Graduating Seniors Well

Graduating seniors well does not just impact your students now, it also sets your ministry up for the future. We not only want the students to flourish spiritually in their new environment; we also want them to come back to our community and continue to engage with Cru.

Sending Them is Not Saying Goodbye

This topic really came home to me a few weeks ago when our city had the annual golf tournament/fundraiser. As I looked around the room during the post-golf dinner, I realized the biggest part of our financial backing came from former students. These men had been involved with us in high school and came back to help us invest in the next generations. They are a big reason why we are able to continue ministry the way we have for decades. Even though many of these guys had periods of time where they strayed from their faith, God used the investments made in them through Cru to bring them back around.

We also have many men and women who volunteer with our ministry today who started out as students. Now they are teachers, coaches, and business people actively involved in our ministry as volunteers who are connecting personally with students. You also never know who God is calling to join staff with your team. The presence of a former student has a motivating effect on the lives of the youth in our ministry.

Graduating seniors well does not just impact your students now, it also sets your ministry up for the future.

Four Stages of Sending Them Well

Sending seniors well does not start in the last semester of their senior year. It is something you prepare them for throughout high school. These are some ideas to get you started on preparing students to graduate well.

Freshman/Sophomores

Share with students how to be self-feeders when it comes to their faith.
- Help them set regular times and days of reading the Bible and praying separately from the church or other Christian meetings.
  - One helpful method might be teaching them the “Observe, Interpret, Apply” method for studying scripture.
Help your student find a local church and prioritize attending and getting involved.
Plant seeds that God wants to use everyone and has a purpose for their life, even if they are not an upfront leader.
- Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
- Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Juniors

Help students choose a school or vocation for their next step and encourage them to meet with their school counselor to plan for graduation.
Check for Christian student movements in different schools or different cities and reach out to Cru staff in these cities.
Discuss student’s financial needs.
- James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously without criticism, and it will be given to him.”
Take students to Winter Conference to see what the college ministry does.

Seniors

Help a student find a church near their college campus or job.
Prep the student for what life on their own will be like.
If possible, go to their future campus with them and help connect them with a Christian ministry on that campus. Visit the weekly meeting, have a meal with the staff, etc.
Help them make decisions ahead of time, and talk them through challenges and temptations they will face after high school.
Talk about the importance of having Christian friends to keep you on track.
Have a farewell dinner to honor and celebrate the seniors.
Plan to stay in contact via social media, texting, and calling every once in a while to check in.
Create a Vision Plan for your closest students. Meet one on one with students to highlight the student’s strengths and some areas that could trip them up. Use this time to encourage them and cast vision.

Your students need caring adults to stay in their lives to help give them direction and to anchor them during the turbulent years after high school.

Postgraduate

Keep a list of students with whom you want to stay connected. Stay connected with them often through texting, social media, or notes. Put together a plan or schedule if that is helpful for you.
Add them to your prayer letter list or a city mailing list to help them feel connected with what is going on in the ministry and help them begin to see things from a volunteer/staff or donor perspective.
Ask former students to volunteer with conferences, retreats, and mission trips.
Host a Thanksgiving or Christmas get-together to keep former students connected with each other and hear about what is going on in their lives.
Challenge them to come back in the summer to help with the ministry.
After they get into the workforce, challenge them to become financial partners and volunteers.

The 8-Year Plan

Your students need caring adults to stay in their lives to help give them direction and to anchor them during the turbulent years after high school. Sending students well can include an 8-year commitment to help your student on their journey from a freshman in high school all the way through their college years.

The people who have been through our program are the best people to recruit to join us on staff or as partners in our ministry. Staying connected with them is not only a blessing to them, but it also keeps the door open to join us in more significant ways in the future.

A Long-Term Investment

Sending students well, whether they are going to college, entering the military, or training for a vocation, means keeping in mind that this is a long-term relationship. Investing in a student’s journey is a calling, and it is an honor to be used by God in a student’s life!

Next Step

Start using the Alumni Tracking Spreadsheet today! Make your own copy of it and enter your current students by grad year. Enter any former students too. Then text all your former students to see how they are doing.

Alumni Tracking Spreadsheet

Sample Outreach Schedule

Mingling and refreshments
Welcome (3 minutes)
Campus ministry overview from the emcee (3 minutes)
Icebreaker: Famous Couples game (10 minutes)
Dating Game (20 to 30 minutes)
Student testimony with a relationship theme (4 minutes)
Relationship talk and gospel presentation (15 to 20 minutes max)
Comment cards (7 minutes)
Announcements (2 minutes)
Refreshments and hanging out (no set time)

The key is intentional planning with a relaxed atmosphere.

Game 1: Famous Couples

Choose an even number of participants and prepare a list of famous couples ahead of time, such as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia or Romeo and Juliet. Write each name on a 3×5 card and as students enter, tape the name of one character on their back without letting them see it.

Each student may ask up to three yes or no questions per person to figure out who they are. They must also take turns answering questions when asked. The goal is to discover their identity and find their matching partner as quickly as possible. Continue until everyone is matched.

Game 2: The Dating Game

If you don’t have a lot of couples for this game, you could call it the “Best Friend Test” and have them do best friends instead. However, considering this party is about romantic relationships it is obviously better to have romantic couples playing.

This game is similar to the Best Friend Test you’ve probably seen on TikTok or shows like The Circle, or the old Newlywed game. (If you haven’t seen them, check them out). One person answers questions first, then their partner tries to guess what they said.

One partner leaves the room while the questions are asked. The partners in the room write the answers down. Then they come back, hear the same questions, and try to match their partner’s answers. Each correct match earns a point. The pair with the most points wins a prize.

