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Campus Life goes to Grand Haven, Michigan

First Priority club members
Grand Haven High School
(photos in print copy only)
When people ask you where you're from, imagine saying "Gabagouache." That's what these Grand Haven, Michigan, teens would answer if their town, originally a remote trading post, had kept its given name. These days Grand Haven still isn't big (pop. 12,400), but it sees a lot more tourists than pelts.

The students of the First Priority club at Grand Haven High School aren't so wild about all the visitors or the local attractions—they think the "world's largest musical fountain" is lame—but they love their club. Everybody gets together once a week before school starts to practice a monthly cycle called ACTS: Accountability groups, Challenge from a speaker, Testimonies of students and a "Seek Week" meeting for non-Christian friends. That's the pattern you'll find at almost any First Priority club, all across the country.

First Priority is an interdenominational organization sponsored by local youth leaders and teachers, called "coaches." The clubs meet at schools and are always student-led. At Grand Haven, there's a core group that comes regularly, usually 30 or 40 people, but during Seek Week, attendance can soar to over 100.

These Grand Haven members, involved in everything from water polo to waitressing, have to work hard to fit club meetings into their schedules. But they wouldn't want to give it up. Says Tricia Lothschetz, 16, "First Priority gives me a chance to meet other people at school who believe in God. It's cool to see those faces throughout the day." Gwyn: "Through the years my faith has grown a lot, and I know that's helped me improve my self-image, because God is with me. If I'm the nicest person I can be to people and treat them with respect, it doesn't matter what others think."

"I really like math and any kind of science. Our science program is really good. We've won national awards." —R.J., 18

Tricia (16): "Our school is great, but First Priority is better."

Gwyn (17): "Band is a really big thing at Grand Haven. You have to try out to be in the marcing band, and to me, that band is the most fun. I love marching band because of the friendships I've made. We're like a big family."

Sarah (17): "Some people go to church and live one life, and they they'll live another life somewhere else. I try to be the same person all the time."

Josh (16): "It's nice to be an upperclassman. When I was an underclassman, what I said didn't matter. This year I say what I feel and hope it impacts somebody."

Would you like Campus Life to visit your school's Christian club or prayer group for an upcoming "School Spirit"? Send us: 1) info on your school—name, phone number and complete address; 2) info on your club—name; how long it's been around; adult sponsor's name, telephone number or e-mail address; and the sponsoring organization (if any); 3) info on you—your name, telephone number and e-mail; 4) a brief writeup (50-100 words), telling us why Campus Life should visit your group. Send it all to: School Spirit, 465 Gundersen Dr., Carol Stream, IL 60188, or e-mail it to clmag@CampusLife.net.

1999 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine. Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.

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