Alumni Stories: Jeanne (Sims) Scott

Jeanne (Sims) Scott attended CCBC in Murrieta from 2000–2002, graduating with an Associate of Theology degree. She remembers those years as deeply joyful, filled with friendships grounded in Christ.

“I think I’ve never laughed more than I did my first semester at CCBC. The joy of the Lord was so powerful. The connections to my friends were so strong and built on such solid foundations.”

Jeanne’s life after CCBC has been marked by both deep trials and profound testimony. She married Mike Scott (another CCBC alum!) in the CCBC sanctuary in 2004. Just two years later, Mike was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Mike had surgery, life went back to semi-normal, and the Lord blessed Mike and Jeanne with two children, reminders of His goodness in the middle of hardship.

When the cancer returned in 2012, Mike underwent a second surgery in 2015 and a year of chemotherapy.

After their second child was born, the plan was just to take a break, get their lives in order, then try again. And they did, Mike got healthy, Jeanne wasn’t working full time, they moved into a bigger home, and still no baby.

After a season of heartache and unmet desires for more children, the Lord made it clear: His story for Jeanne’s family would unfold through foster care.

“At a women’s retreat, where I heard for probably the 20th time about a woman who spent many years infertile and begging the Lord for a child, finally having one or more children miraculously. Those stories are very popular for obvious reasons.

Every time I would hear one, I would wonder if God was trying to tell me something. Is there a chance we’ll have another child?”

“I was just waiting in expectation that I was going to get pregnant. ‘Maybe next month. I’m only 32… I’m only 33… I’m 34… 35… Is it too late? Is it stupid to even want another? I have 2 great kids already. Do I give up and pursue other options? Which options to pursue?’

Finally, at that retreat (not knowing I was pregnant at the time), I asked, ‘God, are you trying to tell me something?’ I heard, ‘Yes, I’m telling you what I did for her, but I have a different story for you.’

I got home from the retreat, and a few weeks later, I had a miscarriage. I felt like that was the signal. It was time to foster. I had thought and prayed about it for years and that was the route to go.”

The Scotts soon began fostering, and Jeanne embraced what she now calls her story.

Since then, her story has continued to unfold: an against-all-odds pregnancy in 2019, adopting 2 siblings in 2023, reunifying their half-sibling with his father, and another adoption (full sibling to the 2 they adopted) is already in progress for 2025

Looking back, Jeanne credits CCBC for giving her the biblical foundation she relies on every day.

“CCBC prepared me in every way. The closeness to the Lord I experienced there, from my highest point in my first semester to my lowest when fellow alum, Luke Snow, was killed after his graduation while serving as a missionary, God was always close to me, and He remains so close still.” 

Her graduation verse, Ephesians 3:18–19, ‘[that you…] May have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.’ still defines her.

For those just starting their journey at CCBC, Jeanne encourages wholehearted commitment:

“Enjoy it. It’s like a spa for your spiritual life, a rest and strengthening for a long and difficult journey, and a training for what’s to come.”

And for recent graduates:

“Take the mindset with you. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

On why CCBC still matters for the next generation, Jeanne shared:

“The bubble isn’t a bad thing short-term. You can’t live in it forever, but it puts your life on a strong foundation.”