The questions are light, funny, and all about how well you actually know the other person.

Dating Game Questions

For the girls (guys leave the room):

Which ice cream flavor best describes your relationship right now: Vanilla, Rocky Road, Peaches and Cream, or Tutti Frutti?
On your first date, which animal was he most like: Turtle, Kitten, Tiger, or Octopus?
How long have you been going out?
What is the most sentimental gift he has given you?

For the guys (girls leave the room):

Which Disney character would she say best describes you: Mickey Mouse, The Beast, Goofy, or Winnie the Pooh?
What song is “your song”?
What did you do on your first date?
What is her favorite perfume?
Which Valentine’s gift would she most like: candy, flowers, or a kiss?
What outfit is she wearing right now?

Optional non-gender questions

What is their go-to fast food order?
What song would they put on if they needed a hype boost?
What stresses them out faster than it should?
If they had a free day, how would they spend it?

What is something they are secretly really good at?

While relationships matter deeply to us, they also expose one of our biggest fears, the fear of not being truly loved.

Relationship Talk

Overview

The relationship talk should be short, clear, and serve as a natural bridge to the gospel. Valentine’s Day provides an easy entry point into the idea that everyone is searching for love and meaningful relationships, yet few of us have good models of what lasting love looks like.

This talk introduces the idea that there is a kind of love that lasts, a love that does not depend on performance or appearance, and that love is found in God.

Introduction

Begin with a funny or embarrassing dating story to lower defenses and help students relate.

The Talk

Relationships take a lot of time and energy, whether with parents, friends, coworkers, or romantic partners. While relationships matter deeply to us, they also expose one of our biggest fears, the fear of not being truly loved.

Psychologists often describe our greatest need as the need to love and be loved. At the same time, our greatest fear is that if people really knew us, they would reject us. Because of this, many of us wear masks and show only what we think others want to see.

Even people who care about us deeply can disappoint or reject us when we do not meet their expectations. That pain leaves us asking what real love actually looks like.

There are three common types of love people experience:

“I love you if…” love, which is conditional on behavior.
“I love you because…” love, which is based on appearance, popularity, or performance.
“I love you, period.” love, which is unconditional and unchanging.

What we truly long for is the third kind of love.

One Who Loves No Matter What

That kind of love exists, and it comes from God. God loves people for who they are, not for how they perform or what they offer. He invites us into a real relationship with Him where His love is constant and secure.

From here, transition clearly into the gospel and explain how students can have a relationship with God and experience His unconditional love.

If you’re not sure how to share the gospel, learn how to HERE

Comment Cards

Use a comment card to collect name, address, phone number, school, and grade. Include simple response options for students who received Christ, want more information, or want to get involved with your campus ministry.

Next Step

Plan your Valentine’s Day outreach early and involve student leaders in every step so more students can experience authentic relationships and hear the gospel in a welcoming environment.

Partnering with Other Ministries to Reach Your Campus

Groups like Cru, Young Life, and FCA each have their own strengths and strategies. Students connect with them for different reasons—it’s not “one size fits all.” We love and respect every group that’s helping students know Jesus. We’re on the same team, not in competition.

Here are a few ministries we often serve alongside:

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) – Students gather in “huddles” led by coaches, giving athletes a chance to live out their faith through the sports they love.
Young Life – Leaders invest deeply in relationships, earning the right to be heard before sharing the gospel.
Church Youth Groups – Churches are a vital part of every community. Many youth leaders volunteer at schools or visit during lunch to connect with students. Cru isn’t a church—we partner with local churches to help students get plugged in.
Christian Clubs – Many campuses have Christian Clubs focused on prayer, fellowship, and Bible study. They’re often inward-facing rather than outreach-focused.

Cru’s Approach

We share Christ as soon as we have the chance, then build a network of small group Bible studies. We train students to share their faith—through group outreaches, personal conversations, and larger gatherings.

Why This Matters on Your Campus

When you are starting or growing a ministry, ask, “Who is already here?” Sometimes a group has been serving for years. Sometimes no one is reaching that school yet. Often there is room for more than one group to thrive because no single ministry connects with every student.

If another group is already present, the best move is to connect. Grab coffee with their leader, ask questions, learn what has been working, and listen for their challenges. Your posture matters. Come in as an ally, not a rival.

“We’re not in competition; we’re on the same team.”

Stepping Onto a Campus With Other Ministries

If you launch Cru where another ministry exists, remember these things:

Speak well of them in front of students.
Avoid scheduling conflicts when possible.
Focus on students they are not already reaching.
Be willing to partner for events or outreaches.

The goal is not to win students to your ministry. The goal is to help them grow in Jesus.

How to Start the Conversation

Approaching another leader can feel awkward. Keep it simple:

Ask how their group is doing at that school.
Learn which students they connect with best.
Share your heart for students and where Cru could help.
Look for ways to collaborate rather than compete.

You may be surprised how often these conversations lead to friendship and partnership.

A Simple Way to Explain Cru

When someone asks what Cru is about, you can say:

Cru is a network of student disciples who see their school as a mission field. We help students grow in their faith through small groups, training conferences, and mission opportunities locally and around the world.

When it comes down to it, no single ministry can reach every student—but together, we can make a much greater impact. Each group brings unique strengths, connections, and opportunities to the table. By cheering each other on, looking for ways to partner, and sharing a heart for teenagers to know and follow Jesus, we multiply our effectiveness. When ministries work side by side instead of in separate lanes, schools see more of Christ’s love, more students hear the gospel, and more lives are transformed for eternity.

Next Step

Reach out to a local campus ministry leader this week and start a conversation about partnering together.

Sydney’s Story

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.