The reality is, as students grow up they go through phases of their lives where they feel alone, hurt, or simply just confused. Going through life alone truly can create a hole in your heart. Here at Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS), we offer a world wide organization called First Priority (FP) to help students understand that even in dark times, they can find the light.
First Priority offers a place of hope, comfort, and belonging. This is the place where seeds are planted, and relationships are found. This club is about people finding themself within Christ and surrounding themselves with those who will support them in a way that can completely alter their life.
Freshman, Jaden Perez, mentions how “It had such a great atmosphere, I was absolutely astonished and so happy that so many people were coming in hopes of seeking God.”
This club is a home to those who share a faith reflecting Jesus Christ. Over time, First Priority has become a part of people’s daily lives. What started with only 10 students has now grown to a minimum of 150 students per meeting, reflecting their interest in having a deeper relationship with the Lord.
Sophomore, Kaylah Fernandez, mentions how she “was shocked to see all the people in the room, it was so beautiful that they all wanted to hear about Jesus. I was genuinely so happy God was using me as a vessel in that moment, and I just pray the club continues to grow and more people can hear the gospel.”
First Priority maintains a system using an acronym known as “EPIC.” Each letter is what the week, or the Wednesday, will be about. The ‘E’ stands for Equip, the ‘P’ meaning prepare, ‘I’ for invite week, and ‘C’ for connect. Members favor the ‘I’ because within invite week, a guest speaker is welcomed along with ordering pizza for the students.
The biggest crowds always occur on Invite week since members are encouraged to invite their friends and loved ones to get together and dive deep into the word of God. It also gives the students the opportunity to hear other people’s testimonies on how God has changed their lives.
Senior, Derrick Vickers, mentions how First Priority impacted him by making him “more confident in his faith.”
While on the outside, First Priority seems like an ordinary Christian club, but the truth is, this club has impacted others, in the most wholesome way. This club gives them comfort and knowledge that they are not alone; feeling of peace and relief due to the leaders’ teachings and the community surrounding them.
Junior, Wesley Jones, states how it’s his first week here and already feels that “it’s cool to have another place to go and learn about God, especially after school with the people I see every day, and having kids to relate to really helped me grow with God.”
First Priority not only helps you relate to others, but it also allows you to connect with yourself personally. Being able to be in a position where you have so many people there to support you on your walk with God is exactly what First Priority tries to do.
First Priority will continue to make lasting connections and impacts not only on our campus, but also within others lives. While the community grows, the club continues to prove that when students get together and share their faith, the outcome will reach so much further than within the campus.
