Steve Cherrico - Nashville TN

Steve Cherrico was born in the inner city of Denver, CO and raised in the greater Washington D.C. area. He came to a realization of his need for a Savior after a new friend shared the gospel with him age 15. Within a few short years he was heavily involved in a local youth group, and during his senior year due to unforeseen circumstances, was put in a position of leadership with 3 other high school seniors running the youth ministry they were involved with. 

In 1993, after one year at Iowa State University, he was given the opportunity to move to Nashville, TN. While in Nashville he was heavily involved with Salama ministries, taking 40+ inner city children to camp each summer in the Appalachian mountains, overseeing the camp and leadership team. 

Steve and his wife Jessi, met in the beginning of 1997, and were married about a year later in 1998. While continuing to pursue other endeavors locally in the music and fitness industries, he began to run camps for Christ Church, and came on staff with them in April of 1998. He was added to full-time staff in 1999. 

During his tenor with Christ Church, he was often used as a rebuilder, or reorganizer of student ministries and also had the fortune of leading a church plant for two years in one of the most diverse areas surrounding Nashville, called Antioch. Steve’s wife Jessi was also the Director of Children’s Ministries at Christ Church, from 2000-2003. He has been blessed to oversee just about every facet of ministry from 4th grade to college ministries, keying on raising up leaders to replace him in each area. He is passionate about seeing the next generation walk in the purpose and calling they have been given and coaching them through that process. 

Steve also has a heart for Africa and Haiti, engaging some of the world's toughest 3rd world countries. He is heavily tied to multiple ministries in Africa & Haiti serving orphans, street children, former prostitutes, and students. In 2007, he had the great fortune of leading a group of 27 adult and student leaders on a trip to Kampala, Uganda in partnership with On The Go Ministries and Gaba Community Church in Uganda. He has also taken groups to Ghana through Adopt One Village. In 2012 he lead a group of adults to the brand new My Life Speaks campus in Neply, Haiti. All of these experiences have shaped his heart to reach this next generation for Christ.

Steve completed his (3.5 year) self-study ordination program through the Christ Church / Oral Roberts University partnership in May of 2004. 

In March of 2008, Steve and Jessi, felt the Lord releasing them from Christ Church, and moved to a national staff position with First Priority of America. He serves as a trainer for the local community movements across the country, coaching them through their work locally.

Since coming on staff with First Priority of America Steve has been able to serve the local church across the US through coaching. Locally he has been able to help multiple local churches re-launch their leadership perspective. This includes pastoral and lay leadership training & coaching. As well as student ministry training & coaching. 

This coaching model has allowed him to create a network called the EPIC Resource Group. EPIC strives to serve local communities that believe they are under resourced however as the local church have a desire to impact the secondary schools in their community. Most of these groups are found in very rural or very urban settings across the US. 

Steve and Jessi have 3 multi-racial children, Justus (8), Nate (5) and Corina 15 months, all three are local adoptions from the greater Nashville TN area. As a family they love to play games indoor and out, read together, and enjoy all kinds of music. Steve is also an avid reader, loves to play most sports (especially; basketball, football, tennis, disc golf), and spend time investing into current and future leaders for the Gospel's sake.