THE HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY OF CRU

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Getting to Know Your School

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As you prepare to go hiking, whether in the Rocky Mountains or through an Amazon jungle, you must first know where you’re headed. Without a map and a compass, your trip is doomed to aimless wandering at best, and death at worst.

As you seek to influence your campus, you will want to make sure you know the campus and its people. Otherwise, you may just run aimlessly from one activity to another without really changing things on your campus at all.

  1. You must know the basics about your school.

    You may think you already know the school very well, but there are some valuable questions you can begin to answer that will help your ministry get started in the right direction:

    • Who are some other people who know the school very well? If I didn’t know anything about the school, what would I want to learn?
    • What do other people – adults and students – think of the school?
    • Who are the most influential students?
    • What groups are most influential on the campus?
    • These are good starter questions for helping you get oriented to the school.
  2. Now that you’ve got the basics down, become an expert.

    Like a private eye or a reporter in search of a story, dig a little deeper. To truly familiarize yourself with the campus, you need to find out more about the community and the school.

    Here are some of the many things you can do to get familiar with the school:

    Look through the most recent school yearbook. Notice students who appear often. Look for those in leadership of various groups. Try to use the yearbook to get a general impression of the school.

    Next you could look through local newspapers and publications. Ask yourself, “What kind of reputation does the school seem to have? Is it mentioned often? Are the articles positive or negative?”

    Also, find out who are the most influential students and teachers. Try to determine the key Christian students on your campus. Seek to meet them as soon as possible and share with them your desire to impact the campus. Meet supportive adults in the community. Talk with teachers, coaches, and administrators. Find out what makes the campus tick. What recurring problems are mentioned? What are the strong traditions?

    Attend sporting events, plays, or other performing arts events. These are great ways to get a feel for the school and the student body.

  3. Finally, start meeting students.

    Start with known Christian students, student leaders, and athletes. Your research of the campus will help you decide which students to go to first.

So, get to know the basics about the school; then become an expert on the school; and then you’ll be ready to meet the key students. When you’ve done these initial steps, you can confidently move ahead, trusting God to bring results through your ministry.

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What they’re saying about Cru

Got questions? Below are answers to some questions commonly asked by those considering participating in one of Cru’s high school Global Missions.

Frequently Asked Questions for Cru’s high school Global Missions:

Cru is a national high school organization that helps students apply their faith to every-day life. We help them learn how to build positive relationships with family and friends. We also provide Cru meetings, small group Bible studies and conferences to help them grow in their faith and help their friends. We are a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International.

High school Global Missions offer unique opportunities for you to interact with other teens internationally, share with them how to know God personally through faith in Jesus Christ, and teach your new international friends how to be positive influences for Christ in their own families, schools and communities.

There are at least three reasons to participate in a mission:

  1. God’s calling: The primary reason to participate in a Global Mission is that you are responding to God’s call to go to the world.
  2. Your unique platform: American teenagers are admired and listened to by other teenagers worldwide. This gives you a unique opportunity to have an eternal impact by sharing the truth of Christ and providing discipleship for young nationals who can then have a positive, eternal influence in their own countries.
  3. Training for a lifetime of ministry: On a mission you will learn many principles of ministry to take back to your school life. This could set you on a path of life-long ministry.

These questions will help you determine if you are ready to apply for a mission:

  • Am I at least a sophomore in high school?
  • Is my relationship with Christ growing consistently?
  • Am I actively communicating my faith with others?
  • Do I have a teachable attitude?
  • Am I willing to make the time required to prepare for the mission?
  • Do I allow Christ to live His life in me through the power of the Holy Spirit?
  • Is God calling me to go on a mission?

