Charles and Cathy Sewell Honored with "Pillar of Faith" Award

The Pillar of Faith Award is the highest honor bestowed by Mount Paran Christian School, given only on the rarest occasions to those whose steadfast faith, servant-leadership, and generosity have transformed our community in lasting ways. Recipients of this award exemplify the biblical image of a “pillar in the temple of God”—steady, faithful, and devoted to truth and love, holding firm in their witness to Christ across generations.

We are deeply honored to present the Pillar of Faith Award to Charles and Cathy Sewell, a couple whose remarkable legacy of service and devotion to the mission of Mount Paran Christian School has shaped its foundation since the very beginning. Through their faith, philanthropy, and Christian leadership, Charles and Cathy have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to seeing God’s purposes fulfilled through the ministry of Christian education.

Cathy’s relationship with MPCS began in 1976, when an anonymous donor stepped forward to make it possible for her daughter, Samantha, to attend preschool. Soon after, a church member opened their home when rising rent left them without housing, and a compassionate doctor performed Cathy’s needed surgery at no cost. God’s provision in her life was unmistakably evident, as He met every need in extraordinary ways.

A few years later, after Cathy and Charles married, their shared journey of faithful stewardship began. Through CKS Packaging, the family business founded and led by Charles alongside his sons John, Drew, and Scott, the Sewells have modeled integrity and service guided by biblical principles—seeking God’s wisdom, valuing people above all else, and striving for excellence in all they undertake.

Their generosity has touched nearly every corner of MPCS’s growth, supporting monumental projects such as the school’s relocation to its current campus, the purchase of the Murray Arts Center, the construction of Catherine Steele Sewell Stadium, and the building of the Murray Innovation Center. They have strengthened athletics, launched robotics programs, and extended hope to countless families through financial aid, leaving a profound legacy of opportunity and faith for future generations. Cathy has also faithfully served on the Board of Trustees, contributing her time, insight, and devotion to the school’s continued mission.

Their impact continues through their grandchildren — Joshua, Davis (’18), Taylor (’20), and Jackson (’23) Stephens — who have each walked the halls of Mount Paran Christian School, carrying forward the faith and values that Charles and Cathy have modeled so beautifully. The lives of Charles and Cathy Sewell shine as a testimony to a deep and unshakable trust in God. Their humility, perseverance, and steady devotion have strengthened the very foundation of our school and inspired generations to stand firm in Christ. In their quiet strength and faithful leadership, they truly embody what it means to be pillars of faith.

Presented in grateful recognition of a lifetime of dedicated service and faithful support, the Pillar of Faith Award honors Charles and Cathy Sewell. Their lives have made Christ’s love visible in extraordinary and enduring ways. The Sewell's are a Pillar to the community, a Pillar to our school, and a Pillar of the Kingdom of God.