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Valentine’s Day Outreach
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Valentine’s Day is a natural moment to invite students into something social, upbeat, and relational. This outreach works well in a home or school setting and is designed to feel more like a party than a program, while still clearly introducing students to your campus ministry and the gospel.

The key is intentional planning with a relaxed atmosphere. Music, refreshments, and friendly Christian students who are actively welcoming new people help set the tone from the moment students arrive.

Outreach Tips

  • Plan ahead. Set the date, confirm the location, and print fliers as early as possible.
  • Delegate. Give leadership roles to students and volunteers whenever you can.
  • Create an atmosphere. Keep things informal and upbeat with music and snacks. Encourage Christian students to seek out new faces.
  • Promote the event (optional). Leadership guys can hand out red roses or carnations to girls, or leadership girls can hand out chocolate kisses. Include a personal invitation the day before the outreach.
  • Obtain prizes. Especially for the Dating Game, nice prizes help boost energy and participation.

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.

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Campus Ministry Toolkit: Skills and Tools to Reach your School
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The Reach Your School Playbook
The main landing page for the Reach Your School Playbook, with links to buy print copies and download the Playbook and Appendix PDFs.
How Do I Start a Cru Movement at My School?

If you’ve got a vision to reach your school for Christ, you’re asking exactly the right question. Whoever you are, a student, teacher, youth pastor, college student, or concerned adult, here’s how to get started. There are two ways to go about it.

1. Do Your Own Thing

If you’d like to gather some friends, share your faith, and build something without any formal ties, just start with the playbook. The Reach Your School Playbook gives you everything you need to get started today.

2. Call Yourself Cru

If you’d like to use the Cru name and logos, and be part of a wider movement beyond just your campus, here’s what that looks like:

 

 

Doing Your
Own Thing

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Use the Cru name and logosNoYes
Need a coach to get startedNoYes
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"Whichever path you choose, you don’t have to figure it out alone."

How to Get Started

If you want to call yourself Cru, the way to get started is to connect with a coach, that’s how you register your movement. This is separate from anything your own school requires; if your campus has its own club registration process, you’ll still want to check with your school on that too.

A coach is a Cru staff member whose job is to walk alongside you as you get started. Here’s what working with a coach actually looks like from there:

  • It’s free. No cost involved, no catch.
  • No pressure. You reach out, someone gets back to you with information and answers your questions, and there’s no commitment required just to ask.
  • Go at your own pace. You and your coach agree on a rhythm together, whether that’s weekly, every other week, or monthly, usually in calls of about 20 to 30 minutes.
  • The calls are practical. Your coach checks in on how things are going, helps you work through whatever challenges you’re facing, brainstorms ideas with you, and prays for you.
  • Real experience backs it up. Coaches have spent years working directly with students, teachers, and other volunteers on campuses like yours.
  • You get resources. Training and tools to help you lead with confidence, even if this is your first time.
  • It fits around your life. Coaches build their availability around your schedule.

Through it all, you’re helping students hear about Jesus, grow in their faith, and go on to reach others too. And whether you’re the student or the adult in this story, you stay the one leading it. Your coach walks alongside you; the coach doesn’t take it over.

Check Out the Playbook

Whichever path you choose, the Reach Your School Playbook is worth having in hand. It walks you through four simple steps — DREAM, PRAY, GO, GROW — for building something that reaches your school.

Download the Reach Your School Playbook

Whichever path you choose, don’t wait until everything feels figured out. Gather a few friends, open the Playbook, or send that first email to a coach. The important thing is that you start. Somewhere out there, a student at your school is waiting for someone to notice them, and that someone could be you.

Next Step
Ready to call yourself Cru? Reach out to the Coaching Center today: Email coachingcenter@cru.org and say, “I’d like to have a coach please!” Or call 1-877-GO-CAMPUS
Campus Ministry Toolkit: Skills and Tools to Reach your School

As you learn to reach your school, there are some key ministry skills that will make a big difference. These are things every Christian student can grow in and you don’t have to be perfect to get started. We also have some great tools to help you take your next step. With a little courage and the right resources, you’ll be amazed how God can use you in your school.

