Different ways to Serve with Cru

Are you passionate about helping teenagers know and follow God? Hopefully, that is why you are reading this article – because you want to join us as we WIN high school students for Christ, BUILD them in their faith, and SEND them to reach others with the gospel in their schools, community, and around the world.

There are many ways to serve with Cru’s High School Ministry, with varying levels of commitment. Here is a brief overview of each way to get involved, with links to find out more.

Conference Volunteer

Hours per week: Per event
Pay: None

Helping at a Cru conference is a great way to experience student ministry, in a variety of roles. As an adult leader, you will spend time with teens and participate in many of the conference activities. You can also help behind the scenes and free up others to spend more time with their students.

You may do some combination of the above.

All adults who work directly with students are required to complete a background check before attending the conference.

How to Apply:

Talk to your leader to see if they would like you to volunteer at a conference.
APPLY HERE.
Fill out the background check form (the link will be emailed to you).
Allow about two weeks for the application process to be completed.

Volunteer

Hours per week: 5-10 +
Pay: None

We love it when people come to check out our ministry and offer occasional help. But to work with our students on a regular, ongoing basis, you will need to become an official volunteer.

You and your Cru team leader will discuss and decide in what capacity you will serve, as well as the time commitment.

Registered Cru volunteers also commit to attending regular volunteer meetings and training sessions as offered by the local team.

Because of the legal and liability issues of working with minors, each Cru volunteer must be thoroughly evaluated via our application process, some interviews, and an official background check. (The local Cru team typically covers the cost of the background check.)

How to Apply:

Discuss with your Cru leader whether you should pursue becoming an official volunteer.
APPLY HERE.
Fill out the background check form. (The link will be emailed to you.)
Allow about two weeks for the application process to be completed.

Note: Some cities offer an Apprentice program for 5-10 weeks with moderate compensation. Speak to your Cru leader to find out more.

Part-Time Field Staff

Hours per week: 10-25 hours per week
Pay: Yes (Raised by you)

A Cru Part-time Field staff (PTFS) member does many of the same things as a full-time staff person. The number of hours is less, and the PT staff person is also expected to spend most of those hours doing field ministry.

Part-time field staff are typically college students or graduates with other employment. It is not ideal as a career, since PTFS do not receive medical or other benefits. However, there is no limit on how long someone can serve as PTFS, as there is for interns.

How to Apply:

Seek guidance from your local Cru staff and other wise counsel. Get a realistic picture of the financial realities of being a part-time staff person.
Go to apply.cru.org to submit your application. You will need to create an Okta account. (This page is the entry point for all Cru missionaries who raise their financial support, including intern, part- and full-time staff.)
Fill out the forms, including the background check application, and choose the people who will complete references for you.
Allow 4-6 weeks for the entire process to be completed.

Devote your best hours to winning, building, and sending high school students, and seeing lives changed for eternity.

Intern

Hours per week: 40+ with a 1-year commitment
Pay: Yes (Raised by you)

A Cru intern is basically a full-time staff person, except with only a one-year commitment. This commitment can be renewed once, for a total service time of two years. After this, the person must join Cru staff (full- or part-time) or pursue other opportunities.

Intern candidates typically apply in winter or early spring, and if accepted, attend a Cru Orientation Weekend in March or April. This weekend includes training in Ministry Partner Development (MPD) and pairs you with a coach. Your coach guides you through the MPD process, aiming for you to report in August or September.

How to Apply:

Seek guidance from your local Cru staff and other wise counsel.
Go to apply.cru.org to submit your application. You will need to create an Okta account.
Fill out the forms, including the background check application, and choose the people who will submit references.
Allow 4-6 weeks for the entire process to be completed.

Full-Time Staff

Hours per week: 40+
Pay: Yes (Raised by you)

For those who want to make the biggest impact for Christ, it is hard to beat being a full-time Cru staff member. Instead of fitting ministry into the gaps in your schedule, you will get to devote your best hours to winning, building, and sending high school students, and seeing lives changed for eternity. You will be part of a team of like-minded leaders, sharpening each other and spurring one another on to maximum ministry impact.

