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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?

How do you see your local middle school and high school campuses? Since 1967, Cru staff, volunteers, and interns have seen campuses as a mission field. We see them as the best place in the world to reach teens.

If the local campus is the best place to reach teens, then how do we go there? The Getting to Know your Campus Survey can help guide you. Some staff and volunteers keep a low profile on the campus. School administrators know why they are there and silently cheer them on.

Others have a visible presence as volunteers for the school. When this is the case, they can visit students at lunch hour, be a club sponsor, or coach an athletic team.

Sometimes we discover the school is a closed campus, meaning no outside influence is allowed on the campus. And yet, even there some are able to work through student leaders to reach the school.

Only one thing is certain, there are no cookie-cutter approaches to gaining access to a public school campus. With that said, there are some time-tested principles that can help guide your steps.

Time-Tested Principles for Going to the Campus

 

It is God’s Work

The most important thing to remember is the authority of Jesus Christ. If God has called us to reach this generation, we must go where they spend most of their time- their schools. It is He who points us to a specific campus and He who will connect us to advocates like teachers, coaches, and principals. He is the One Who prepares the hearts of the students.

Without Him, we fail every time.

Look for Gatekeepers

God has new relationships waiting inside every school. Every campus has gatekeepers. These are people God has placed on the campus who will help open doors that would stay closed or be harder for us to open without them.

Students Can Reach Students

On some campuses, it may be more difficult for adults to access students. So students step up and lead with your coaching and guidance. Whether adults can be on campus or not, every ministry should be working toward being student-led.

Prayer is Essential

Prayer will help prepare the hearts of all to join with us in God’s plan to see a spiritual movement raised up on the campus.

Community is Key

Ask churches, parents, and those you know around the school to point you to teachers, administrators, and coaches who might want to talk about the spiritual development of students. This will give you a feel of the campus culture and its spiritual openness and help you uncover potential gatekeepers. The Getting to know your campus Questionnaire is a good tool to help you ask the right questions.

Just because a campus is initially closed to outside adults, does not mean it is closed to God's work.

Flex. There will be Roadblocks.

If you discover the school is closed to outside influence, work to connect with Christian students in local churches. Once you find these students, you will be able to coach them. As you coach them, help them see their campus as a mission field. This is a great opportunity for students to step up and become the leaders they want to be. Just because a campus is initially closed to outside adults, does not mean it is closed to God’s work.

Gatekeepers Are Like Gold

Gatekeepers are insiders who help you gain access to the campus. When God reveals a potential gatekeeper to you, it could be anyone: a coach, an administrator, a custodian, even a student. When you get a chance to meet with these insiders, you can explain Cru to them in the following way:

“I work for a youth-based organization called Cru. We come alongside schools to help students learn how to become leaders by offering resources for their personal and spiritual development.”

Once you find that gatekeeper, the school will seem more open. Begin to volunteer for activities at the school. As a volunteer, others will see who you are, understand your purpose on the campus, and learn more about Cru. Being around students will allow you to run into Christian students who you can coach to reach the campus.

Check out the article on Becoming an Insider for more tips.

When you begin to see the campus the way God does, it will give you the confidence to take steps of faith that will help start a spiritual movement. God is right there with you, working on your behalf and going before you.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go to the campus!

Next Step

Go to the campus! Meet a teacher you know on their conference period to do the Getting to Know your Campus Questionnaire. Walk around the campus and pray. Ask God to help you see the campus as He does and connect you to insiders.

questionnaire
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

The Reach Your School 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.

Download the Playbook PDF
download the Appendix 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.

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.

Download the Playbook PDF
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:

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