#WeAreFirstPres

When Orlando Fellow, Torres Kearney, arrived in Orlando in 2020, her experience was far different than that of previous Fellows’. In a year rocked by covid, changes were everywhere, and the Fellows program was not spared. Host Families were suspended, a key piece of the Fellows experience, and something Torres had been particularly excited about… 

While different, each Fellow was still assigned a family to meet with throughout the program. Torres was paired with the Broughtons. Not long after meeting Scarlett Broughton, Torres found herself falling in love with the whole family. “Most weeks I spent all my extra time at the Broughton House — hanging with the kids, getting quizzed with math and spelling questions, eating dinner with them (I can vouch that tacos taste better when eaten with the Broughtons), and just getting to know them all.” She became a regular at birthdays, sporting events, musicals, and even Easter Sunday! “I am so grateful for the way Scott and Scarlett invited me to do daily life with them; it was filled with honest conversations, lots of laughter, and a wholehearted desire to seek the Lord's Kingdom first.”

Even after her time in the Fellow’s program, Torres and several other First Pres-ers are honored to be extensions of the Broughton Family, loving and living alongside each other. Sometimes that looks like a surprise audience with larger than life cardboard cutouts of the kids’ faces to celebrate big moments!

Simply moving toward people is how Torres Lives Missionally. “Often the Lord places opportunities to deepen community right in front of me, but stepping into those takes courage, openness, and sometimes a willingness to deal with hard things.” She encourages others to have eyes that see those near them, and a willingness to be invitational, because when it comes to those who are hurting and in need of a compassionate community, we need to mirror the invitational nature of Christ. “Living missionally means reflecting this aspect of Jesus’ character to the best of our ability. May we push through the potential feelings of inconvenience or insecurity for the sake of loving our neighbor well.” 

Get involved with First Pres Ministries today!

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Every Sunday afternoon, something special happens all across Orlando. Leaders from First Pres’ Student Ministry gather with High School students in coffee shops, parks, and backyards all over the city with one purpose: to deepen their relationships with Jesus. Termed, “Grow Groups”, they’re becoming a regular spiritual practice in the lives of our high school students.

At first glance, you’ll see a group of guys playing Spikeball at Lake Eola or a group of ladies laughing together over a meal. But as you listen in, you’ll find that the Spirit is constantly moving through these simple moments. 

Senior Boys Leader, David Allen, hadn’t planned to lead a group, but when the need arose, he chose to serve faithfully. Their time together has been fun and incredibly rich. Parents have been blessed to witness David’s consistent leadership reinforcing a strong foundation of faith as their sons prepare for college and life beyond school. 

Each time they gather, Grow Groups have an objective, but leaders invite God to guide their time and interactions. As a result, they witness His glory, and students see it too. Abby Prather, an Orlando Heart of the City Fellow, recounted a moment she experienced during her very first meeting. “We were finishing up for the evening, and one of our girls who was newer to the faith wrote a reflection in her journal around what she learned — ‘I learned that Jesus wants to know me and that He loves me.’ We were blown away!”

While providing time for the intentional reading of scripture and prayer, these gatherings allow students to become close friends with people they’ve never met before. The Bible is clear that God wants us to gather together regularly, and as these groups have been meeting, he’s blessed their time together. “Anytime you are creating a space for people to come together and talk about Jesus, it’s always a win,” says Fran Gray, Student Ministry Coordinator.

Learn more about First Pres Student Ministry.

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Our WAIT. HOPE. SEEK. story from 01.14.22 has been re-released with greater, more accurate detail. Be inspired HERE.