Raising your financial support (which we call “Ministry Partner Development” or “MPD”) can be challenging. But Cru will train you and provide the tools you will need to see success in MPD. If God is calling you to be on Cru staff, we are confident He will enable and equip you to develop your ministry partner team.

As with any important career matter, joining Cru staff is a decision that should be made with much wise counsel, prayer, and having the best and most current information. For starters, we suggest having a cup of coffee with your local Cru staff member and asking for a candid description of what staff life is like.

Then as God enables and leads, pursue the next step(s) in the process, and trust Him to make His will clear – and to provide for you as you step out in faith.

How to Apply:

Seek guidance from your local Cru staff and other wise counsel. Get a clear understanding of the MPD process and what your life would look like on staff.
Go to apply.cru.org to submit your application. You will need to create an Okta account.
Fill out the forms, including the background check application, and choose the people who will submit references.
Allow 6-8 weeks for the entire process to be completed.

Not sure if you are qualified? THIS page describes the qualifications for Cru staff. Visit our New Staff Orientation page for training dates and application deadlines for each.

Are you wrestling with knowing God’s will for your life and career? Here’s an article you may find helpful.

There is no greater adventure than discovering God’s plan for your life and pursuing it with all your heart. If that includes helping reach teenagers with the Good News, then we are here to help you reach your goal and fulfill your dream!

Next Step

Prayerfully consider how God might be calling you to serve middle and high school students, then take a step to discover more about the ministry. Visiting a local Cru ministry or volunteering for a conference can give you a good idea of what it would be like to join us.

Made for Students, Helpful for Adults

This Playbook is designed first for students. It helps you take ownership, lead your friends, and build something that actually reaches your school.

At the same time, if you’re an adult, youth leader, parent, or volunteer, this gives you a clear way to come alongside students without taking over.

Students lead
Adults support
Everyone moves forward together

Why Most People Don’t Start

A lot of students never take the first step. Not because they don’t care, but because they feel stuck.

“Where do I even begin?”
“What if no one shows up?”
“How do I get others involved?”

Uncertainty can keep people from moving. This Playbook breaks that barrier. It gives you a clear path so you can stop overthinking and start doing.

What This Helps You Do

This isn’t just ideas sitting on a page. It’s a practical guide you can actually use right now.

With the Playbook, you can:

Start something meaningful, even if you’re on your own
Gather a few friends and build momentum
Share your faith in natural, real ways
Lead with confidence, even if you’ve never led before
Build something that lasts beyond you

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need a place to start.

“Start where you are, use what you have, take the first step.”

A Simple Path to Follow

The Playbook walks you through five clear steps. Each one is simple, practical, and designed to help you take action.

DREAM: Start with a vision for your school and what God could do there
PRAY: Learn how to pray for your campus in real, meaningful ways
GO: Take action, gather a team, and begin reaching people
GROW: Build a group that develops leaders and multiplies
SEND: Help others step out and reach their friends too

You don’t have to guess what to do next. It’s right there in front of you.

Built to Be Used, Not Just Read

This isn’t a long manual you’ll never finish. It’s short. It’s simple. It’s designed to move you forward.

Easy to read
Clear next steps
Real examples
Space to think and act

You can go through it on your own, or walk through it with a couple of friends. Adults can use it to guide conversations and help students take ownership.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Starting something can feel intimidating. But you’re not on your own. The Playbook connects you to tools, coaching, and a bigger movement of people who are doing the same thing. Take one step, and you’ll find support along the way.

Start Today

You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a first step.

Next Step

Download the Playbook with the button above and walk through the first section this week with a friend!

