Why Should I Volunteer with Cru?

I was just out of college and looking for a place to serve. I found myself at a ministry fair where different ministries were sharing about their missions. I stumbled across a table that was for a Cru ministry reaching high school students and I asked, “Can high school students really become multiplying disciples?”

Their answer was a resounding, “Yes!” And in front of me stood living proof, a young lady named Beth. She had just graduated from high school in Phoenix, AZ, and was enrolled in some ministry training classes. As we talked, her spiritual maturity and love for Jesus were evident.

I came away from that encounter wondering what would have happened if someone had discipled me in high school? I surely would have avoided a lot of sin and heartache and maybe made an impact for Christ on my friends.

So, I joined Cru in reaching teenagers. It has been an exciting and inspiring journey to work with high school students. It did not take me long to learn these three things about high school students: they are HUNGRY, NEEDY, and INFLUENTIAL.

Teenagers Are HUNGRY

Whether working with students in the suburbs of Orange County or the inner city of Long Beach, I have observed teenagers really want to know God. They may not know that they want to know God, as they search for meaning in relationships, achievement, sports, and other activities. But when they hear a clear gospel presentation, many are eager to say “Yes” to Jesus.

Sadly, this hunger does not last their whole life. The Barna Association continues to report that 75% of all people who choose to follow Jesus, do so before age 18. As youth leaders have been saying for years, “Teenagers are like wet cement, waiting for someone to come and make an impression on them.” For many, the cement hardens soon after their high school years, adding great urgency to our calling. Teenagers need trusted adults and caring peers to enter into their lives while they are still hungry for what the gospel offers. Who will tell them about Jesus?

Teenagers Are NEEDY

Teenagers were searching for love and acceptance when Cru was founded in 1951, and they are still doing so today. They are entering an age when they are beginning to be influenced less by their parents and more by their peers and the world around them. They are looking for a place to belong and are trying to figure out who they are in a world that is more than happy to answer that question for them.

Teens desperately seek acceptance through social media, and they despair when their peers do not affirm them — or worse, mock and bully them. Fewer and fewer young people grow up in stable homes or have healthy adults in their lives who will guide them and encourage them. This generation is experiencing a mental health crisis with no end in sight.

On top of all that, teenagers know less and less about Jesus and the Bible than any generation in American history. The very person they most need (Jesus) is the One they know the least about. They are dying of thirst while the Source of living water is right next to them. They need someone to tell them the good news. Who will tell them?

Teenagers need trusted adults and caring peers to enter into their lives while they are still hungry for what the gospel offers. Who will tell them about Jesus?

Teenagers Are INFLUENTIAL

Although the world is still largely run by adults, we see teens and young adults in places of surprising influence:

Greta Thunberg
Swedish environmental activist who appeared on the cover of “Time Magazine” as its “Person of the Year” — at age 16
Billie Eilish
Singer who has sold 41.5 million digital singles and 5 million albums, according to RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America)
Amanda Gordon
National Youth Poet Laureate, who spoke so eloquently at the inauguration of President Biden, has become a social justice advocate ,and has already announced her plans to run for president in 2036 (the first year she’ll be eligible)

Chances are, the young men and women we meet will not become as famous as these young superstars. But when we reach them and disciple them to “do all that (Jesus) has commanded,” they can reach others and have an influence that echoes throughout eternity.

Students today are sharing the gospel with their friends in person and on social media. They are leading, teaching, and serving in ways that draw anyone watching to take a second look at Jesus and His claims. They are leading small group Bible studies, doing outreaches with their friends, and going on international mission trips to tell others about Jesus. But they need guidance and encouragement. Who will come alongside them to help them direct their influence toward Christ?

So teenagers are hungry, needy, and influential. They need caring adults and peers to step into their lives, love them, and show them the hope that Jesus offers. On the public high school campus, we have an amazing opportunity to see almost all (92%) of the teenagers in any community in the same place for four years of their lives. There is no other place in society where every person in a community of a certain age group is in the same place. And it happens to be when they are also the most spiritually open in their lives. This is a sweet spot of opportunity that we cannot ignore. Who will enter their world?

One of America’s greatest evangelists, named Dwight L. Moody, recognized the importance of investing in the younger generation. He once said, “If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God!” It is too late for him to do that, but we invite you to join us and invest your time in reaching teenagers near you. It is an investment you will never regret and it will pay dividends throughout eternity.

“If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God!”

-Dwight L. Moody

If God has placed America’s 15 million high school students on your heart, I urge you to pursue that interest and experience for yourself the great joy and eternal reward of winning, building, and sending teenagers for Christ.

Learn about working with Cru

Next Step

Want to learn more? Check out the article Different Ways to Serve with Cru or our website to explore how you can join us in reaching middle and high school students with the gospel.

Different Ways to Serve with Cru our website

From Grief to Purpose: Finding God in the Storm

Growing up in a Christian home, she always knew about Jesus, but her relationship with Him didn’t feel personal until tragedy struck in eighth grade. Transitioning from homeschooling to public school had already pushed her out of her comfort zone, and anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place. Then, during the fall of 2020, both her parents contracted COVID. While her mom recovered, her dad’s condition worsened, leading to months of uncertainty. She vividly remembers the day he left for the hospital and the long, heartbreaking journey that followed. Despite moments of hope, her dad passed away on February 20th, 2021. At just 13 years old, she faced the devastating reality of losing her father—a loss that shook her world and her faith.

