Why Reach Teenagers? Because They’re Hurting, Searching, and Ready

Teenagers are searching. They’re hurting, curious, and wide open to the kind of hope only Jesus can offer. Many are silently asking, Who am I?, Do I matter?, What’s real? 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.

If we care about reaching people, we have to care about reaching teenagers. They’re in one of the most vulnerable, formative stages of life and they’re more open to spiritual conversations than most adults. Teenagers aren’t just the future of the Church, they’re the present mission field. When you reach a student with the gospel, you don’t just change their story, you help rewrite every story their life will touch.

And practically speaking, almost every person passes through a high school. If we focus on reaching students, we’re planting the gospel in places that impact entire communities.

A Tolerant Generation

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.

Moral Relativism: 60% of Gen Z say what is morally right or wrong “depends on what an individual believes.”
Moral Flexibility: 61% say happiness is the ultimate goal in life, and morality changes based on society.
Moral Independence: Only 4% of Gen Z hold a biblical worldview. Most are building their moral beliefs from personal experience, feelings, and cultural trends.

This tolerance creates spiritual openness but also reveals a desperate need for clarity and truth.

“Teenagers are searching. They’re hurting, curious, and wide open to the kind of hope only Jesus can offer.”

A Lonely Generation

Despite being more digitally connected than any generation before them, today’s 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’re not just scrolling for entertainment, they’re searching for belonging.

Constant Screen Use: Nearly half of teens (46%) say they are online “almost constantly.”
Bullying Prevalence: In 2021, 1 in 6 high schoolers were bullied at school, and 16% were cyberbullied.
Rising Sadness: 42% of U.S. high schoolers reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021.
Suicide Crisis: Every 100 minutes, a teenager takes their own life.

Behind the selfies and TikToks is a generation quietly asking, “Do I matter?” The gospel speaks directly to that ache.

“Behind the selfies and TikToks is a generation quietly asking, ‘Do I matter?’”

An Open Generation

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’re not less curious. This is a generation wide open to spiritual conversations—especially when they are honest, respectful, and centered on Jesus.

Interest in Jesus: 77% of U.S. teens are at least somewhat motivated to learn more about Jesus.
Pain Driving Spiritual Curiosity: 49% say their generation is more curious about faith because of the challenges they’ve faced.
Desire for Meaning: 52% say they are actively searching for purpose in life.
Gospel Urgency: “About 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.” – George Barna

If we don’t step in with truth, someone else will fill that gap with counterfeit answers. Now is the time to meet them where they are.

“If we don’t step in with truth, someone else will fill that gap with counterfeit answers.”

Reaching Everyone

If you wanted to reach everyone with the gospel in any given city, where would you go? Is there a place where everyone goes?

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.

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.

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.

The best time to share the gospel with someone is during their teenage years.

Conclusion

This generation is open. They’re hurting, curious, and more spiritually aware than we often realize. But they won’t find Jesus unless someone brings Him to them. That someone could be you.

When you reach a teenager, you reach more than a moment—you shape a lifetime. Their faith doesn’t stop at graduation. It grows, multiplies, and impacts the people around them. That’s why we go to the campus. That’s why we start here.

Next Step

Find out if there is a Cru ministry reaching teens near you, and consider how you can invest in reaching teens with us.

Find Cru Near You

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.

The Six Milestones

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:

Students grow best when they know what’s next.

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:

A student’s journey starts when they first hear the gospel.

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.