The First Priority Podcast

Mark Robbins talks about the 10k plan

Mark Robbins serves as the Executive Director of First Priority. He spends most of his day managing the organizational side of the ministry, including fundraising and board development. He was the initiator and director of First Priority Tri-States, the 2nd oldest FP chapter. Mark and his wife Michelle manage their own small business, therefore, Mark brings years of experience in business management to First Priority of America. Mark resides in eastern Kentucky with his wife, Michelle. Mark and Michelle have three children, Nathaniel & Mikaela (Robbins) Gray, Morgan, and Micah. They also have two grandchildren, Sadie B. and Beckham.

Mark Robbins, Brad Schelling, and Steve Cherrico talk about being Gospel Focused.

Mark Robbins, President of FPoA, Brad Schelling, Director of Ministry, and Steve Cherrico, Executive Director of FP Greater Nashville, come together to talk about what it means for FP Clubs to be Gospel Focused. 

Are you prepared? Larry Franks on digging ditches

FP Decatur Executive Director Larry Franks talks about being prepared for what God has for us.

Larry has worked for First Priority for 13 years and lives in Decatur, AL. He has been married to his wife for 34 years and together they have two adult daughters. 

Larry Franks challenges us to be cot carriers

FP Decatur Executive Director Larry Franks shares a message to challenge us to have the kind of faith to share the Gospel of Christ so that we can reach the lost, because that's what it's all about. 

Larry has worked for First Priority for 13 years and lives in Decatur, AL. He has been married to his wife for 34 years and together they have two adult daughters. 

FP Tri-county Director Tim Bargo

Tim Bargo is the Executive Director of FP Tri-County in Kentucky. He has been doing First Priority for 14 years and worked at the FP Tri-States office a couple years before that. Tim said First Priority is part of his DNA and who he is. 

Tim has been married to Tammy for 18 years and they have three adult children, two of which are married. 

FP Coordinator Steve Coleman

FP Coordinator Steve Coleman has served in youth ministry for 40+ years and has been working at his current church for the past 13 1/2 years. He has been involved with First Priority for over 20 years. Steve loves being in the trenches, impacting students, and helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ. 

Steve lives in Richmond, KY. He and his wife have been married for 43 years and they have two adult children and six grandchildren.

FP Tampa Bay Student Leader Tyler Eads

FP Tampa Bay Executive Director Amber Johansen facilitates a conversation with Student Leader Tyler Eads as he shares about being a First Priority Club student leader in his school and how he is praying for a true revival in his school and for students to come to know Christ as their Savior. 

The Kenney Story

Shane and Natalie Kenney have worked in youth ministry for almost 25 years. They serve as the Executive Director and Area Director for First Priority Permian Basin. They began working in youth ministry in Florida, and then felt a burden for campus ministry. Mark Roberts introduced them to First Priority and soon after, they started working for FP in the state of Florida. After doing that for a year, they felt God calling them to move to Odessa, TX to start First Priority there. 

They have been serving in FP Permian Basin for the past 8 years and have seen so many students come to know and have a relationship with Christ. Shane and Natalie live in Odessa, TX and have two daughters, Tori and Tristan. 

Story: FP Director Blue Ridge Haley Wherry

Haley Wherry has been the Director of First Priority Blue Ridge for 11 years. He has been involved in youth ministry in some capacity for about 27 years. Haley worked for a ministry for 10 years where he was a campus ministry coordinator and it was similar to the First Priority strategy. He then started First Priority Blue Ridge where he continued to spend his time ministering to youth in schools.

Haley has been married to his wife Kelly for almost 29 years and together they have a son who is a children's pastor in Memphis and a daughter who is anti-money laundering analyst. 

A First Priority Family Story: The Emerine Family

Scott and Joy Emerine, along with their three sons, Topher, Seth, and Luke join the podcast today to talk about how they got involved with First Priority and how it has impacted their family.

Scott Emerine is Co-Founder of Branding Iron and heads up the account service team, along with the media and public relations department. Emerine has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Science degree in Health Communications from Boston University.  When not working, he enjoys fishing and playing by playing bass guitar.