{"id":8163,"date":"2023-04-19T08:39:05","date_gmt":"2023-04-19T15:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/campus.cru.org\/high-school\/go-to-the-campus\/?p=8163"},"modified":"2025-02-09T12:19:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T20:19:52","slug":"8-questions-to-ask-before-your-next-outreach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/campus.cru.org\/high-school\/go-to-the-campus\/8-questions-to-ask-before-your-next-outreach\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Questions to Ask Before Your Next Outreach"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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How are you going to share the gospel with your entire campus?<\/p>

The same way you eat an entire elephant\u2013 one bite (or in this case one group) at a time!<\/p>

Every campus is made up of many smaller groups. By identifying and focusing on specific groups of students, you are able to progressively expand your relationships, and the gospel spreads further and wider.<\/p>

One of the best ways to reach a particular group, team, or club on campus is with a focused group outreach. This is an event where you gather students from that specific group or team for games, food, and an opportunity to learn more about a relationship with God.<\/p>

As most of us don’t have a background in large-scale event planning, this might sound intimidating. But don’t worry, we’ve come up with some resources to help you.<\/p>

Here are eight questions to consider as you plan your next outreach.<\/p>\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

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Who Am I Trying to Reach?<\/div>\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
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Most middle and high schools have numerous clubs, sports teams, and interest groups. Some of these might be larger groups like the marching band, cheerleading squad, and sports teams. There are also usually smaller clubs like honor societies and service groups. You may even be thinking about trying to reach the whole school.<\/p>

As you picture your campus, think about who you know. In which clubs or teams are your student leaders involved? Are there any coaches, teacher sponsors, or administrators who are Christians? Consider which groups have influence or reach the largest number of students.<\/p>

Give thought to these factors, pray about it, and then select a group to focus on.<\/p>\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

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What Type of Outreach Should I Plan?<\/div>\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
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If you want to reach the football team, you probably don’t want to host an outreach for the entire campus that you hope the team happens to attend. To reach a specific club or team, the best approach is to host an event just for those students before or after their practice or meeting.<\/p>

Cru uses three different types of outreach strategies: classroom talks, creative outreaches, and team talks. Each of these strategies is effective, but it’s important to consider who you are trying to reach and choose the plan that best fits them.<\/p>\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

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Where Is the Outreach Going to Happen?<\/div>\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
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The location of an outreach can significantly impact its success.<\/p>

If you want to host an event for the entire school, the best place is definitely not in a small classroom on the edge of campus. If it takes place on campus, you’d want to use a central courtyard, practice field, or parking lot\u2013 a place that is visible and easy to access. If the event is off campus, consider a student’s home or a neutral public building that would fit a lot of people.<\/p>

Think about what spaces are available, and where students would feel comfortable.<\/p>\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

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When Should We Have the Outreach?<\/div>\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
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You want to have the outreach at a time when the most students from that group can attend and when there will be the fewest distractions. With sports teams this is often just before or after practice. Some clubs might have dead time between the end of school and when the club starts. Sometimes providing dinner right after practice or club time is a great window of opportunity- and let’s face it, everybody likes food!<\/p>

Talk with the coach or teacher sponsor of the club and the students who participate in those groups to determine the best time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\tBy identifying and focusing on specific groups of students, you are able to progressively expand your relationships, and the gospel spreads further and wider. \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\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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How Am I Going to Pay for This?<\/div>\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
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Outreaches can cost next to nothing or thousands of dollars, and everything in between.<\/p>

So think through what your event could possibly cost. A classroom talk is a nearly free way to get in front of a group of students, but providing pizza to a marching band could get pretty pricey.<\/p>

As you consider a budget for your outreach, find out what funding options are available to you. Do your Cru leaders have funds to help pay for materials? Does your school have a Cru club account with funds in it? Are there ministry partners, students’ parents, or local churches who might want to pay for food or materials? Often local businesses will donate food, services, and gift cards if you just ask. Look for creative ways to bring the community in to help with your outreach.<\/p>\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

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How Will Students Know About the Outreach?<\/div>\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
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Students won’t attend something they don’t know about. It’s that simple.<\/p>

Advertisements should be colorful and have clear details about the event (date, time, location, what to expect, etc.). When done right, these graphics can be printed as flyers or shared as a JPEG via text or on social media. Advertise for the outreach where you know students will see it.<\/p>

Share your upcoming outreach on social media and tag the team or group you are focused on (as well as any students you know). Encourage students to share it as well.<\/p>

Other ways to get the word out:<\/p>