 10 | The FP Podcast |

This week, we’re joined by the man, the myth, the legend himself: Larry Franks! With 15 years of experience with First Priority in Decatur, Alabama, Larry brings the wisdom, humor, and straight-up practical advice you didn’t know you needed.

From business partnerships to local church collaboration, Larry breaks down how to build authentic, mutually beneficial community connections that fuel your mission without sacrificing your values. Whether you're trying to get into schools, connect with donors, or just figure out where to start, this episode is packed with real talk and real help.

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What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
🔹 Why ministry outside the walls matters.
🔹 How to partner with chambers, rotary clubs, and local businesses.
🔹 Ways to create win-win relationships without always leading with money.
🔹 Common partnership mistakes + how to avoid them.
🔹 Super practical ideas: ribbon cuttings, mentorships, interns, in-kind donations, and more.
🔹 Why relationships are the actual special sauce.
🔹 Encouragement for staying faithful when things feel slow.

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Connect with Larry:
📍 Follow First Priority Decatur on socials! @fpdecatural. 

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Subscribe + Share:
If this episode encouraged you, share it with your team or another ministry leader. And don’t forget to subscribe for more practical episodes! 

🎧 Taking the hope of Christ to every student! 

Engaging and Retaining Students with Jenna Doll | Student Ministry | The FP Podcast

In this episode, Brad is joined by Kansas City Area Coordinator Jenna Doll to talk about student engagement and retention in First Priority clubs. They cover what it takes to build strong, healthy clubs that students want to be part of, and how to create a culture that keeps them coming back.

Topics Covered:

• Creating real and relevant club environments

• Why relationships and consistency matter

• Strategies for empowering student leaders

• Using social media to boost student involvement

• The role of Campus Coaches in club health

• Planning with vision for each individual school

Whether you're an area leader, coach, or volunteer, this episode offers practical ideas and encouragement to help your clubs grow stronger!

Called, Committed, and All In: Volunteer Impact at Its Best | The First Priority Podcast | S6, E8

In this episode of the First Priority Podcast, Steve and Brad sit down with Jody Trautwein from First Priority Alabama, for a powerful and personal conversation on what it really means to be "all in" as a volunteer in student ministry.

From life-changing moments at a Carmen concert to seeing hundreds of students come to Christ across local schools, Jody shares how his own story fuels his passion for raising up Student Leaders and supporting those called to campus ministry. You’ll hear inspiring stories of volunteers stepping up in big ways, from a pastor coaching at four schools weekly to a mom who overcame self-doubt and ended up changing the lives of 100+ students.

💬 Topics include:

• The heart behind volunteer recruitment and retention

• Real examples of lives transformed through student ministry

• How to create easy on-ramps for potential volunteers

• Why staying connected to your “why” matters more than ever

If you're a campus coach, faculty sponsor, student leader, or staff member, this episode is a reminder of why we do what we do, and the fruit that follows when people say yes to God's call.

Navigating Challenges in Student-Led Clubs With Sarah Leonard

In this episode of the First Priority Podcast, Brad and Steve sit down with Sarah Leonard, Ministry Director for First Priority in North Carolina District 1. Sarah shares her journey with First Priority, explaining how student-led clubs are thriving across her district, which includes several counties around Raleigh. She highlights students' incredible passion for leading their clubs, the importance of training and communication, and how students creatively share the Gospel through unique outreach ideas like prayer bears and small gifts.

They also dive into some of the challenges clubs face, such as dealing with students who are assigned to clubs but aren’t interested in participating, balancing student commitments, and navigating concerns from parents and school administrators. Sarah emphasizes the value of building strong relationships within schools, staying adaptable to each campus’s culture, and always supporting the students who are leading on the ground.

This conversation is full of practical advice and inspiring stories from someone who truly understands the day-to-day realities of running student-led ministries. It’s a must-listen for anyone involved with First Priority or interested in youth ministry that empowers students to take the lead and share their faith authentically.