Comment Cards 101: Capture Interest, Build Relationships

Why Comment Cards Matter

The most important thing you do in ministry isn’t running events, it’s building relationships. Big gatherings are great, but they aren’t personal. Comment cards help you bridge that gap. They give students a simple way to raise their hand and say:

“I’m interested”
“I want to get involved”
“I want to talk”
“I made a decision”

A comment card is more than a form. It’s a filter. The event gathers the crowd, but the comment cards reveal the ones who are ready. Instead of guessing who’s interested, students tell you. And that’s what allows you to follow up personally and meaningfully.

Download Comment Cards

Tip: Start simple. You can always customize later.

Physical vs. Digital Comment Cards

You can collect information digitally, but physical cards still win.

Physical Cards

Higher response rate
Easier to complete in the moment
No distractions
Feels more intentional

Digital Options

Students are less likely to fill them out
Distractions
Technical glitches

Digital can work, but many ministries find they get about half the responses compared to physical cards. Even in a digital world, physical cards often get better results. If you want the most responses, go physical first.

“The card isn’t the win, the conversation is.”

How to Use Comment Cards

1. Pass Them Out at the Right Moment
Usually at the end of a meeting or outreach, when interest is highest.

2. Give Everyone a Pen or Pencil
Don’t assume students have one. They won’t.

3. Walk Through the Card Together
This is huge. Once everyone has a card, read each section out loud and guide them:

“Write your name here”
“Check this if you want to get involved”
“Check this if you prayed to receive Christ”

If you don’t do this, students rush through and check random boxes.

4. Give Them Time to Complete It
Pause. Let them actually fill it out.

5. Collect Them Immediately
Don’t leave it optional or vague.

Use Incentives to Increase Response

Want more cards turned in? Use prizes.

Gift cards
Snacks
Fast food coupons
Free merch

Tell them:
“Turn in your card, we’ll draw for prizes.”

It works. A simple prize can double your response rate.

Best Practices That Make a Big Difference

Use cardstock
Regular paper tears or gets ruined. Cardstock holds up better.

Keep it simple
Too many options overwhelm students.

Look through cards immediately
Scan for:

Students who want to get involved
Spiritual decisions
Urgent needs

If possible, connect with them before they leave the meeting. The best practice is to follow up within 24–48 hours. After that, interest fades fast. So if. you can talk with them before they leave and set up a time to connect again in the next day or so, you will get your best results.

Turning Cards Into Conversations

A comment card is just the beginning. The goal isn’t collecting information. The goal is connection. Use what they checked to guide your follow-up:

Grab lunch
Meet after school
Start a Bible study
Have a gospel conversation

Final Thought

Comment cards can feel like a small detail, but they might be one of the most important things you do at an event. They help you move from a crowd, to a conversation, to a changed life.

Next Step

Download a comment card and use it at your next meeting.

Student Leader Application and Covenant

Strong student leadership doesn’t happen by accident.

Whether you’re a student leading your peers or an adult supporting a movement, clarity around leadership can make a huge difference. These simple documents are designed to help you communicate expectations, invite the right students in, and build a healthy leadership culture.

They’re optional tools for any campus movement, not requirements, but many teams find them incredibly helpful.

Student Leadership Application

This application is a simple way for students to express interest in leadership and for you to get to know them better. It creates space for students to share their story, their faith, and why they want to lead. It also helps ensure they understand the purpose and message of your ministry before stepping into a leadership role.

Leaders often use this as a starting point for conversations, discernment, and development, not just as a form to collect.

Student Leadership (Editable Document)
Student Leadership Application (PDF)

“Great leadership starts with clarity, not assumptions.”

Model Student Covenant

This covenant helps define what it means to be a student leader in your group. It clearly communicates expectations, both in character and commitment, and gives students a chance to step in with understanding and ownership. Because it’s customizable, you can adapt it to fit your local context, adding practical expectations that make sense for your team.

Many leaders use this as part of training or onboarding, helping students not just say “yes” to leadership, but understand what they’re saying yes to.

Model Student Covenant (Editable Document)

Next Step

Review these documents and choose one to use with your leadership team this semester: