The First Priority Podcast

We’re throwing it back to a conversation from YPS with Rachel and Mindy from First Priority North Carolina District One! Rachel and Mindy share what they’ve seen God doing through students who are stepping up, leading their peers, and taking the Gospel seriously.
From a fifth grader determined to launch a Club before leaving elementary school to a high school student sharing the Gospel at a middle school where 19 students responded, the stories coming out of North Carolina are a powerful reminder of what can happen when students are equipped to lead. They also talk about lessons learned in ministry, staying focused when there are a million things competing for your attention and trusting God with the pieces you can’t control.
Rachel shares the reminder God kept bringing her back to: keep it about the students and keep equipping them to share the Gospel. Plus, they look ahead at what God is doing in North Carolina District One, including new student-led Clubs, preparing students to navigate opposition, and continuing to strengthen partnerships with the local church.

What does it look like to lead with confidence while staying fully dependent on God?
In this episode of the First Priority Podcast, Brad Schelling is joined by Jo Jabbia and Steve Snapp to continue the Personnel Values series with Confidently Driven.
Jo and Snapp share stories from Houston and the Ozarks that show the heart of First Priority in action, from students hearing the Gospel and choosing to follow Jesus to Clubs growing through the faithfulness of Student Leaders.
They also talk about the reality of ministry when plans change, doors close and progress takes longer than expected. The conversation explores how confidence can remain rooted in God rather than personal ability, how hardship develops character and why success is about more than numbers.
In This Episode:
What it means to be Confidently Driven
Balancing confidence with humility
Staying motivated when doors seem closed
Trusting God when plans change
How opposition and waiting can shape your character
The importance of staying faithful to your calling
Why ministry impact often reaches further than we can measure

What does it look like to be truly eager to learn? In this episode, Brad is joined by First Priority interns Bella and Gabe from First Priority of North Carolina District 1, to talk about how leadership has shaped their faith, challenged them to grow, and prepared them for the future.
Bella and Gabe share how stepping into student leadership and internships has taught them the importance of humility, asking questions, embracing feedback, and trusting God through every opportunity. They also discuss how First Priority has equipped them to lead in their schools while developing skills that will serve them for years to come.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that growth begins with a willingness to learn.
In This Episode
How student leadership builds confidence and strengthens faith
Why asking good questions is one of the most valuable leadership skills
Learning through feedback, mistakes, and mentorship
How God uses different gifts to build stronger teams
Encouragement for adults who are developing young leaders
Preparing for new seasons while staying grounded in Christ
 

In this episode, Brad and Steve continue the conversation on First Priority’s Personnel Values with a look at what it means to be a Collaborative Team Builder. They are joined by Logan Miller, Jenna Doll, Kristi Olson, and Avari Johnson from the First Priority Kansas City team.
Together, they discuss building trust, understanding each person’s strengths, creating healthy team rhythms, and caring for people beyond their performance. The Kansas City team also shares practical lessons on communication, vulnerability, navigating challenges, and asking for help.
Whether you serve on staff, lead volunteers or support a Campus Club, this episode offers practical encouragement for building stronger teams and remembering that you are not doing this work alone.

What does it look like to live out the value of being Passionate & Inspiring?
In this episode, Brad and Steve are joined by Jeff Stanford, Director of First Priority Ozarks, and Joe Maldonado, Executive Director of First Priority Florida Space Coast, to discuss how passion for Christ and the mission inspires students, churches, volunteers, and entire communities to get involved.
Together, they explore why passion is more than excitement. It's a commitment to the mission that encourages others to take action. Through stories of student leadership, life change, and ministry impact, they share how living this value creates a culture that points people to Jesus and equips the next generation to reach their peers.

The new school year is almost here, and with it comes HOPE, First Priority's new 4-week cycle designed to equip students to confidently take the Hope of Christ to their campuses.
In this episode, Brad Schelling sits down with Fort Worth Director Heather Bundy to walk through everything Club Mentors and Student Leaders need to know before launching this year's Clubs. From training resources and Club structure to the new HOPE Cycle and Gospel Tools, this conversation provides a practical overview of what to expect and how to prepare your team for a successful year of ministry.
In This Episode
An overview of the new HOPE Club Cycle
What's changing and what's staying the same
How to use the new training binders and resources
The purpose of Intro Week
Understanding the HOPE cycle:
Help
Opportunity
Prepare
Encounter
New Gospel Tools and Holiday Resources
Best practices for training Student Leaders
Using the First Priority App
Planning your Club year and adapting to your campus
Tips for ending the school year well and developing future Student Leaders
Resources
📘 Download the HOPE Guidehttps://firstpriority.org/resources
🛍️ Order HOPE Resourceshttps://shop.firstpriority.org
📱 First Priority Apphttps://firstpriority.org/app
🌐 Learn More About First Priorityhttps://firstpriority.org
Thank you for investing in students and partnering with First Priority to take the Hope of Christ to every student.