ZCS Alumni Spotlight // Luke Gruppen
Luke Gruppen, a Zeeland Christian School alumni, looks back on his time at ZCS with gratitude for the teachers and experiences that helped shape his faith and his calling to serve others. One memory that stands out began in second grade, when Maestra Coop, now ZCS’s principal, took the time to teach Luke how to read. Her patience, encouragement, and one-on-one investment showed him what it looks like for a teacher to genuinely care about helping a student grow.
Another defining moment came in sixth grade during a class trip to Camp Geneva. As English and Spanish students came together for the first time, the group spent several days building relationships and preparing for the transition. One evening around a campfire, as students sang worship songs, Luke felt the Holy Spirit prompting him to approach another student. Although he was nervous and tried to ignore the feeling, he eventually walked over and asked if he could pray for him.
The student began to weep and shared that his family was going through a difficult situation. Though Luke felt out of his depth as a sixth grader, he listened, prayed with him, and simply stayed present. Looking back, Luke recognizes that moment as the first time the Holy Spirit became real and personal to him. The two have remained in touch over the years, and his former classmate recently welcomed his first child, a reminder to Luke that God can use even small acts of obedience in ways we may never expect.
Luke also didn’t always appreciate the value of learning Spanish. He admits that he “hated Spanish” until a trip to the Philippines through ZCS changed his perspective. The relationships he had built and the language skills he was developing allowed him to connect with people from a completely different culture and opened his eyes to a world much bigger than West Michigan.
Today, Luke puts those language skills and his passion for relationships into practice as a Financial Advisor at Thrivent, where he serves Latino individuals and families in his community. He often describes his calling as being a “money pastor” using his profession to mentor, discipline, and guide people through an area of life that deeply impacts them.
For Luke, ZCS was a place where faith became personal. Through Scripture, service, missions, and relationships, he learned that faith is more than something we inherit; it is something we make our own. He began to recognize that God created him to build relationships, serve others, and use his gifts to make an impact.
Today, Luke sees that calling reflected in his work, friendships, and marriage. He and his wife, Maddie, are also helping build relationships within a new church plant, seeking opportunities to point others toward Christ. The foundation Luke received at ZCS continues to shape how he lives and serves, as he seeks to love people well and faithfully use the gifts God has given him.
