Some students take on leadership roles because someone asks them to. Others grow into it slowly. But for sophomore Zachary Woodworth, stepping into a leadership role with Project Lighthouse came from something deeper—a pull he felt long before he ever walked into a P7 meeting at school.

Zach has attended Meridian since Pre-K, surrounded by many of the same classmates. When he talks about growing up, the first person he mentions is his grandfather, Ronnie Woodworth, the man who made church and faith a regular part of his childhood. “My grandpa raised me in church,” he said. “We always went to church when I was little.” After his grandfather passed in 2020, the routine changed. The family stopped going as often, and Zach felt that absence more than he expected.

But eventually, something shifted. “I realized my grandfather would have wanted me to get back into church,” Zach said. “So I thought, I’m gonna go back.” It wasn’t dramatic—it was quiet, honest, and steady, the way Zach approaches most things. Over the next couple of years, he worked on getting closer to God, searching for ways to reconnect with the faith that mattered so much to his grandfather.

That’s what gave him the idea to start a Bible club at school.

“I thought if people want to learn about God and get closer to Him, they should have that opportunity,” he said. Many schools stay away from anything faith-related, and Zach understood that. But he also knew there were students who might want a place to talk, pray, and ask questions—a space that wasn’t pushy or loud, but open and respectful.

Before he announced his own idea, he found out that his classmate, Devin Maupin, had begun the process of starting a P7 Bible study—a student-led group using a curriculum built for public schools. Devin showed him the materials, the book, and the plan. “This doesn’t seem too bad,” Zach thought. Then he joined him. “Why not?” he said with a shrug.

Today, Zach and Devin lead Project Lighthouse together, meeting in the health room during high school lunch, usually on Mondays and Fridays. Attendance varies, but Zach doesn’t measure success by numbers. “I’d rather have one person there who actually wants to learn about God,” he said, “than ten people who don’t even want to be there.”

He’s quick to point out that Project Lighthouse isn’t about forcing anything on anyone. “Some people think Bible groups shove the word down your throat,” he said. “But that’s not what we do. We just teach, and let people understand it for themselves.” When interruptions happen, Zach handles them the same way he handles just about everything: calmly. “People just want a reaction,” he said. “I just keep going.”

The name Project Lighthouse is something Zach thinks about often. To him, the symbol runs deep. “God is the lighthouse and we are the ships,” he said. “If we get too far away from Him, we get into the dark. But the light’s still there. You just gotta go to it.” His understanding is simple and profound, shaped by years of listening to his grandfather and years of figuring out faith for himself.

Zach lives with his mom and sees his dad on the weekends. He has three brothers and three sisters—some full siblings, some half—and several who also attend Meridian: Lucas in fourth grade, Abagail in fifth, and Angel in eighth. He laughs a little when listing them, not because it’s complicated, but because it’s home.

He doesn’t have a firm career plan yet, and he’s okay with that. “I want to go straight into the workforce,” he said. Where exactly? He’s not sure. “Wherever God tells me to go.” College doesn’t feel like his path right now, but work, responsibility, and contributing to something bigger than himself absolutely do.

When he talks about the future of Project Lighthouse, his hopes are grounded and realistic. He does expect more students will eventually join. But even if the group stays small, Zach’s commitment won’t change. “If someone wants to learn and follow God’s steps, they should get the chance,” he said.