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How to Have a Personal Appointment with a Student
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Discussion/Reflection Questions
  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.

RECENT POSTS

Canaan’s Story 2

Growing up, it felt very hard to speak to new people, to make new friends, and to public speak in front of multiple people. That was partly due to my stuttering. It just felt like a physical barrier that prevented me from using my voice. That was something I struggled with throughout childhood, and I believed that I wasn’t someone who could be used by God for my voice.

 

God put people in my life who helped me become the person I am today. He gave me my best friend, and He taught me the acceptance that truly comes from knowing my identity in Christ — knowing that no matter how much I stutter or how long I pause before I say the next word, God doesn’t care about that. He cares about what’s in my heart. He placed Cru leaders in my life who guided me to learn more about Christ, to bring me closer to Him, and to grow into a tool for God to use to spread the gospel to others.

 

God brought me to Fastbreak. I was nervous because I didn’t have any friends. But I came back to a second Fastbreak, and I was able to share my testimony. That was a very big breakthrough because I had been so scared most of my life to talk to people and share my story — and to share about Jesus. Knowing that God’s with me and He uses me to speak — that it’s not me speaking, but the Spirit speaking through me — when I focus on God, all my fears go away. For the first time, I knew that there was a way God could use my voice.

 

I actually met my leader, Jason, on campus. It was very random. I was just sitting at a lunch table with my friend, and he came over to us and told us about the gospel. I’d heard about the gospel before, but through that interaction on campus, I was able to get connected with Cru and learn about what Cru is and their mission for students.

 

Now, I get the chance to mentor a freshman — because Jason met me when I was a freshman — and now I get to mentor and disciple freshmen on my own. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to help them grow in their faith and show them the love of God by what I say and in the ways that I act.

 

As I’ve grown with God and as He’s taught me more about my identity, He’s taught me acceptance — the same acceptance God gives all of us, no matter how much we sin or drift from Him. That acceptance is always there. I have God’s love no matter where I am in life, and that gives me self-worth. My self-worth doesn’t come from any other source but from God. There’s nothing that can separate you from that love of God and that worth.

 

Since God loves me so much, I know that whatever happens in the future, I’m in His hands, and God has a good plan for me. Even when I can’t envision myself preaching to people — whether it’s to two or two hundred — I know God can. His plan for me is great. When I trust in Him, I have value, I have acceptance, and I have assurance that my future is in His hands, and it will be good.

How to Start a Christian Club at Your School

Starting a Christian club at school is one of the best ways to help students meet Jesus and grow in their faith. It creates a space to talk about God, build friendships, and invite others into something meaningful. And if your school allows other clubs, it can allow a Christian club too. The goal is not just to start a meeting. It’s to help reach your school.

Know That It’s Legal

If your school allows student clubs, it must also allow religious clubs. That means you can meet, read the Bible, pray, and invite others. Most schools will require student leadership, a teacher sponsor, and meeting during lunch, before, or after school. Lead with respect and humility. You’re there to serve your school well.

Get a Coach

Don’t do this alone. A coach can help you take your next steps, pray with you, and stay focused. This could be a youth pastor, parent, or a Cru coach. You don’t need all the answers. You just need someone in your corner.

Find a Teacher Sponsor

Most schools require a teacher sponsor. They help you get approved and stay connected to the school. Look for a person of faith who is supportive, reliable, and respected.

“You don’t need all the answers. You just need someone in your corner.”

Gather a Core Team

Start with a few friends who care about their school and want to make a difference. You don’t need a big group, just a few students who are willing to take a step of faith. Pray together and dream about what God could do.

Make it a Movement, not just a Club

Don’t just build a club for Christians. Build something that helps students reach their friends.


A movement is outward focused. It helps students grow in their faith and share it with others. Keep asking, “Who are we trying to reach?”

Choose a Time and Place

Pick a consistent time and place that works, lunch, before school, or after school. Keep it simple and easy to attend. Consistency makes it easier to invite others.

Start Reaching Out

Begin praying for friends and inviting them. A healthy group is always open and welcoming, especially to students who don’t know Jesus yet. Most growth will come through personal invitations.

Start Meeting

Set a date and begin. Keep your first meetings simple, a Bible study, discussion, or time to connect. You don’t need something big. You just need to start.

Starting a Christian club is about helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith, and reach others. Start small, stay focused, and trust God to work through you. What begins with a few students can grow into something much bigger.

If you want help taking your next steps, check out the Reach Your School Playbook. It’s a simple, step by step guide you can use with your friends to start and grow a movement on your campus. Use the button below to download it now.

Helpful Documents

  • Constitution Document– A simple document that outlines how your club operates, including its purpose, leadership structure, and basic guidelines, sometimes requested by schools but often optional.
  • Charter Document – A document that connects your club to Cru, clarifying its mission, beliefs, and expectations for leadership, typically optional but helpful if your school or leadership team wants added clarity.

Next Step

Download the Reach Your School Playbook and take your first step toward starting a Christian club on your campus.

Reach Your School Playbook
The Reach Your School Playbook
   
Download the Playbook

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.

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.

Students can
change their school,
they just need a path.

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.

Download The Playbook Today
Next Step

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

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