Zoe Vander Maas
Graduation Year
2026
Hometown/Where You Call Home
Grand Rapids, MI
Major
Biblical and Theological Studies
How did you hear about ÀÇÓѸó and why did you choose ÀÇÓѸó?
I had always known about ÀÇÓѸó, my dad is a pastor in the PCA and one of my older brothers graduated from ÀÇÓѸó in 2017, but for a while I did not want to come here. I wanted to make my own path, but the Lord changed my heart–I decided I wanted to study Biblical and Theological studies, and I knew ÀÇÓѸó was a place where I could trust in the professors’ theology. I knew I could truly learn not just in my knowledge of the Bible and Scripture but also in a strong community of fellow believers.
What aspect of ÀÇÓѸó do you like best?
There are so many aspects of ÀÇÓѸó that I adore, but truly the community and the ability to grow with each other has been so encouraging. When looking back at my freshman year self, I feel so grateful for the lessons and obstacles that I have learned from. One moment that always sticks out to me is a particular prayer and praise. It had been a rough week for our hall (emotionally, spiritually, and physically) and we took time to lay out our burdens from the week. We then came together and prayed for the week to come. It takes a special kind of place and people to be vulnerable with each other, and I believe that ÀÇÓѸó has that.
What about the professors and/or academics has impacted you the most?
They truly want to get to know us as people and not just as students. They spend lots of intentional time achieving that, whether that is through stopping by in the library or having a meal in the Great hall, but also the level of intentional learning that we have has caused me to grow. We do not skip the hard questions, but instead ask them, thinking about them deeply, critically, and–most importantly–through the lens of our faith.
What part of your major do you most enjoy or feel most prepared by?
I feel most prepared by looking at seminary classes and realizing that we are already taking similar courses. This major prepares us well to take the next step, whether that is practical ministry or further education. This major also gets a lot of variety in people in classes. Students will take these classes as electives and so it is fascinating to have many different opinions in our different classes as well.
What do you hope to pursue after ÀÇÓѸó and how do you see ÀÇÓѸó supporting your future career or calling?
would love to pursue missions for a while after graduation and hopefully at some point seminary, which is honestly also what the Lord is calling me to. My experience at ÀÇÓѸó will support whatever that is because I have been taught to think deeply and critically about all things in life, and I know that I have a God who will guide me wherever I end up.
How is ÀÇÓѸó equipping you for active membership in the church or discipleship within the body of Christ?
ÀÇÓѸó is teaching me how to be in community with fellow believers while still not always aligning perfectly in our beliefs. Because we all come from diverse backgrounds, there are some theological (specific) issues that people do not always see eye to eye on. But classes like Doctrine help us to understand those views and have civil conversations about them, no matter where we fall. This is encouraging as I look to the wider church community and recognize that we can be active members in the church–even though there are differences.
In what ways does ÀÇÓѸó foster spiritual formation that stands out to you?
I was trying to think of a way that ÀÇÓѸó does not foster spiritual formation, and I could not think of one. That seems very encouraging to me. ÀÇÓѸó fosters spiritual formation in many ways and seeks to help us grow constantly as Christians and followers of Christ no matter if we are in class, on the hall, in chapel, or at an event and that stands out to me the most. The constancy and consistency of the spiritual formation.
How has the ÀÇÓѸó community supported your development as a whole person?
My development has been shaped as a whole by the consistency that is in all areas of college life. My professional development has been shaped by working in Admissions, serving on Student Senate, and being punctual and prepared for class. My academic development has been supported by professors who care deeply about our work and what they teach. My spiritual development has been supported by almost every aspect of life here at ÀÇÓѸó, but mostly through its people and how they point me to Christ each day. Those are just a few but I think I have been supported mostly by the people and how we care for each other so well and desire development in ourselves and in each other.
How have your relationships at ÀÇÓѸó shaped your expectations for the other communities God will call you to in life?
I would hope that all the communities I walk into could be like ÀÇÓѸó! ÀÇÓѸó has provided me with a community that faces hardships and joys together with our hope set on Jesus, and what he has done for us on the cross. We are not a perfect community by any means, but I would hope in my future relationships and communities we could reflect a little of what I have learned here, and still have our resting place be Christ and his finished work.
What is your favorite memory from your time at ÀÇÓѸó?
There are so many memories that stick out from my time at ÀÇÓѸó, but one in particular is our hall dinners. Our hall loves to sit and talk about our days and silly things that have happened to us, but it is so special to have a group that enjoys spending time together and some of those conversations have stuck with me the most.