Who We Are

Statement of Faith

What Christians believe is essential. The following statements exist so that people can know what the Board of Trustees, Administration, and Instructors at the Cookeville Christian School believe. These statements also exist so that our school family and community neighbors know what convictions provide the foundation for faith, practice, and academic instruction. In a world where convictions are met with skepticism and disrespect we confess the doctrine of Christ is both essential and beautiful. These statements contain the best summary of our understanding of the written and authoritative word of God. The leadership and administration at CCS are always ready to discuss any of the following statements in greater detail.

  • We believe the Father is a holy and righteous God who has called men to repentance. In God, there is no darkness at all. His will included sending His son, Jesus to pay for the sins of humanity. This payment satisfied his righteous character and demonstrated his great love. We believe God exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him.

    2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 1:5, Psalm 30:5, Hebrews 11:6

  • We believe the Son is the exact imprint of the nature of God. It was through His blood that salvation flowed. He is equal to the Father but serves a different role. Jesus is the word and was in the beginning with the Father. He lived a perfect life so that the Law might be fulfilled. This process is called justification. Jesus is the only way to the Father.

    Hebrews 1:3, John 1:1-5, John 14:6

  • We believe the Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit actively participated in creation. He also worked miraculously through the apostles and disciples of the first century. The Spirit continues to work today in and through the lives of believers. One of his primary roles today is to aid in holiness or sanctification. He works to make us more like Jesus. Holiness is demonstrated by the Fruit of the Spirit being present in the life of a believer.

    Genesis 1:2, John 16, Acts 1, Ephesians 1:13-15, Acts 2:38, 2 Corinthains 3:16-17

  • We believe the Bible is the authoritative Word of God.We believe the Bible is accurate and reliable, was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and is the complete authority for all Christians in matters of faith and practice. In other words, the Word of God is absolute truth. The Word is sufficient for all things regarding life and salvation. We do not need anything more than God’s word.

    2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 119:105

  • We believe that God created all people in his image. God’s desire for humanity was to exalt Him throughout the ages. While that was the intent, creation was fractured when sin entered the world. Sin and corruption marred everyone and everything.We must enter into Jesus to have salvation. There is no hope without Jesus.

    Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:1-7, Acts 4:12

  • We believe salvation is by grace through faith. This faith is more than mere belief. We affirm that repentance follows belief in Christ as God’s Son. Once repentance begins, a person must declare Jesus as Lord. We must confess our need because we cannot manage or pay for our sins. We continue to admit our need for the grace of God and the work of Jesus forever. After the initial confession, immersion or baptism symbolizes taking on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Every one of these pillars of salvation is essential.

    John 20:31, Acts 17:30, Matthew 10:32, Romans 6, Acts 2:38

  • We believe that once a person receives salvation, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.The Holy Spirit empowers us to make positive changes in our lives. We lay down our old sinful life and trust God to make us a new person through the Spirit. The Spirit’s work doesn’t mean a person never makes mistakes. It does mean the longer a person truly follows Jesus, the more like Him they will be.

    Acts 2:38, Ephesians 1:13-15, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 John 1:7

  • We believe that this life is only a temporary part of eternity. On the Day of Judgment, those in Christ will be saved and spend eternity in Heaven with God. Those out of Christ face eternal separation from God. Eternity with God is called Heaven. Eternity without God is called Hell.

    John 17:3, John 5:24, 2 Thessalonians.1:9, Romans 6:23

  • We believe that the mission of all churches is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Churches can help make disciples by instilling a love for Scripture, communion, and gathering together. Churches should support evangelistic efforts and missions in their local communities and worldwide that seek to preach the name of Jesus and His power over sin and death. The expectation is for all Christians to be associated with and committed to a local body of believers. CCS will strive to connect all students to a local body of believers.

    Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 3:7-13, Ephesians 4:11-16, Hebrews 10:19-26

  • God’s holiness makes disciples distinct in the world. This distinctive way of living motivates us to value all human life from conception to death, proactively seek God’s heart in racial reconciliation, as a demonstration of God’s Kingdom, define marriage as the covenant between one man and one woman, flee from every form of sexual immorality. God created men and women. God said gender was good in His excellent design.Believers must uphold God’s creative order regardless of the culture in which it exists.

