Starting a Conversation With a Student

Jasmine was a volunteer at a Cru outreach. New students were showing up, and the room buzzed with potential. But instead of diving in, Jasmine felt the familiar pull toward comfort, drifting toward the other volunteers. She had to remind herself: These students might not know anyone. And God’s calling me to love them enough to go first. So she whispered a prayer, stepped out of her comfort zone, and walked up to two girls standing by themselves. A conversation started. It changed everything.

Starting a conversation might feel awkward, but it’s one of the most powerful things you can do in student ministry. Whether you’re a high school leader or an adult volunteer, this is where ministry begins.

Why Is It So Hard to Start?

Let’s be honest, walking up to someone you don’t know feels risky. What if it’s awkward? What if they give one-word answers? The truth is, students feel it too. Many walk into Cru events carrying walls of insecurity or discomfort, unsure of how they fit in. They’re unlikely to approach you first, which means someone needs to take the first step. That someone might be you.

Why It Matters

A student who feels seen is a student who might come back. Starting a conversation is an act of love, and sometimes, a step of faith. It opens the door to belonging, trust, and eventually, the gospel. Many students decide whether Cru is “for them” based on their first interaction. You might be the difference between them staying or ghosting.

“Starting a conversation might feel awkward, but it’s one of the most powerful things you can do in student ministry.”

How to start a conversation

1. Be Intentional

Before an event, pray for specific students. Ask God to lead you to someone who needs connection. Come with a goal, maybe it’s to meet two new students. Remember names. Snap a photo of the group and review it later. Take notes or ask them to spell their name in your phone so it sticks.

2. Be Interested, Not Impressive

Ask questions. Notice a hoodie, a backpack, or a sports team on a shirt. “Hey, are you a Lakers fan?” goes further than “So… how was your day?” Find out what they care about and care about it too. Every student is interesting. They just need someone to notice.

3. Find Common Ground

Music, shows, sports, hometowns, connection often happens in the small stuff. “How’d you hear about this meeting?” is always a solid opener. Once you find a shared interest, you’ll feel the conversation shift from forced to natural.

4. Rely on Students You Already Know

One of the best ways to meet new students is through students you already have a connection with. Ask them to introduce you to their friends at events, school, or youth group. Better yet, challenge them to bring someone new to Cru and introduce them to you. Students trust students—so let that open the door for you.

5. Be Where Students Are

Show up at school events. Sit near the student section. Ask students you know to help you learn what’s going on. Go where they already hang out, whether that’s the gym, the lunchroom, or the Chick-fil-A parking lot.

6. Be Yourself

You don’t need to be cool. You need to be present. Students are less concerned with your résumé and more concerned with whether you actually see them. God can use your personality, your story, and your awkwardness.

7. Look for the Lonely

Keep your radar up. Is someone sitting alone? Invite them to help set up, jump in a game, or pass out snacks. Give them a role. Inclusion often starts with an invitation.

“If you don’t start the conversation, it probably won’t happen.”

What to Say: A Few Conversation Starters

Are you new here? I don’t think we’ve met.
What year are you in school?
Who did you come with tonight?
I saw your t-shirt—are you a fan of that team/band/show?
What do you usually do after school?

My name’s ___. What’s yours?

Bottom Line: No Conversations = No Ministry

You can’t disciple someone you haven’t met. You can’t welcome someone you haven’t spoken to. If you don’t start the conversation, it probably won’t happen. So pray, take a deep breath, and go first. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be real.

Want to grow in this? Set a goal. Two new students a week. One conversation every event. Then trust God to show up.

Next Step

Ask God to direct you and then start one conversation this week with a student you do not know. Decide on several questions you can ask and see where the conversation goes!

Conversations

This article is part of the Conversation Collection. Read the rest of these articles to get an even better understanding of how to have great conversations with students.

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.