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How to Have a Personal Appointment with a Student
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  1. What in this video stands out to you? 
  2. What did you learn from this video? 
  3. What action can you take this week as a result of watching this video?

*Check out the article “How to Set Up a Personal Appointment” before reading this one.

Now that you’ve set up a personal appointment with some students, let’s talk about what to do during the appointment.

Let’s imagine that you’re meeting with a student and two of their friends right after school. You’re probably wondering, what are we going to talk about? What do we want to see happen as a result of that time? And how do we even know if it’s successful or not?

The Purpose of the Appointment

A youth leader of more than 40 years once said, “There are three, and only three, keys to success in leading students: relationships, relationships, relationships.” The personal appointment is your best tool for building genuine connection with students. The purpose of a personal appointment is to create space for discovery. It’s a focused time for building trust and learning about one another. During the appointment, they discover who you are, what you do, your motivations, and more about God. 

In Cru, we like to share Christ at the first possible opportunity. So, as you discover more about the  students with whom you’re meeting, keep an ear open for spiritual interest. You never know when the first opportunity to share the gospel will present itself. After your appointment is over, ask if they want to meet with you again. 

“There are three, and only three, keys to success in leading students: relationships, relationships, relationships.”

What to Do During the Appointment

 

Keep It Casual

Offer to buy them a drink or dollar menu item. Smile and banter about nothing of importance like sporting events, TV shows, and movies that you’ve seen. Find a common thread of interest, something you can all talk about. You’re there for self-discovery and self-disclosure, but you want to be careful about sharing too much too quickly. This can often put students on guard. You want to start building a relationship, but remember that you’re an adult and they’re an adolescent. The first appointment is to start building relationships, like building a bridge. This takes time and patience.

Answer Their Questions

They will ask you questions and have questions left unspoken. They’re probably wondering who you are. They’re probably asking, “How do you relate to the school?” They’re curious if you can be trusted. Be ready to answer the questions they have for you.

Know Your Purpose for Meeting

This could be sharing Christ with them, talking about “School Within a School,” challenging them to go to a conference, sharing the follow-up material, anything along those lines. Keep the purpose of meeting with your students in mind, and it will be easy to stay on track.

Set up the Next Appointment

You could ask if the same time next week would work for them. Once you find a good time to meet again, put it in your calendar. Remember to text them the night before to remind them of your next appointment.

Some Final Tips

Don’t talk too much about yourself. Ask a lot of questions. Pray, pray, and pray some more. Always have a plan B. In the event they don’t show up, go to campus, pray for them, or text another student. It’s okay when plans change; it happens to all of us.

The goal of your first appointment is to start building the relationship and get a second appointment. Meeting with students is the first step in the journey of seeing them win, build, and send for Christ.

Next Step
Contact a student today to set up an appointment. It could be to share the gospel with them or to learn more about their school or just to get to know them better.
Next Step
Who are some students you work with that might make good leaders? Make a list of 5 students and begin praying that God would show you opportunities to help them step into leadership.

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You want to make a difference at your school. You care about your friends. You see the need. You’ve probably even thought, “Someone should do something.”

What if that someone is you?

The Reach Your School Playbook was created to help students take that step, and to give adults a simple way to support them along the way.

Reach Your School Playbook PDF

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.

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With the Playbook, you can:

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  • 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.

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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.

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

Reach Your School Playbook PDF
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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:

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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.
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Student Leadership Application

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

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Model Student Covenant (Editable Document)

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

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