佐伊·范德·马斯
毕业一年
2026
故乡/你称之为家的地方
密歇根州大急流城
主要
圣经及神学研究
你是怎么听说威尼斯人平台的？为什么选择威尼斯人平台？
I had always known about Covenant, my dad is a pastor in the PCA and one of my older brothers graduated from Covenant 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 Covenant 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.
你最喜欢圣约的哪一方面？
There are so many aspects of Covenant 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. 有一个时刻总是让我印象深刻，那就是祈祷和赞美。 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 Covenant has that.
教授和/或学者对你影响最大的是什么？
他们真的想了解我们作为一个人，而不仅仅是学生。 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.
你最喜欢你专业的哪一部分，或者觉得你准备得最充分？
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. 学生 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 Covenant and how do you see Covenant 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 Covenant 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 Covenant equipping you for active membership in the church or discipleship within the body of Christ?
Covenant 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.
《圣约》在哪些方面促进了你的属灵培育？
I was trying to think of a way that Covenant does not foster spiritual formation, and I could not think of one. 这对我来说很鼓舞人心。 Covenant 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.
圣约社区是如何支持你成长为一个完整的人的？
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 招生, 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 Covenant, 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 Covenant shaped your expectations for the other communities God will call you to in life?
我希望我走进的所有社区都能像圣约一样！ Covenant 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.
你在圣威尼斯人平台最美好的记忆是什么？
There are so many memories that stick out from my time at Covenant, 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.