More than 2,000 grandparents and grand-friends filled the halls of Hudsonville Christian School on Friday, October 30, for a morning of classroom tours, big hugs, meeting teachers and friends, squeezing into small chairs (and sometimes sitting right on the floor!), and worship. Grandparents’ Day 2026 offered a special glimpse into the joy and everyday life of HCS while celebrating the generations of faith that help shape our students.

“Grandparents’ Day is about more than a special school visit. It’s an opportunity for students to show appreciation for the people who have helped shape their faith,” Chris Achterhof, our middle school principal, shared. “Bringing generations together reminds our students that they are part of something bigger than themselves.”

During chapel, HCS Faith Nurturing Coordinators Evamarie Eggebeen and Mary Jo Staal shared the story from Joshua 4, when the Israelites gathered stones after crossing the Jordan River. God instructed them to use those stones as a testimony to His faithfulness, so future generations would hear what He had done. This was a fitting message for the day. Grandparents carry their own testimonies of God’s goodness, and through their stories, wisdom and example, they point the next generation to Jesus.

Grandparents play such an important role in the lives of our students and our school community.

“Whether it’s their presence in the pickup line, their encouragement, or the prayers and support they provide behind the scenes, we are grateful for the many ways they partner with us in Christian education,” commented Superintendent Devon Brinks. “Grandparents’ Day was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate them and a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness from one generation to the next.”

What a gift to welcome so many generations into our school! We are grateful for every grandparent and grand-friend who joined us, and for the staff and volunteers who made the morning possible. Most of all, we are thankful for the opportunity to worship God together and celebrate His faithfulness carried from generation to generation.