{"id":5303,"date":"2023-03-24T10:15:50","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T17:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/campus.cru.org\/high-school\/go-to-the-campus\/?p=5303"},"modified":"2025-09-16T09:18:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T16:18:39","slug":"why-reach-teenagers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/campus.cru.org\/high-school\/go-to-the-campus\/why-reach-teenagers\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Reach Teenagers? Because They\u2019re Hurting, Searching, and Ready"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5303\" class=\"elementor elementor-5303\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51e95f6 e-ecs-flex e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"51e95f6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ecs_container_type&quot;:&quot;flex&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00c9456 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"00c9456\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Teenagers are searching. <\/strong>They\u2019re hurting, curious, and wide open to the kind of hope only Jesus can offer. Many are silently asking, <em>Who am I?<\/em>, <em>Do I matter?<\/em>, <em>What\u2019s real?<\/em> In a world that offers endless noise and few real answers, students are desperate for someone to show up, listen, and point them toward something solid.<\/p><p>If we care about reaching people, we have to care about reaching teenagers. They\u2019re in one of the most vulnerable, formative stages of life and they\u2019re more open to spiritual conversations than most adults. Teenagers aren\u2019t just the future of the Church, they\u2019re the present mission field. When you reach a student with the gospel, you don\u2019t just change their story, you help rewrite every story their life will touch.<\/p><p>And practically speaking, almost every person passes through a high school. If we focus on reaching students, we\u2019re planting the gospel in places that impact entire communities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23d5b3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"23d5b3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/campus.cru.org\/high-school\/go-to-the-campus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/563\/2023\/03\/Copy-of-Launch-Hourglass-3.jpg?w=1640\" title=\"Copy of Launch Hourglass (3)\" alt=\"Copy of Launch Hourglass (3)\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd4c74f elementor-widget__width-auto elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd4c74f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Tolerant Generation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4afee2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a4afee2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This generation is incredibly open. Gen Z places a high value on acceptance, self-expression, and individual freedom. They believe people should be free to define their own truth and identity, and while that leads to less judgment, it also means more confusion. With so many competing voices, teenagers are searching for something solid to build their lives on.<\/p><ul><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Moral Relativism:<\/strong> 60% of Gen Z say what is morally right or wrong \u201cdepends on what an individual believes.\u201d<\/li><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Moral Flexibility:<\/strong> 61% say happiness is the ultimate goal in life, and morality changes based on society.<\/li><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Moral Independence:<\/strong> Only 4% of Gen Z hold a biblical worldview. Most are building their moral beliefs from personal experience, feelings, and cultural trends.<\/li><\/ul><p>This tolerance creates spiritual openness but also reveals a desperate need for clarity and truth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-befad50 elementor-blockquote--skin-clean elementor-blockquote--align-right elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"befad50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cTeenagers are searching. They\u2019re hurting, curious, and wide open to the kind of hope only Jesus can offer.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b82b2c elementor-widget__width-auto elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0b82b2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Lonely Generation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc6a58b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dc6a58b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Despite being more digitally connected than any generation before them, today\u2019s teens are deeply lonely. Social media, performance pressure, and isolation have taken a toll on their mental and emotional health. Many feel unseen, anxious, or numb. They\u2019re not just scrolling for entertainment, they\u2019re searching for belonging.<\/p><ul><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Constant Screen Use:<\/strong> Nearly half of teens (46%) say they are online \u201calmost constantly.\u201d<\/li><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Bullying Prevalence:<\/strong> In 2021, 1 in 6 high schoolers were bullied at school, and 16% were cyberbullied.<\/li><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Rising Sadness:<\/strong> 42% of U.S. high schoolers reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021.<\/li><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Suicide Crisis:<\/strong> Every 100 minutes, a teenager takes their own life.<\/li><\/ul><p>Behind the selfies and TikToks is a generation quietly asking, \u201cDo I matter?\u201d The gospel speaks directly to that ache.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62f92e5 elementor-blockquote--skin-clean elementor-blockquote--align-right elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"62f92e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cBehind the selfies and TikToks is a generation quietly asking, \u2018Do I matter?\u2019\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a05cc6 elementor-widget__width-auto elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4a05cc6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">An Open Generation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a965f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6a965f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The very pressures that have left teens lost have also left them spiritually hungry. Teens are asking deep questions about meaning, identity, and purpose. They may be less religious, but they\u2019re not less curious. This is a generation wide open to spiritual conversations\u2014especially when they are honest, respectful, and centered on Jesus.<\/p><ul><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Interest in Jesus:<\/strong> 77% of U.S. teens are at least somewhat motivated to learn more about Jesus.<\/li><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Pain Driving Spiritual Curiosity:<\/strong> 49% say their generation is more curious about faith because of the challenges they\u2019ve faced.<\/li><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Desire for Meaning:<\/strong> 52% say they are actively searching for purpose in life.<\/li><li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\"><strong>Gospel Urgency:<\/strong> \u201cAbout three fourths of all people who have consciously, intentionally, and personally chosen to embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior did so before their 18th birthday.\u201d \u2013 George Barna<\/li><\/ul><p>If we don\u2019t step in with truth, someone else will fill that gap with counterfeit answers. Now is the time to meet them where they are.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-371009c elementor-blockquote--skin-clean elementor-blockquote--align-right elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"371009c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf we don\u2019t step in with truth, someone else will fill that gap with counterfeit answers.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63601b5 elementor-widget__width-auto elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"63601b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reaching Everyone<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d34f485 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d34f485\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you wanted to reach everyone with the gospel in any given city, where would you go? Is there a place where everyone goes?<\/p><p>Almost the entire population goes through middle schools and high schools at some point. Reaching those campuses is one of the most strategic things we can do.<\/p><p>In Cru, we want to give everyone a chance to know someone who truly follows Jesus. This is our plan. We go to the local middle or high school and take steps of faith to serve and share the gospel with teenagers.<\/p><p>Why do we go to the local schools? Because that is where all the teenagers are! They are asking the questions, and we believe Jesus has the best answers. They are hurting, and we believe that we can help.<\/p><p>The best time to share the gospel with someone is during their teenage years.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73590e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"73590e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/campus.cru.org\/high-school\/go-to-the-campus\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/563\/2023\/03\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Untitled-2.jpg?w=1063\" title=\"Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Untitled (2)\" alt=\"Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Untitled (2)\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b7ffbf elementor-widget__width-auto elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8b7ffbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa4a7a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa4a7a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This generation is open. They\u2019re hurting, curious, and more spiritually aware than we often realize. But they won\u2019t find Jesus unless someone brings Him to them. That someone could be you.<\/p><p>When you reach a teenager, you reach more than a moment\u2014you shape a lifetime. Their faith doesn\u2019t stop at graduation. It grows, multiplies, and impacts the people around them. That\u2019s why we go to the campus. That\u2019s why we start here.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bde422 content-align-cta-center content-align--tabletcta-center content-align--mobilecta-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-cta-box\" data-id=\"1bde422\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-cta-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eael-call-to-action cta-basic bg-lite cta-preset-1\">\n        <h2 class=\"title eael-cta-heading\">Next Step<\/h2><p>Find out if there is a Cru ministry reaching teens near you, and consider how you can invest in reaching teens with us.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cru.org\/us\/en\/locator\/campus.html?q=\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"cta-button cta-preset-1  \">Find Cru Near You<\/a>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today\u2019s teens are tolerant, lonely, and spiritually open\u2014making them one of the most urgent and strategic groups to reach with the gospel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44839,"featured_media":1976,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"collections_categories":[],"page_categories":[2259,2260],"class_list":["post-5303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-image-article","page_categories-learn","page_categories-understand-cru"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Reach Teenagers? 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