Reasons to be a First Priority leader include:
- Sharing the HOPE and truth of Jesus with friends at school
- Developing your leadership and public speaking skills
- Working with and serve other students
- Mentoring younger students to become leaders
- Including your leadership position on college and employment applications
- Working with First Priority students from other schools
The requirements of a First Priority leader:
- A follower of Jesus and a faithful member of a local church/youth group
- Others’ minded and service oriented
- A team builder and inclusive
- Faithful and reliable, and willing to follow the guidelines of First Priority
- A leader interested in seeing others reach their potential in Christ
- Able to attend and lead the weekly meetings
- Able to work with Administrators in a God-honoring way
REVIVE Student Training
To register training, please click HERE
First Priority Leadership Live
Stay tuned for more information on another exciting Leadership Live event!
How to launch your club (2021-2022):
Please be advised that if students desire to use the First Priority name, they must use the weekly EPIC lessons and follow the required guidelines for meetings.
- Download the guide for starting a club: Steps for starting a club
- Confirm faculty member is available to host meetings
- Confirm meeting day, time and location (for each lunch period, if applicable)
- If needed, provide the administration with Letter of Intent to Meet
- Set a date for the first meeting
- Notify First Priority with meeting information (can be done on the website, app or by email)
- Meet with student leaders to plan the first EPIC cycle; have all resources needed EPIC flyer 2 to a page
- Use the first meeting to train students on the purpose of First Priority
- Request help from First Priority as needed Contact US
Understanding religious rights:
These resources help students to understand their rights for meeting on campus, regardless of the meeting’s content (religious, political or otherwise). To see the Equal Access Act legal document click here.
Apologetics for students:
Want tips on how to defend your faith? Click here: http://www.bethinking.org/apologetics
To find incredible videos that answer questions about Christianity: The John 10:10 Project
Questions and answers for students:
Have questions about you rights? Click here: Questions and answers for students (204 downloads)
To see the Equal Access Act legal document click HERE
Do student-led clubs/groups have the right to put parameters on who is able to lead? Yes. Click here to read the Supreme Court decision: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1265184.html
Are schools allowed to mandate a minimum size of a student group? No. Religious Freedom Pamphlet
Are student groups required to have a teacher sponsor? No. Religious Freedom Pamphlet
Are student [religious] groups allowed to promote meetings? Yes, if other groups are also allowed. Religious Freedom Pamphlet
Tips for sharing the gospel:
At Dare 2 Share, they train teens how to share their faith because a lot of teens and adults know how to bring up the gospel, but don’t always know how to share the gospel. Sometimes the gospel is hindered because of fear or uncertainty. The goal at Dare 2 Share to help every teen and youth leader feel comfortable to fearlessly share the gospel with their friends, family, students and peers.
Dare 2 Share: Learn how to share the gospel with a practical, 4-minute crash course
The Bible Project is full of incredible short videos of visual explanations that show how the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus.
Resources for behavioral health support:
First Priority of Tampa Bay has expanded programming to include behavioral health resources for students. Please check out these videos of Michelle Horton-Gall, a mental health counselor, talking about important mental health topics:
Click here to watch a video on anxiety
Click here to watch a video on depression
Click here to watch a video on negative self talk
EPIC cycle lessons and resources (2022-2022):
Response Cards for Invite Week: Student Response Cards
FP poster for students: FP Poster (PDF version)
Cycle 1: The Problem with Separation EPIC Cycle 1 and EPIC Cycle 1 Leader’s Guide
Cycle 2: The Importance of Being Restored EPIC Cycle 2 and EPIC Cycle 2 Leader’s Guide
Cycle 3: Should We Trust the Bible? EPIC Cycle 3 and EPIC Cycle 3 Leader’s Guide
Cycle 4: Understanding the Trinity EPIC Cycle 4 and EPIC Cycle 4 Leader’s Guide
Cycle 5: The Importance of Being Willing and Steadfast EPIC Cycle 5 and EPIC Cycle 5 Leader’s Guide