As a mission participant, you will join a team of other students and adult leaders who serve Cru/Campus Crusade for Christ high school movements in host countries, have opportunities to speak to groups of students about their personal faith in Jesus Christ, participate in activities where you can intentionally build relationships with young nationals with the hope of personally sharing the gospel, and have the opportunity to trust God in many new ways. Each mission is different, but your mission may include:

  • Classroom or school assembly speaking
  • Teaching conversational English Camps
  • Outreaches to small and large groups
  • Sports Outreaches
  • Follow-up Bible studies with new Christians
  • Developing friendships through group activities
  • Training nationals how to communicate their faith
  • Concerts

An average day will involve meeting new friends and sharing your faith. Evangelism is the mainstay of your mission and most activities revolve around it. During the course of the mission you will also have team meetings, team prayer, team socials, and outreaches and socials for the students you meet. A typical day might look like this:

  • 8 – Breakfast and Quiet Times/Worship
  • 9-12 – Visiting Schools or Teaching English Camps
  • 12-1 – Lunch with Team
  • 1-2 – Free Time
  • 2-5 – Relational Time with students
  • 7 – Dinner with team or with students
  • 8 – SV Meeting or other Outreach
  • 10 – Team Debrief
  • 11 – Lights out

Many mission participants say that there is no typical day. Your days will vary according to your location and if you are part of an existing movement or helping to develop a new one. We will also make time during the mission to take in local culture, sightseeing, shopping, etc.

You will spend a lot of your time meeting new people, sharing your faith and possibly doing basic follow-up with students. In most cases, ministry is very relational and intentional. You are making friends and talking about Jesus. You are building relationships and bringing people to a point of decision to follow Christ. After students trust Christ, you will help them get connected to a church or ministry so the local youth workers can continue to help them develop their relationship with God.

You go with a team of other students and Cru staff members. Many times this team consists of students from a particular school or city who go on an international experience together. (In other words, recruit your friends to go with you.) Most teams also have students who join as individuals from all over the country. A typical team is 12-25 people with a Cru Mission Director, a Mission Assistant Director, and a Mission Administrator/Operations Director. Together they give leadership and direction to the whole team.

Depending on your location, your team will live in a college dorm, a mission guest house, a regular hotel or a youth hostel. Typically, public transportation is used to travel to schools, communities and outreach events in the mission country. Vehicles may be rented by staff for some in-country travel. Security in housing and safety in travel are important considerations as we choose our locations in a country. We work closely with local, in-country Cru/Campus Crusade for Christ staff members to determine housing and travel accommodations.

Your main focus is the mission God has called you to and your “down time” is limited. There is usually limited Internet services available in most locations. Phone cards enable you to communicate from some locations. SKYPE is another option for some teams; however, the Internet is required for this option. Your mission leaders will inform you of the best options for your location. Team leaders will also communicate to others back home that the team has arrived safely in country as soon as possible after your arrival. There will be opportunities to call home, but because of time differences and tiredness it may not be as often as parents may like.

The application is entirely online. First, you will need to download and print the Parent/Guardian consent form and give it to your parents. Your parent/guardian must mail in the signed consent form in order for your application to be evaluated. Second, click on the “Apply Now Online” button on the right of the screen to begin the application process. The application process involves completing information regarding:

  • Personal Data
  • Christian Experience
  • Ministry Experience
  • Moral Convictions
  • Parental Consent Form Three Reference Questionnaires from:
    • Cru Staff or Youth Pastor or Spiritual Mentor
    • Parent/Guardian
    • Peer

The application is entirely online. First, you will need to download and print the Background Screening Consent and Information Form, fill it out and mail it to our office. Along with this document, mail in a $20 check, made payable to “Cru,” to cover the fee for running the background screening. Please note: full acceptance will not be given until a background screening has been fully processed. Second, click on the “Apply Now Online” button on the right of the screen to begin the application process. The application process involves completing information similar to the student application as well as two questionnaires:

  • Cru Staff or Youth Pastor or Spiritual Mentor
  • Peer or Roommate or Spouse

After completing and returning the application (with all three references completed and returned), you should hear back from us within 1-2 weeks. In most cases, you will be notified by email or letter.

After we review your application, and if you are accepted for a mission, we will send you a “Go Pac.” This includes an acceptance letter and mission guidebook. The Go Pac enables you to actively pursue raising your funds and spiritually prepare yourself for the mission.

Before departing, you must read all the materials provided to you which will help you prepare spiritually, physically, mentally and practically for your international experience. If you live in a city where there is a Cru team, often there are meetings provided to help the group prepare. If you do not live in a Cru city, then most of the preparation depends on you to thoroughly utilize the training pack provided upon acceptance. You will also, depending on the mission, have a briefing with your team. One of the project team leaders will serve as a coach for you during preparation and give you more specific information on what to prepare for your mission.

