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.

• 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.

First Priority → https://firstpriority.org Youth Pastor Summit → https://slulead.com

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. 🙌📱

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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?

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.

📍 Recorded Live from Align 2025, Nashville, TN

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.

• 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.

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.

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

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