In the midst of that grief, she began to see God’s hand at work. During sleepless nights and moments of overwhelming sorrow, God surrounded her with people who cared—friends, family, and a community that embodied His love. Though the pain of loss didn’t disappear, she found comfort in the truth that this life is not the end. Inspired by Paul’s words about eternity, she started to see her father’s passing as a reminder of the hope we have in Christ. That hope spurred her to action. On a family mission trip to Thailand, she met students leading Cru groups at their schools, and the seed was planted to start something similar back home. Despite initial uncertainty, God provided resources, opened doors, and brought others alongside her to launch Cru at her school—a ministry that has been thriving for nearly a year now.

"Anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place."

Her story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. Through unimaginable grief, she discovered the depth of God’s love and the strength found in trusting Him. The loss of her dad deepened her desire to share Jesus with others, knowing firsthand how essential His presence is in life’s hardest moments. Cru has given her a platform to do just that—to tell others about the God who redeems brokenness and uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Her journey reminds us that while pain is inevitable, God is sovereign, faithful, and able to bring beauty from ashes.

Next Step

Check out Christina's Story and consider how God might use an international mission in your or another student's life.

christina's story

The Six Milestones Every Student Needs to Grow in Faith

Why These Milestones Matter

If we are not careful, students can float through our ministry without ever taking real steps forward. They might show up every week, but never really grow or take ownership of their faith. Milestones give us a simple, clear map for helping them keep moving. They help us answer the question, “What’s next for this student?” and give students the courage to take that step.

When we guide students from milestone to milestone, we are not just helping them stay involved. We are helping them grow into strong, confident followers of Jesus who are ready to lead and influence others.

Share Christ with a Student Who Doesn’t Know Jesus

Before anything else, a student needs the chance to hear the good news of Jesus in a clear and personal way. This is where it all begins. Many teenagers have never heard the gospel explained in full, even if they have been around church. Take the time to share about God’s love, our need for forgiveness, and the hope we have in Christ. The first step in their journey is not about them sharing their faith — it is about them hearing it for the first time.

Helpful Resources:

Lead a Student Through Their First Follow-Up

When a student says yes to Jesus, it is just the start of something new and exciting. The first follow-up meeting is where you can help them understand what it means to walk with God daily. It is also a chance to build trust and start a discipleship relationship. This step anchors their new faith and helps them grow instead of drifting away.

Helpful Resources:

Help a Student Understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit

Helping students understand the Holy Spirit is a game-changer. Too often, new believers try to live the Christian life in their own strength, and it leaves them frustrated. Teaching them about the Spirit-filled life shows them how to depend on God’s power for both living and sharing their faith. This is when students start to realize that God is not just calling them to do hard things — He is empowering them to actually do them.

Helpful Resources:

GodTools App (go through the Satisfied tool with them)
Holy Spirit Booklet

Holy Spirit Study in Thrive Studies

First Evangelism Experience

Many students have never had the chance to talk about their faith with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Taking them out to share, whether on campus, at an event, or in the community, changes that. At first, they might feel nervous, but once they see God working through them, it can be life-changing. That moment when a student realizes, “God just used me to help someone understand the gospel” — that is the spark that often leads to a lifetime of ministry.

Helpful Resources:

Challenge to a Cru Training Event

There is something powerful about getting students away from their normal routine and into an environment filled with worship, biblical teaching, and friends who are chasing after Jesus. Conferences give them the space to grow, hear from God, and take big steps of faith. The bus ride there might be full of nerves, but the ride home is usually buzzing with stories of what God did. Over and over again, we have seen students return from these events ready to lead and make a difference.

Helpful Resources:

Conferences Page

Challenge to Spiritual Leadership on Campus

Teenagers are capable of more than they realize. The world constantly challenges them to step up in sports, academics, and clubs, but sometimes the church forgets to ask them to lead in ministry. Giving students real leadership opportunities — leading a Bible study, speaking at a meeting, planning an outreach — unlocks their potential and sets an example for younger students. Over time, this creates a culture where leadership is expected and contagious.

Helpful Resources:

Student Leader Section – GoToTheCampus.com

Wrapping It Up

These milestones are not a checklist to rush through. They are a pathway to help students grow, one step at a time. Every student you know is somewhere on this journey. Your role is to encourage them, challenge them, and walk alongside them as they take the next step. The goal is not just to build a ministry — it is to build students who live on mission for Jesus for the rest of their lives.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our full conversations about the Six Milestones in these YouTube videos.

Next Step

Write down the names of every student in your ministry. Identify their current milestone and decide how you can help them reach the next one.

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project is a powerful small-group resource designed especially for girls, offering a safe, encouraging space to talk about identity, value, and purpose. It’s already making a difference in public schools, giving students a chance to connect, grow, and be reminded of their worth.

One of its greatest strengths is flexibility. The Priceless Project comes in two versions:

A Bible study version for church, youth group, or Christian school settings
A public school version with the same strong themes but without Scripture references — making it ideal for campuses that might not allow explicitly faith-based content

The public school version can be a great way to get in the door on a campus that’s difficult to access. It allows you to mentor a group of girls who need it, build relationships with them, and meet real emotional and social needs in a way that schools welcome.

Priceless Project

from Emily French

Why use The Priceless Project?

Creates a safe, respectful space for girls to share and be heard
Meets real emotional and social needs in public schools
Builds leadership and peer-to-peer mentoring skills
Easy to use, with free resources and an app for facilitators
Proven track record in schools through partnerships with teachers and administrators

All digital resources are free for Cru. Use the discount code PricelessCru at checkout. All physical books are available for purchase at iampriceless.me.

A free Priceless Project App is also available for Apple and Android — with digital curriculum, playlists, blog posts, and a safe space for facilitators to connect with the girls they lead.

You can learn more, explore the curriculum, and order resources at iampriceless.me.