The “Go Pac” includes chapters designed to help equip you to be an effective ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). These chapters cover topics more in-depth on:

  • Mission Basics (broad perspective)
  • Mission Specifics (per your mission location)
  • Raising Funds
  • Travel Information
  • Spiritual Preparation
  • Cross-Cultural Training
  • Team Unity
  • Prayer
  • Lifestyle Talk Preparation
  • Testimony Preparation
  • Gospel Presentations
  • Classroom Talks

The cost of a typical spring mission (usually 2 weeks) is $2000-$3500. The cost of a typical summer mission (usually 3-5 weeks) is $3500-$6000. Mission costs vary by length of mission and cost of travel. There are some miscellaneous expenses you need to consider that are not included in the mission cost. (See FAQ #20: “What is covered in the amount I raise?”)

Most of your support will come from individuals you ask to be part of your support team. We call them “ministry partners.” Your Go Pac has detailed information on Ministry Partner Development. It covers things like: God’s promises, name storming, sample letters, sample thank you notes and frequently asked questions regarding raising funds. The “Go Pac” will be a great resource to help you gather a team of ministry partners. Be encouraged; every mission participant and staff member is responsible for raising his/her support and God has done it over and over again. He continues to prove Himself faithful as He provides for those He calls according to His purpose. You will also ask people to be Prayer Partners with you and your team.

Investing finances in a student participating in an global mission can be one of the wisest investments people can make – it will provide great returns spiritually and for all eternity. Not only will the student participating be forever changed, but also hundreds of lives can be affected as the gospel is shared. Ministry partners can truly make an eternal difference by helping to send those able to go and personally share Christ all over the world.

Your mission cost covers:

  • An overnight stateside mission briefing
  • International round-trip airfare (from briefing location to mission destination)
  • Mission Debriefing
  • Visa Processing Fee (if needed)
  • All cost for lodging and food
  • All transportation in-country
  • Mission Materials
  • Emergency Evacuation Insurance

Administrative costs your mission cost DOES NOT cover:

  • Domestic airfare to and from the Gateway city (your briefing location) though it is reimbursable if enough money is raised for the reimbursement
  • Passport Fees (to obtain a passport if you don’t already have one)
  • Ministry Partner Development materials (such as paper, printing, and postage)
  • Money for laundry, souvenirs or additional food on the project
  • Any cost associated with an early return as a result of serious violation of rules or any family emergency
  • Immunizations and other medical preparations

Most locations have adequate, if not good, medical facilities. If an emergency or a serious issue arises, you will leave the country to get treatment in the best place possible. If it is an extreme emergency you will be airlifted out by our emergency evacuation service (a company called SOS).

If there should be political unrest in the country of choice, the mission may be reassigned to another destination. Great care is taken to evaluate potential risks, and to provide the greatest protection possible for you and your team members. If you choose to withdraw from the team, funds donated for the original mission destination can be directed to another student participating in a mission. Or, you may choose to go on another mission in the same year.

We carefully evaluate each location’s safety using several factors and informational sources:

  • U.S. State Department
  • U. S. Health Department
  • Travel bulletins from our insurance providers
  • Advice of Campus Crusade for Christ national leadership of the country

We have seen thousands of people decide to follow Christ worldwide.  In some cases, we have helped to start high school “win-build-send” movements in countries where none previously existed. In other countries, we provided the manpower and energy to expand existing high school movements.

Past participants have experienced tremendous spiritual and personal growth through their involvement in a global mission. Many have taken great steps of faith and seen lasting changes in their relationships and in their life choices. Many gain a deeper concern for other people, develop team-building skills, learn greater flexibility, and gain self-confidence. These personal benefits occur as God works through the team to bring the gospel to many who have never heard. The lives of those in other countries will be changed forever and many lasting friendships between students in the different cultures are formed. Lastly, many receive a greater vision for ministry at home or a lifelong call to serve globally.

Contact Cru’s high school Global Missions team at cruhs.globalmissions@cru.org