Some may not realize that the Lord speaks to you, but these students understood exactly what He wanted. Driven by their faith, coordinators of the First Priority took action to create a space for their peers to gather, reflect, and grow together, believing that their calling involves bringing others closer to God.
Bryce DePriest and Jacob High, seniors at Texas High School, bring students together to spread The word of Jesus Christ.
“It was after Fields of Faith, Jacob called me and came up with the idea to have a meeting at some point in the school week,” DePriest said. “It would be something where the students could all come together and worship.”
Inspired by the powerful experience at Fields of Faith, the two students took action quickly.
“After he called me, we made a few arrangements with Mr. Renner to figure out how to get started,” DePriest said. “Then, about two weeks after the conference, we had our first meeting.”
With the groundwork in place, the students established a consistent meeting time to help the group thrive.
“Everyone gets together at about 7:45 am on Friday mornings in the new student parking lot,” High said. “We enjoy some donuts and have great conversations before we start.”
Once everyone settles in and connects, the group turns its attention to scripture, creating a time for reflection and encouraging spiritual growth.
“At 8:00, someone usually reads a verse, or story, in the Bible,” High said. “That same person will give a brief summary of the details and explain the meaning.”
This moment of scripture reading serves as both a spiritual anchor and a chance for personal growth as students engage with the message. Following this, the group creates an inviting and open space for anyone who wants to join.
“Everyone is always welcome to join and it is overall a very welcoming environment,” DePriest said. “Not only are there donuts provided, but the message will give off a good start to your school day.”
The welcoming environment and sense of community not only set the tone for the day but also encourage spiritual development and taking action.
“I believe that it helps with everyone’s walk with the Lord,” DePriest said. “I also believe that it gives people the motive to spread the word as the school day goes on, hopefully making big impacts on the people around us.”
This impact reaches beyond the participants, deeply touching those involved and shaping their experiences.
“It most definitely impacts me,” High said. “Seeing everyone get together before school and hear the word is amazing to see.”
The connection between the group and their shared purpose reaches beyond just them, spreading out and encouraging others to get involved.
“A lot of people have reached out asking questions,” High said. “Multiple others have also helped me throughout the way.”
