Finding Opportunities to Share the Gospel: 3 Effective Strategies

In our lives, it can be easy to see only the superficial things going on around us. People around us may seem happy and fine going through life without Jesus. In reality, everyone is hurting and broken, desperate for a drink of water from the fountain of living water (see John 7:37-39). God puts us in relationships with others so we can help them come to know Jesus. How can we find more opportunities to share the gospel with others in our everyday lives? Here are three steps to help.

Make a "Top 5" List

Prayer often can be reserved for before meals and on Sundays at church. But prayer is so much more than that! God longs to be in a relationship with the lost people around you, and your prayer on their behalf is absolutely vital for them to begin a relationship with God. Take some time right now to make a note on your phone or your calendar listing the people around you who are not in a relationship with God, or who have drifted in their faith. Start with your “Top 5” people who you wish would encounter Jesus in a real way.

Example “Top 5”

Jack Smith – a friend from school
Adrian Rogers – cousin on mom’s side
Julie Fredrickson – friend’s mom
Jaylen Hodges – friend on your football team
Drew Johnson – the guy you sit by in math

Pray for all 5 of them by name, daily, and wait for God to open up an opportunity to talk with them! If God brings a specific person to mind, do not dismiss that as your own mind playing tricks on you. Reach out to them to see how they are doing, and set up a time to meet up. You do not have to keep your list at just 5 people–some people have made a list of everyone in their class, or their whole dorm floor at college, or everyone in their family who does not know Jesus. The main thing is to lift real people up in prayer, and then listen.

Listen and Be Prepared to Act

People all around you are hurting, lonely, and desperate for connection. It is a difficult reality that depression, anxiety, and suicide rates are way up. You do not have to hang out with people for too long to see that real things are going on in people’s lives, and they have no idea what to do with their hurt and confusion.

Here is a quick reminder that in order to hear what is going on in others’ lives, you actually have to be around them, with headphones off, willing to talk! Simply showing care and empathy by listening to what is going on in your friends’ lives is an amazing way to open the door to the hope of Jesus.

As we talked about in How to Turn a Conversation to Christ, the gospel is the one antidote to a million ailments. Often, people will share something that is weighing on their hearts with you, and after you empathize with them, you can share how Jesus helped you with a similar situation in your own life. Check out this article for help on how to share your story. If someone shares a need that they have (food, a friend, a warm coat, help on an assignment, a good counselor), step in and help them find what they need. This is a huge way we can help people on their faith journey.

In order to hear what is going on in others’ lives, you actually have to be around them, with headphones off, willing to talk!

Ask Great Questions

Jesus shared the good news in a lot of ways, but one of the main ways he did it was by asking great questions! One thing that almost all humans share is they love to talk about themselves. Another thing most people share is that people rarely ask them questions beyond “What’s up?” or “How are you?” People really want to be listened to without being judged, but likely those around you have never experienced this from a Christian.

We have an amazing chance to help change this sad reality. Get curious about the image bearers of God around you. Become students of them. Ask God to open up your eyes to how interesting the people around you are, and then once you notice things, ask questions! If someone has mentioned something hard that is going on, ask them about it the next time you see them.

Here are some questions to easily start a spiritual conversation:

“Do you consider yourself a truth seeker?”
“Have you ever gone to church?”
“What is your spiritual (or church) background?”
“Have your views on faith and religion changed since you started high school?”
“On what is your philosophy of life-based?”
“What are you living for? What do you value most?”
“Do you think Jesus is relevant to your life?”
“Have you ever read the Bible?”

Check out 99 More Questions here!

Asking the right questions is more art than science. If there is someone in your life who seems to have a knack for asking great questions, spend time with them and pick their brain about it! Cru also has some amazing tools to help you ask the right questions and get to your heart level with people.

Stay Motivated

In the last days, Jesus says that wickedness will increase, and “the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:12-14 NIV). We have a difficult task ahead of us, but we can take hope in the promise of Jesus–that before the end, the gospel will go forth to all nations. Let us work together to hasten the return of Jesus!

Next Step

Create a "top 5" list and begin to pray for them.

From Grief to Purpose: Finding God in the Storm

Growing up in a Christian home, she always knew about Jesus, but her relationship with Him didn’t feel personal until tragedy struck in eighth grade. Transitioning from homeschooling to public school had already pushed her out of her comfort zone, and anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place. Then, during the fall of 2020, both her parents contracted COVID. While her mom recovered, her dad’s condition worsened, leading to months of uncertainty. She vividly remembers the day he left for the hospital and the long, heartbreaking journey that followed. Despite moments of hope, her dad passed away on February 20th, 2021. At just 13 years old, she faced the devastating reality of losing her father—a loss that shook her world and her faith.

In the midst of that grief, she began to see God’s hand at work. During sleepless nights and moments of overwhelming sorrow, God surrounded her with people who cared—friends, family, and a community that embodied His love. Though the pain of loss didn’t disappear, she found comfort in the truth that this life is not the end. Inspired by Paul’s words about eternity, she started to see her father’s passing as a reminder of the hope we have in Christ. That hope spurred her to action. On a family mission trip to Thailand, she met students leading Cru groups at their schools, and the seed was planted to start something similar back home. Despite initial uncertainty, God provided resources, opened doors, and brought others alongside her to launch Cru at her school—a ministry that has been thriving for nearly a year now.

"Anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place."

Her story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. Through unimaginable grief, she discovered the depth of God’s love and the strength found in trusting Him. The loss of her dad deepened her desire to share Jesus with others, knowing firsthand how essential His presence is in life’s hardest moments. Cru has given her a platform to do just that—to tell others about the God who redeems brokenness and uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Her journey reminds us that while pain is inevitable, God is sovereign, faithful, and able to bring beauty from ashes.

Next Step

Check out Christina's Story and consider how God might use an international mission in your or another student's life.

christina's story

The Six Milestones Every Student Needs to Grow in Faith

Why These Milestones Matter

If we are not careful, students can float through our ministry without ever taking real steps forward. They might show up every week, but never really grow or take ownership of their faith. Milestones give us a simple, clear map for helping them keep moving. They help us answer the question, “What’s next for this student?” and give students the courage to take that step.

When we guide students from milestone to milestone, we are not just helping them stay involved. We are helping them grow into strong, confident followers of Jesus who are ready to lead and influence others.

Share Christ with a Student Who Doesn’t Know Jesus

Before anything else, a student needs the chance to hear the good news of Jesus in a clear and personal way. This is where it all begins. Many teenagers have never heard the gospel explained in full, even if they have been around church. Take the time to share about God’s love, our need for forgiveness, and the hope we have in Christ. The first step in their journey is not about them sharing their faith — it is about them hearing it for the first time.

Helpful Resources:

Lead a Student Through Their First Follow-Up

When a student says yes to Jesus, it is just the start of something new and exciting. The first follow-up meeting is where you can help them understand what it means to walk with God daily. It is also a chance to build trust and start a discipleship relationship. This step anchors their new faith and helps them grow instead of drifting away.

Helpful Resources:

Help a Student Understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit

Helping students understand the Holy Spirit is a game-changer. Too often, new believers try to live the Christian life in their own strength, and it leaves them frustrated. Teaching them about the Spirit-filled life shows them how to depend on God’s power for both living and sharing their faith. This is when students start to realize that God is not just calling them to do hard things — He is empowering them to actually do them.

Helpful Resources:

GodTools App (go through the Satisfied tool with them)
Holy Spirit Booklet

Holy Spirit Study in Thrive Studies

First Evangelism Experience

Many students have never had the chance to talk about their faith with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Taking them out to share, whether on campus, at an event, or in the community, changes that. At first, they might feel nervous, but once they see God working through them, it can be life-changing. That moment when a student realizes, “God just used me to help someone understand the gospel” — that is the spark that often leads to a lifetime of ministry.

Helpful Resources:

Challenge to a Cru Training Event

There is something powerful about getting students away from their normal routine and into an environment filled with worship, biblical teaching, and friends who are chasing after Jesus. Conferences give them the space to grow, hear from God, and take big steps of faith. The bus ride there might be full of nerves, but the ride home is usually buzzing with stories of what God did. Over and over again, we have seen students return from these events ready to lead and make a difference.

Helpful Resources:

Conferences Page

Challenge to Spiritual Leadership on Campus

Teenagers are capable of more than they realize. The world constantly challenges them to step up in sports, academics, and clubs, but sometimes the church forgets to ask them to lead in ministry. Giving students real leadership opportunities — leading a Bible study, speaking at a meeting, planning an outreach — unlocks their potential and sets an example for younger students. Over time, this creates a culture where leadership is expected and contagious.

Helpful Resources:

Student Leader Section – GoToTheCampus.com

Wrapping It Up

These milestones are not a checklist to rush through. They are a pathway to help students grow, one step at a time. Every student you know is somewhere on this journey. Your role is to encourage them, challenge them, and walk alongside them as they take the next step. The goal is not just to build a ministry — it is to build students who live on mission for Jesus for the rest of their lives.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our full conversations about the Six Milestones in these YouTube videos.

Next Step

Write down the names of every student in your ministry. Identify their current milestone and decide how you can help them reach the next one.

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project is a powerful small-group resource designed especially for girls, offering a safe, encouraging space to talk about identity, value, and purpose. It’s already making a difference in public schools, giving students a chance to connect, grow, and be reminded of their worth.

One of its greatest strengths is flexibility. The Priceless Project comes in two versions:

A Bible study version for church, youth group, or Christian school settings
A public school version with the same strong themes but without Scripture references — making it ideal for campuses that might not allow explicitly faith-based content

The public school version can be a great way to get in the door on a campus that’s difficult to access. It allows you to mentor a group of girls who need it, build relationships with them, and meet real emotional and social needs in a way that schools welcome.

Priceless Project

from Emily French

Why use The Priceless Project?

Creates a safe, respectful space for girls to share and be heard
Meets real emotional and social needs in public schools
Builds leadership and peer-to-peer mentoring skills
Easy to use, with free resources and an app for facilitators
Proven track record in schools through partnerships with teachers and administrators

All digital resources are free for Cru. Use the discount code PricelessCru at checkout. All physical books are available for purchase at iampriceless.me.

A free Priceless Project App is also available for Apple and Android — with digital curriculum, playlists, blog posts, and a safe space for facilitators to connect with the girls they lead.

You can learn more, explore the curriculum, and order resources at iampriceless.me.