Emma Brown

McCall Hardy (10) and Morgan Manley (10) conversate before the meeting starts. This is both Hardy and Manley’s second year in the First Priority Club.

Often, schools struggle to provide all students with the community they desire while still following policies regarding religion. Luckily, Plant offers clubs that students, such as First Priority, can run. First Priority is a Christian club that meets on Thursday mornings and occasionally during 5th-period lunch. At all the meetings, donuts are served to all the students.

On a typical Thursday morning, a student prays into the meeting; then, everyone looks at the lesson module for the week, which progressively advances and shares a different message. Each lesson module usually has two to three verse passages to read and a set of questions following it that relate to the topic and passage. If students feel comfortable reading out loud or answering questions, they are encouraged to, but if not, the presidents, Blake Williams (12) and Georgia Rowe (12) will help the club members understand the passage.

Morgan Manley (10), a member of the club, says, “Being in First Priority makes me feel welcomed and open to share my faith because I know everyone in the club is at different points in their faith and will not judge me.” Accurately, most students struggle with being open about their religion because they do not want to be bullied, though no one should ever get judged for their beliefs. Williams and Rowe are also very open to helping any of the students with any specific troubles or questions as well before Williams prays out of every meeting, he opens the floor up for people to share their “Prayer Requests.”

Trish Lane is the club sponsor this year. Lane spends a lot of her time volunteering at the South Tampa Fellowship Church, as well as opening up her home to host certain events. The reason why she is so involved is because both of her children are adults now, but she still feels motivated to serve in our community to help current high schoolers in their walk with Christ.