The First Priority Podcast

Episode 33: Greg Stier

Greg Stier is the founder and president of Dare 2 Share ministries. Greg has a reputation for knowing and relating to today’s teens in unique and effective ways. Because of his 25+ years in youth ministry, Greg is widely viewed as an authority on teen issues and adolescent spirituality. Over the course of the last 20 years, Greg has spoken to over 1,000,000 teens in major venues across the nation and heard countless stories of their struggles and triumphs.

Greg’s commitment to mobilizing teenagers to reach their generation for Christ is rooted in the transforming power of the gospel. Raised in a violent, inner-city family of body-builders, he never had a dad and never felt like he measured up because his biceps weren’t big enough! But one by one, he saw his tough, urban family of “thugs” come to know Christ. And that ignited a passion in Greg to see all lost people come to know Jesus.

Living just minutes away from the scene of the 1999 Columbine High School shootings in the Denver area, the tragedy triggered a pivotal turning point in Greg’s career. Following those events, he resigned a pastorate at a church in Arvada, Colorado, to pursue Dare 2 Share (D2S) full-time. Since then, Greg and the ministry of D2S have impacted the lives of hundreds of thousand teenagers across the country, motivating and equipping them to relationally reach out to those who don’t know Jesus with the gospel message of hope.

Episode 32: Amber Johansen

Amber was born and raised in Tampa. After graduating from Leto High School, she attended Florida State University for an undergraduate degree and then the University of South Florida for a graduate degree in Government and International Studies. She is currently completing a graduate certificate in instructional design through Florida State University. Her background includes working with at-risk teens and families, and program development.

Amber has been involved with FPTB since 2009, when she began serving as a parent partner. In 2012, she consulted with FPTB as a Community Development Director, and in 2013 stepped into the position of Executive Director.

Amber’s primary focus as Executive Director is: vision casting, fundraising, program development, and ministry operations. Amber is available to speak on a wide range of topics including: the role of First Priority in the community, parenting, public education and faith based issues.

Episode 31: Brent Crowe

Brent Crowe is a thought-provoking visionary and communicator who has a passion to present the life changing message of the gospel. Brent uses humor and real-life situations to relate to people at the heart of their struggles.

He is currently serving as Vice President with Student Leadership University in Orlando, Florida. Brent is married to Christina, and has three children, Gabe, Charis and Mercy. He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy and two masters degrees, a Masters of Divinity in Evangelism and a Masters of Arts in Ethics, from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The roles of husband, father, minister, evangelist, author and leader have allowed Brent to influence people from all walks of life throughout his twenty years in ministry.

He is also the author of seven books, including his latest work, Moments ‘til Midnight.

Jeff Grenell: Is God great when life sucks?

After 4 decades of Youth Leadership, Jeff Grenell founded ythology to raise the level of Youth Leadership. ythology exists to educate, resource, and inspire youth and to train youth leaders to prepare the NextGen to lead in the Church and the world. Jeff has also written the book, #IfJobHadTwitter: When Hardship Hits the Palace

Brad Lomenick shares how to be humble, hungry, and always hustle!

Brad Lomenick is a producer, entrepreneur, speaker, sought-after leadership advisor, author and longtime president of Catalyst, largely credited with growing the organization into one of the largest and most recognized leadership brands and gatherings in the world.

For over 10 years, Brad led the Catalyst Conference movement and garnered the reputation as a convener of America's most respected leaders. Lomenick has more than two decades of experience convening and inspiring leaders in conference experiences, as well as working alongside and interviewing some of the most influential leaders in the world, including notable voices such as Jim Collins, Seth Godin, Simon Sinek, John Maxwell, Malcolm Gladwell, Mark Burnett and Tony Dungy, among others.

In 2013, he published his first book, The Catalyst Leader, and in 2015 his second book, H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle. He is currently working on a third book entitled Start With Who: The Power of the Connected Leader. He has been featured in TIME, Washington Post, Fast Company, Business Insider, CNN.com, INC, Fox News, Relevant, Religion News Service, and others. For more information, visit bradlomenick.com

 

Brad Schelling shares his spiritual journey to First Priority

Brad serves as our Director of Ministry. He spends most of his day working with the new FP coordinators, alongside Mark Roberts. Brad’s goal is to help local communities take the appropriate steps to create a spiritual movement around their middle and high schools. He has been in student ministry since 1997, served as a First Priority campus coach starting in 2001, and joined staff with FPOA in 2008. He helped get FP of the Great Plains (SD/IA) off the ground before moving his family to Nashville, TN to be strategic in his work with First Priority. Brad, with his wife Erika and four children attend Church of the City in Spring Hill.

Kim Erkonen shares a prayer for our community and schools

Kim and her husband, Scott, have four children and have made Brandon their home for nearly 20 years. Sharing their blessings with others and spreading the love of Jesus Christ is foundational to their family. Their oldest son introduced them to First Priority over 6 years ago and they have been actively involved in the program ever since. Kim currently serves as President of First Priority of the Great Plains and City Director for Brandon. Her passion is to educate and work together with the community to reach our kids for Christ. Both Kim, Scott, and their children serve in First Priority and FP Kids every week.

First Priority is Pure Relationship

Brad serves as our Director of Ministry. He spends most of his day working with the new FP coordinators, alongside Mark Roberts. Brad’s goal is to help local communities take the appropriate steps to create a spiritual movement around their middle and high schools. He has been in student ministry since 1997, served as a First Priority campus coach starting in 2001, and joined staff with FPOA in 2008. He helped get FP of the Great Plains (SD/IA) off the ground before moving his family to Nashville, TN to be strategic in his work with First Priority. Brad, with his wife Erika and four children attend Church of the City in Spring Hill.

Prayer Gatherings at school: here is your opportunity!

Steve Cherrico, FP Director of Greater Nashville, talks with Brad Schelling, FP Director of Ministry, about the Tennessee Weekend of Prayer and how people can pray over students, teachers and staff, parents, and schools as we begin the new school year. 

Church Networking with Shane Kenney Part 2

Shane Kenney, FP Director Permian Basin, has been working with students since 1998. He has served as a youth pastor in Florida for many years as well coaching at the local school. It was during that time that he got a burden for campus ministry. In February of 2011 he joined First Priority in West Florida. In July of 2013 he moved his family to West Texas to become the Executive Director in the Permian Basin. Shane lives in Odessa, TX with his wife, Natalie and oldest daughter Tori. His youngest daughter Tristan currently lives in Anchorage, AK.