Current Student Spotlight: Elijah Wright ’27
When Elijah Wright looks back on his years at Zeeland Christian, he doesn't just remember lessons in the classroom. He remembers mornings that pointed his heart toward gratitude and teachers who pointed him toward Jesus.
One of Elijah's favorite memories comes from fourth grade in Maestra Ramos' class. Every morning began with worship. Each student had a chance to choose songs for the class, and one song became a favorite: Agradecido, which means "grateful."
"After we sang, we would think about what we were grateful for," Elijah said. "That was cool and helped me see how blessed I was."
Another teacher who left a lasting mark was seventh-grade teacher Ben Kapenga.
"Mr. Kapenga was a huge influence on my faith and showed me how to live more like Jesus. Sometimes he would talk to us for about twenty minutes straight, and we would have less science but more Jesus. I just thought that was really awesome and something that you can really only do in a Christian school."
Those experiences helped Elijah discover more than academic knowledge. They helped shape the person he is becoming.
"ZCS has really helped me understand who God is and how much He loves me. I see His love every day through my teachers and classmates. When I feel down, there's always someone who helps pick me up."
He also says Zeeland Christian taught him what it means to be a true friend.
"Mr. Kapenga would always tell us that everything you do impacts what happens next. That has taught me to think more before I do something that could hurt someone else or myself."
School-wide chapels became another meaningful part of Elijah's journey.
"When we worshiped together, I thought about heaven. Those chapels were a glimpse of that. They made me more excited for heaven and gave me a deeper desire to be close to our Lord and Savior."
As Elijah prepares for high school, one truth rises above everything else.
"Jesus loves me more than I could ever imagine. He will always love us, even when we mess up."
That confidence is already shaping how he lives today.
After serving on a mission trip to Madison, Wisconsin, where he and other students shared the gospel with people experiencing homelessness, Elijah's passion for sharing Christ grew even stronger.
"We were able to reflect the love of Jesus to others, and I really look forward to sharing Jesus with others in the future."
His hope is simple but powerful:
"I want to share the love of Jesus with people who don't know Him and make heaven more crowded."
We're thankful for the ways God is growing Elijah into a young man who is rooted in Christ and eager to share His love with the world. We can't wait to see where God leads him next.