Starting Spiritual Conversations

Bringing up spiritual topics can be hard, but it’s one of the most important steps in reaching your friends. If no one starts the conversation, most students will never talk about their faith.

Sharing Your Testimony

Your story matters. Sharing what God has done in your life can open hearts and help others realize that faith is personal and real.

Sharing Your Faith

The gospel is powerful and your friends need to hear it. Learning how to clearly explain the message of Jesus is a huge step in making your faith your own and helping others follow Him. 

  • How to Share the Gospel (article): a step-by-step guide to help you share the gospel with a friend.
  • Connecting with God Booklet: A short, simple booklet you can read through with a friend to explain how they can know Christ.
  • The Four Wristband: A wearable tool with four simple symbols to help you talk about God’s love and how to receive Christ.
  • GodTools App: A free app with interactive ways to share your faith in different languages and styles.

“Your story could be the reason someone takes a step toward Jesus.”

Following Up a New Believer

When someone accepts Christ, they need help knowing what to do next. Helping a new believer grow in their faith is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

Leading a Small Group

Small groups are a powerful way to build community and help students grow. If you can lead a good conversation, you can lead a small group.

  • Thrive Studies App: Includes dozens of studies on real-life topics and built-in leader training.

Campus Ministry Training

Reaching students on your campus is one of the most strategic ways to share your faith. Learning a few simple principles can help you start conversations, gather students, and take steps toward building a movement at your school.

  • Campus Training Videos – Short, practical videos to help you learn how to reach students on your high school campus. These eight trainings cover key topics like meeting students, starting conversations, sharing your faith, and taking simple steps to build a movement.

Other Helpful Tools

Some Great Websites You Don't Want To Miss

Next Step
Pick one tool and take a step this week to start a conversation or gather a few friends.
The Reach Your School Playbook

You can reach your school. We can help.

You’ve probably looked around your campus and thought, someone should do something. What if that someone is you?

The Reach Your School Playbook is a simple, practical guide that helps you make the first move. It’s short, clear, and built to move you forward, not a long manual you’ll never finish. Whether you’re a student ready to lead or an adult wanting to come alongside one, this is your starting point.

Screenshot 2026-07-27 at 4.41.07 PM
Buy the playbook

Download the Playbook PDF for free
Playbook Appendix Content (our toolkit)

You can actually do this

Most people never start, not because they don’t care, but because they feel stuck. Where do I even begin? What if no one shows up?

The Playbook clears that away. It gives you a path so you can stop overthinking and start doing. You don’t need a perfect plan or all the answers. You don’t have to be the popular kid or have it all together. You just need a first step, and a little courage.

And the friends you’re thinking about right now matter. You might be the one who helps them find Jesus.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Take the first step.

A simple path to follow

The Playbook walks you through four clear steps, each one designed to help you take action:

  • Dream — Start with a vision for your school and what God could do there.
  • Pray — Learn 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.

It might start with a single conversation at lunch, or a few friends praying before class. You don’t have to guess what comes next. It’s right there in front of you.

Made for students, helpful for adults

The Playbook is written first for students, because we believe teenagers can lead and make a real impact at their school. But if you’re a parent, teacher, youth leader, or volunteer, you’re not on the sidelines. There’s a whole section just for you, whether you’re supporting a student who’s leading or stepping out to start something yourself.

Students lead. Adults support. Everyone moves forward together.

"Students lead. Adults support. Everyone moves forward together."

You’re not on your own

Starting something can feel intimidating. But you don’t have to figure it out alone. The Playbook connects you to tools, coaching, and a bigger movement of people doing the same thing. Take one step, and you’ll find support along the way.

Screenshot 2026-07-27 at 4.43.21 PM

Get the Playbook

So don’t wait until it all makes sense. Grab a copy below — get one for yourself, and consider extra copies for your key leaders.

Buy the Playbook

Download the Playbook PDF for free
Playbook Appendix Content (our toolkit)

Next Step
Download the Playbook, then invite a few friends to walk through the first section with you this week.

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