6. How to Follow Up With a Student

Discussion/Reflection Questions

Download the Discussion guide here.

Suggested Resources

- How to Follow up a New Christian
  - This is a great article to help you continue to meet with students who accept Christ
- Finding Your Voice video
  - Learn to share how God has shown up in your life
- Explorer Questions
  - A list of questions you can use to start or continue spiritual conversations with someone who is exploring their faith journey.
- The START series – 4 week follow-up series from Thrive Studies
  - 4 studies designed for you to help ground a new believer in their new faith.
- God Tools App
  - An app with some great ways to share your faith with a student.
- School Within a School and Triangle Diagram
  - These are a few good ways to explain your ministry to students you are following up. Help them get connected!
- Soularium & Snapshot Cards
  - These picture cards are excellent for having spiritual conversations with people.

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Daniel’s Story

Daniel’s life was a map—Texas to Florida, then back to Texas again. The moves were just moves, until the last one. That’s when things got rocky. That’s when Daniel found himself caught up in a scene he never planned for. Parties. Bad decisions. Nights that blurred into mornings.

One night, driving home from another party, Daniel’s thoughts wandered to a Bible verse – Matthew 16:24-25: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

The words hit him like a weight. Take up your cross. He couldn’t shake it. What was he doing? Where was he going? Right there, on the side of the road, Daniel pulled out his phone and texted his friends, Matthew and Carson: “Hey guys, we need to stop. What are we doing?”

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

The next day, they quit. No more parties. No more empty nights.

But Daniel didn’t stop there. He started talking to others—first his friends, then younger guys heading down the same road he’d just left behind. He wanted to help them before they went too far. And the incredible part? They listened. One conversation turned into another, and then another.

Soon, Daniel found himself leading a group of those same guys—meeting at youth groups, starting Bible studies, sharing verses and stories instead of excuses.

Cru gave him the tools. They showed him how to lead, how to share his testimony, how to handle the logistics so he could focus on the people in front of him. It wasn’t always easy. Not every conversation went smoothly, and not everyone listened. But Daniel stayed at it, because seeing one life change made every hard moment worth it.

It’s not always easy, but seeing lives change makes every challenge worth it.

Last year, there were three of them. Now, there are 17.

Daniel still thinks about that verse from Matthew. Take up your cross. It reminds him that purpose isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, reaching out, and choosing something better—day after day.

And so Daniel keeps going. Because once you realize what matters, you don’t go back.

You just keep walking forward.

Next Step

Pray and ask God to show you 2-3 areas in your life where you must begin to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.

Matthew’s Story

Matthew grew up in a small town in South Texas, carrying a lot of frustration about himself. By the time he reached high school, he was really struggling with his self-image, which led to a lot of anger—anger at himself and those around him. He tried to fill the emptiness he felt with family and friends, but nothing seemed to work for long. Eventually, he turned to alcohol and drugs. By the time he was 14, he was drinking heavily, and for the next couple of years, his life felt like one endless cycle of bad habits and broken relationships.

Then, something changed. Matthew had a friend named Daniel who stepped in and encouraged him to take a different path. Daniel told him, ‘Hey man, we need to be better for ourselves, for the people around us, and most importantly, for God.’ Those words struck Matthew deeply. He decided to quit drinking and began working to turn his life around. It wasn’t easy. Not long after, Matthew suffered a knee injury that took away his outlet in sports, and he found himself struggling again. But God had other plans. Matthew ended up attending a Cru getaway—a Christian retreat—that gave him a fresh perspective and renewed sense of purpose. Through that experience, Matthew found clarity, direction, and most importantly, a community of believers who supported him every step of the way.

We need to be better for ourselves, for the people around us, and most importantly, for God.

Now, Matthew is thriving. He’s surrounded by friends who push each other to grow in their faith, and he’s committed to helping others find what he’s found in Christ. When he looks back, Matthew says he barely recognizes the person he used to be. His story shows just how powerful God’s grace can be and how much of a difference a caring friend and the right opportunities can make. If you’re feeling lost, remember Matthew’s story: God can use even the toughest times to draw you closer, ignite your spirit, and lead you into a purpose greater than you ever imagined.

Next Step

Using this testimony worksheet, write out your own story and ask God how you can encourage friends to grow in their faith.

TESTIMONY WORKSHEET

Jaclyn’s Story

Jaclyn struggled with intense anxiety from an early age. As she moved into middle school and high school, she put enormous pressure on herself to succeed in everything she did, feeling like she needed to be the best or she would disappoint herself and those around her. There were many nights when the anxiety was overwhelming—she couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and felt constantly knotted up inside. Despite knowing about God and attending church occasionally, she felt like a crucial piece was missing from her faith journey. Though she grew up in a Christian household, attending church wasn’t a consistent part of her family’s routine due to busy weekends filled with sports and activities. Without a regular church community, Jaclyn found herself lacking the kind of support system she needed, though she always had the love of her family around her.

In her sophomore year, Jaclyn came across Cru during a lunch period at school. Drawn by the warmth and genuine kindness of the people she met at their table, she decided to get involved. She joined a girls’ Bible study led by a volunteer named Hunter, meeting every week to learn and share. For Jaclyn, this Bible study quickly became the highlight of her week. It offered her a sense of community she had always been looking for, and she grew close to Hunter and the other girls. In March 2022, Hunter asked the group a question that stuck with Jaclyn: “If you were to die today, are you sure you would go to heaven?” This question made Jaclyn realize that she hadn’t fully surrendered her life to God. A few days later, a conversation with her dad, who shared his own testimony of coming to faith, seemed like the final nudge. It was as though God was speaking directly to her through repeated messages, urging her to make her faith her own. She decided to fully surrender, and immediately found a new sense of peace and joy, replacing the anxiety that had weighed her down for so long.

“If you were to die today, are you sure you would go to heaven?”

Since then, Cru has continued to be a powerful influence in Jaclyn’s life. It has provided her with mentors, resources, and the confidence to step out in her faith. She learned how to share her testimony, something that once felt uncomfortable, but now she sees as a way to plant seeds in others’ hearts. Jaclyn has grown in boldness, leading Bible studies and sharing her story with others, trusting that God will use her words, whether or not there is immediate visible change. Through Cru, she found the community she longed for, and it has helped her find the courage to live out her faith openly and impactfully.

Next Step

Using this testimony worksheet, write out your own story and ask God for an opportunity to share it.

TESTIMONY WORKSHEET

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