McAlder Campus Blog
Called to Walk in Love and Light
January 28, 2026
“Wow, you really look like your dad.”
If you’re like me, you might’ve heard something like that a time or two. While I can’t say I’m necessarily ecstatic about sharing my dad’s facial features, I do hope to emulate his work ethic and deep appreciation for the beauty of God’s creation. Those are qualities that have been formed over time, through daily habits and cultivated values.
This February, Cascade Christian will walk through Ephesians 5, where Paul calls believers to Walk in Love and Light. At its heart, this passage is an invitation to emulate Jesus—not merely to admire Him, but to shape our lives after His.
Jesus walked in love, even when it cost Him His very life. Jesus walked in the light, even when it meant being rejected by those who preferred the darkness.
Christianity is not about striving harder to be “good people.” Scripture calls us into something deeper and far more beautiful: to walk so closely with Christ that His love and light transform us. That our words, attitudes, and priorities would all be marked by, and be reflections of, Him.
And the wonderful hope in this is that the world might one day look at our lives and say, “You look a lot like your heavenly Father.”
Here are some sweet moments of our Cascade Christian students displaying the love and light of Jesus.
During Cougar Family Groups, a fifth grade student proactively stepped in to help a kindergartner find and read the Scripture.
Precious prayers continue to mark our classrooms and hallways at Cascade Christian!
MLK Day and God’s Beautiful Creation
January 21, 2026
It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts. —Isaiah 45:12 (NIV)
What does it mean to be made in God’s image? God made each of us different for a reason. Each and every one of us is a custom designed masterpiece who brings a unique contribution to His plan. It is important we remember these differences as we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, honoring the work he did during the Civil Rights Movement to bring equal rights to African Americans.
We were designed to be a unique reflection of God’s image. Like a prism that refracts distinct colors, we are all different in our own beautiful ways and made to glorify God.
In such an imperfect world, we are called to be beacons of light, using our unique talents and gifts to give glory to God and honor His name throughout the nations of the earth. Revelation 7:9–10 (ESV) says, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”
In this school year’s theme, Called for a Purpose, we should remember that as brothers and sisters in Christ, God calls us to be united in our differences and not define ourselves based on how we look or where we are from. In Dr. King’s famous speech, he remarks, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
God was very intentional when He made us, because together we create a beautiful, diverse symphony woven together as an expression of His handiwork. We are truly representatives of God’s beautiful creation.
A Community Centered on Christ
January 14, 2026
There was a time when I truly believed I could be my children’s teacher. After all, I had taught them to walk and talk, how to give the best hugs, and how to say their prayers. How hard could math and writing really be?
As it turns out… pretty tough. It became clear rather quickly that wearing both the “Mom” and “Teacher” hats wasn’t benefiting me—or my daughters. What my husband and I did know, without question, was that we wanted them learning in a safe, Christ-centered environment. Having been raised in private Christian schools myself, I began searching with my husband for the right place for our girls to grow and learn.
From the moment we walked into Cascade Christian, it felt like home. The staff greeted us with warmth and genuine care, taking the time to truly see us and welcome us in. We knew right away this was a place we wanted to be for the long haul.
Not long after, an opportunity opened for me to join the enrollment team—a role that would allow me to share with other families the incredible blessing Cascade Christian has been to us. Now in my third year here, I continue to feel grateful every day, especially when I get to help families find the same peace and confidence I felt when enrolling my own children.
And now, it’s your turn. There’s no better time to invite friends to experience what makes our Cascade Christian family so special than during our annual Open House. Bring a friend (or five) and explore any or all of our campuses. We’ll be here from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and we would truly love to see you.
Blessings,
Alex Kesler
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Called to Walk in Unity
January 07, 2026
Happy New Year!
It is so exciting to begin January together as we hit the ground running after a refreshing Christmas and New Year’s break. This month, we turn the page in Ephesians to chapter 4, a chapter that marks the beginning of our story. If you’re someone who enjoys setting New Year’s resolutions, my hope is that this chapter inspires you.
From September through December, we walked through Ephesians chapters 1–3, where we learned God’s story: the gospel story. We discovered who we are in Christ because of who He is, what He has done for us, and how we are called to be rooted and established in His love. Now, in chapter 4, we begin learning how to live that truth out as followers of Christ.
Paul opens Ephesians 4 by saying, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” From behind prison bars, Paul urges believers to live in a way that reflects God’s calling and purpose. That calling begins with unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. In a world where differences often divide us, God invites us to see our differences as gifts meant to unite us.
One image I love is that of a puzzle. Each of us is a unique piece in God’s masterpiece: different cultures, ethnicities, experiences, passions, strengths, and backgrounds. It can be challenging to engage with people who are very different from us, but I’m always humbled when I remember that I am simply one piece of the puzzle, just as others are. Together, we form God’s complete design, unified in Him and working for His greater purpose.
Jesus secured unity through His death on the cross, bringing Jew and Gentile together into one family. Today, that family includes people from every background, and through Christ, we are united as one. From this foundation of unity, Paul gives us practical guidance for Christian living in Ephesians 4. He challenges us to move:
- From anger to peace (Ephesians 4:25–27)
- From stealing to generosity (Ephesians 4:28)
- From unwholesome talk to encouragement (Ephesians 4:29)
- From bitterness and revenge to forgiveness (Ephesians 4:31–32)
As we turn away from anger, selfishness, gossip, and resentment, we draw closer to Jesus. When we draw closer to Jesus, we draw closer to one another.
I’m encouraged that we can see this unity at work across our district. Each day we begin in prayer, encourage one another as followers of Christ, gather for chapel, and watch students continue to grow in their faith. These rhythms remind us that unity in Christ is not just something we talk about; it’s something we live out together.
Here are more beautiful examples of the unity I’ve witnessed at CCS recently:
- In choir performances, students sing different parts and harmonies, contributing their unique talents to create one beautiful song.
- In basketball games, players have different positions and must use their individual strengths to work together as a team.
- In the high school multicultural club, students gather to celebrate the diversity of God’s creation, learning from different cultures and perspectives as they grow together as the body of Christ.
Unity is a beautiful gift from God, and the best part is we don’t have to create it ourselves. God has already established unity through His Spirit. Our calling is to recognize it, cultivate it, and protect it.
My prayer for you this month, as you set goals and seek God, is that you would be aware of the unity Jesus has already given us and that you would actively pursue it as you lean into the calling God has placed on your life.
RightNow Media Recommendations:
Ephesians 4 – The Book of Ephesians, session 5:
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/player/video/195647?session=202598&position=0
Ephesians 4 – Intro for Kids: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/player/video/257963?session=266483&position=0