    Genesis 1:26, Psalm 139:13

Our Core Convictions:

- Daily Bible Classes -

- Weekly Chapel -

- Service Opportunities -

- Christian Educators and Leadership -

- Instruction Through A Christian Worldview-

- Discipline Through A Christian Worldview-

- Scripture Memorization -

- Daily Bible Classes - - Weekly Chapel - - Service Opportunities - - Christian Educators and Leadership - - Instruction Through A Christian Worldview- - Discipline Through A Christian Worldview- - Scripture Memorization -

Pillars of Our Mission

  • Spiritual Formation

    We seek to grow students into the image of Jesus as followers, servant leaders, and participants of God’s glory in the following ways: daily Bible classes, weekly chapel, service opportunities, memorization of God’s word, and academic instruction through a Christian worldview.

  • Academic Excellence

    God is the author of all knowledge, and He calls us to be good stewards of knowledge. We will have high academic expectations, producing college and career-ready students through high-quality curriculum that meets the rigor of the standards and certified teachers who will continue to grow professionally.

  • Christian Partnership

    God created the sacred institutions of the Church and the Family. While school is not a holy institution, it is an essential one. We will partner with families, churches, and the community for the success of our students.

Colors play a significant role in shaping identity and conveying meaning, especially in the context of branding, educational environments, and spiritual symbolism.

Crimson represents the sacrifice of Christ- the blood He shed for our salvation- while gold symbolizes His majesty and royalty as our King. Together these colors encapsulate the essence of our Christian values and mission. They reflect our commitment to honoring Jesus in all aspects of our school community.

As we embrace these colors, we not only express our identity but also celebrate our faith, reminding everyone of the central role our King plays in our lives and education.

Knights symbolize honor, courage, and a commitment to serving a higher purpose.Just as knights serve their king, we strive to serve our Lord, recognizing that our strength comes from Him, not from our own merits. Knights are also seen as champions of justice, always ready to stand up for what is good and right. In our school community, we aim to foster a spirit of righteousness, acting as agents of God’s love and truth in a world that often challenges these ideals. By choosing the knight, we are reminded to uphold what is sacred and defend the values of our faith with integrity and bravery. In this way, the knight serves as a powerful symbol of our mission to live out our beliefs and inspire others in our journey of faith.

Board Members

Dr. John Nichols
Dr. John Nichols serves as the Teaching Minister at Collegeside Church of Christ in Cookeville, TN, and as the President of Cookeville Christian School (CCS). He works alongside the Board to set the tone, direction, and vision for CCS, with a focus on quality education grounded in a biblical worldview and Gospel perspective. Dr. Nichols is especially passionate about fostering Spiritual Formation for students, faculty, and staff. He holds a doctorate in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University. Dr. Nichols is married to Kasey, the Children’s Minister at Collegeside, and together they have three sons.

Judge Steven D. Qualls
Judge Steven D. Qualls has served as the Putnam County General Sessions, Probate, and Juvenile Judge since 2014, bringing decades of legal and public service experience to the Cookeville Christian School Board. A lifelong resident of Cookeville, Judge Qualls is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University and the Nashville School of Law. He has held leadership roles as Vice Mayor of Cookeville, Monterey Municipal Judge, and on boards including Cookeville Regional Medical Center and Upper Cumberland Christian Home. Judge Qualls is deeply committed to faith, community, and education. He is married to Beth Qualls and has two married children and three grandchildren.

Chris Mussard, MBA, CPA
Chris Mussard serves as the CFO of Fixtur World, Inc. and is the owner of his own CPA firm. He also holds the role of Treasurer at Cookeville Christian School. Chris earned a Bachelor of Science from Milligan University and an Executive MBA from the University of Tennessee. A Certified Public Accountant and Tax Resolution Specialist in the State of Tennessee, Chris is excited to bring his knowledge and experience to the CCS Board. He is inspired by the vision of providing a premier Christ-centered education in the Upper Cumberland. Chris has been married to his wife, Jo, for 42 years. Together, they have three married children and six grandchildren, whose presence has deepened his passion for ensuring that children receive an academic foundation rooted in scripture and a Christian worldview.