Our History
CCCS History
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. – Proverbs 16.9
In May 2004, a meeting to form Columbia County Christian School, an interdenominational Christian school, was set about through prayer, faith in the Lord, and the calling of Myron and Genet Smiens. The Smiens’ then contacted other people in the community with a similar desire for Christian schooling. With no available funding, but a lot of faith in Jesus Christ, an ad-hoc committee was formed, non-profit status applied for, a building secured to rent, organizational documents drafted, and structure of a Society/Parent run organization was determined. The vision was to start an academically strong faith-based interdenominational Christian school in a traditional classroom style; teaching grades K-8 and eventually growing over the years to serve grades K-12.
In June 2005, CCCS’ Society members elected the first Board of Directors. Founding members of CCCS consisted of ad-hoc committee members Krista Mosley and Myron Smiens, in addition to elected Board Members Genet Smiens (President), Boyd Ruby (Vice President), Aletia Brown (Treasurer), John Kimball (Secretary), Judy Griffith (Director of Education 2004-2008), and Judy Reed, who served two months. The Board hired Administrator Rebecca Swatman in July 2008. In 2012 Rebecca Swatman accepted the role of Elementary School Principal and Beth Winegar was hired as Administrator.
The original vision was to start an academically strong faith-based interdenominational Christian school in a traditional classroom setting, teaching grades K-8 and eventually growing to serve grades K-12. Sports, music, art, drama, and technology were important enrichment components in the educational vision for our school. The use of Board and administrator policy governance was adopted for the success of our school management. Our hope was to be supported as a local ministry financially and prayerfully by the many evangelical Christian churches in our surrounding community and to secure a permanent location free of debt. CCCS originally rented the vacant Yankton School building off Pittsburg road in St. Helens. When the building was sold to a public charter school in May 2007, we negotiated a building site behind Warren Community Fellowship (WCF) church in Warren, Oregon, raised $350,000 in funding in donated labor/materials, and witnessed true miracles as the Lord opened and closed just the right doors for us to complete construction at WCF in less than three months. CCCS began serving full day K through 8th grade at WCF as of September 2009. In 2011, CCCS added 9th grade and received our full K-12 accreditation with NWAC.
In January 2011 Warren Community Fellowship revised the use agreement between WCF and CCCS with intent that CCCS will be independent of utilization of WCF facilities and assets by 6/30/2021. In January 2017 the WCF church congregation voted to allow CCCS to use the 6 acre lot off of Church Road and Church Lane to relocate. CCCS and WCF are currently in the rezoning process for this property to make it a viable space for the school.
Our students show wisdom, confidence and a desire for life-long learning, and their families are pleased to have an interdenominational Christian schooling option in our community. We pray we can continue to supply our community with a great schooling option for years to come.