Mr. Kurt Willems
Religious Meanings 20: Jesus & Ethics
"When our family was making the transition from pastoral ministry in Seattle to Calgary in 2021, we knew that finding a school that shared our values would bring a sense of stability through a time of change. With Google as my tool of choice and discernment with Jesus as my aim, I found myself clicking link after link at the CCS website. I was impressed with CCS’s emphasis on Jesus, the Scriptures, and faith formation. I appreciated the posture of presenting faith as something “rooted in God’s story.” So, after taking in the theology, philosophy, and vision of CCS, I told my wife: “We have to try to get our kiddo into this school!"
Why CCS? With one daughter in elementary and our youngest now engaging in preschool, we’ve spent two years as parents in the CCS community. We’ve seen growth in our daughter and trust that CCS will play an important role in her ongoing spiritual formation. That’s why, as a parent-turned-instructor, I’m honoured to partner with CCS’s other instructors and staff to cultivate a school experience that won't only impact my kids: but so many other students as well.
In my years of church ministry, I've spent time as a youth pastor, teaching pastor, and lead pastor. I have a Master of Divinity degree from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and a Master of Arts in Comparative Religion (basically, New Testament in its historical context) from the University of Washington. I have teaching experience in both the church (youth and adults) and university settings, and look forward to being a teacher who shepherds high school students toward encountering the Good Shepherd.
God is on the move to empower young people to impact our city and world in profound ways. CCS offers students the chance to discover their identity as God’s children, to belong to God’s family, and to partner in God’s mission to bring hope and healing to the world. I’m grateful to even play a small part in that story."