The First Priority Podcast

Hosted by First Priority of America

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

In a world filled with stress and pressure to perform, anxiety about cultural expectations, and depression from being isolated to a screen, the culture in America is killing our teenagers from the inside out. We aim to provide hope and inspiration by taking the Hope of Christ to Every Student. We want to provide teens a place to belong, opportunities to make a positive difference, and bring life-changing transformation to their life and those around them. Our core focus is to help 300,000 students in 4,650 different schools experience the hope of Christ by December 31, 2023. This podcast is part of our strategy to get the word out to the believers of Jesus in the United States to help encourage, equip, and empower Christian students to share their hope in Christ with their peers. Listen in and join the movement today!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 2, 2026Episode 10721 min

What Makes a Successful First Priority Leader? | Personnel Value Series Introduction

In this episode, Steve Cherrico and Brad Schelling kick off a new podcast series focused on the five personnel values that shape the culture of First Priority. These values help define the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors that contribute to healthy leadership and effective ministry. Together, they discuss the difference between ministry core values and personnel core values, explore how these values were developed through EOS® and Traction®, and share why they continue to guide the way First Priority leaders serve students, churches, schools, and communities. The conversation also highlights exciting updates from FP Connect, stories of new club opportunities across the country, and a preview of the upcoming episodes that will take a deeper look at each individual core value. In This Episode • Updates on FP Connect and new club opportunities across the country • The difference between ministry core values and personnel core values • An overview of First Priority's five personnel values: Christ Follower Passionate & Inspiring Collaborative Team Builder Eager to Learn Confidently Driven • Why culture matters in ministry leadership • How strong values create healthy teams and sustainable growth Coming Next The next episode takes a deeper look at the first core value, Christ Follower, featuring special guest Larry Bragg from First Priority Metro East.

March 20, 2026Episode 10646 min

Align 2025 Breakout: Funding the Mission | Season 7, Episode 2

Raising money for ministry can feel like the hardest part of the work… but what if it actually became one of the most life-giving parts of it? In this breakout session from Align 2025, Joe Maldonado shares how his First Priority region grew to 50+ clubs across multiple counties while keeping things simple, relational, and sustainable. Instead of chasing big events or complicated strategies, Joe walks through a clear, repeatable approach built on relationships, small gatherings, and sharing real stories of impact. From Director Dinners to Monthly Donors and Church Partnerships, you’ll hear exactly how he structured a plan that funded growth without adding pressure. If fundraising has ever felt frustrating or disconnected from your calling, this episode will help you rethink it as part of the mission and give you a practical way to move forward. ⚡ What You’ll Walk Away With: A simple framework for funding your ministry without big events. How to turn relationships into long-term support. Practical ways to build a steady monthly donor base. A clearer, more confident way to invite people in. 🔗 Links & Resources First Priority → https://firstpriority.org Youth Pastor Summit → https://slulead.com

March 6, 2026Episode 10535 min

Align 2025 Breakout: Social Media | Season 7, Episode 2

Brad and Steve introduce another breakout session from Align 2025, featuring Logan Miller and Tayana Bradley on social media marketing for First Priority. In this conversation, Logan and Tayana share practical ways Chapters can use social media to tell the story of what God is doing on campuses. From simple posting rhythms to empowering students to share what’s happening at their clubs, the session focuses on keeping the mission visible and helping more students hear about First Priority. You’ll hear: • How Chapters can consistently share club stories online • Simple systems that help directors and students post regularly • Why social media matters for growing awareness and celebrating what God is doing in schools • Real examples from the Kansas City chapter and national content efforts If you want practical ideas for sharing the First Priority story and reaching students where they already spend time online, this breakout session is worth the listen. 🙌📱

February 20, 2026Episode 10450 min

Align 2025 Breakout: The Culture Index | Season 7, Episode 1

In this episode, Steve and Brad recap a practical breakout session from the Align 2025 Conference: the Culture Index! Download this worksheet before you start listening. Hosted by Ashley Jones and Travis Neff, they break down how this profiling tool helps teams understand how they’re wired and how that wiring impacts leadership, communication, hiring, and burnout. 🧠 Learn what the core traits reveal about drive, social style, pace, detail, logic, creativity, and energy capacity. 🤝 Discover how understanding your teammates reduces conflict and increases trust. 📊 See how Culture Index can clarify your next hire and strengthen team health. 🔥 Identify where you may be operating outside your natural wiring. This conversation is not about labeling people. It’s about building stronger, healthier teams so we can serve the mission of First Priority with clarity, unity, and purpose.

December 19, 2025Episode 10346 min

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?

November 21, 2025Episode 10247 min

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.

November 7, 2025Episode 10140 min

Pray, Plant, Press On – Align 2025 Recap

📍 Recorded Live from Align 2025, Nashville, TN 💬 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. 🔑 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. 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.

October 24, 2025Episode 10032 min

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

September 25, 2025Episode 9925 min

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

August 22, 2025Episode 9830 min

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.