Alumni Stories: Kana (Small) Pira

Kana (Small) Pira began her journey at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta in Fall 2016 before spending a year at CCBC York in 2017. She later returned to Murrieta, where she graduated in 2018 with her Associate in Biblical Studies. Looking back, she treasures both the friendships and the life-changing moments she experienced in God’s presence.

“I never experienced the presence of God so real, so close. Those evenings around the lake in Murrieta profoundly changed my life, and I will never forget them.”

After CCBC, God fulfilled the promises He had given Kana during her time as a student.

“God has been incredibly faithful and answered every promise He gave me all those years back, and now I am currently living and serving Him alongside my incredible husband, here on the west coast of France in the city of La Rochelle, just like He told me. God even surpassed my dreams and I received French Nationality, and learned the language in under 2 years of being here.”

Ministry soon followed: outreach to international students, serving the Kurdish refugee community, and assisting with a Christian summer camp and church plant in central France.

Kana sees her years at CCBC as foundational.

“No time dedicated to seeking the Lord will ever go to waste. All the ways the Lord spoke to me through the classes and my times with Him have been used to shape my walk with Him and teach me how to hear His voice – and that is the one thing that is able to carry us through each season after.”

With her language studies complete, Kana is now teaching English at a private school in La Rochelle.

“This has been an incredible opportunity to reach our 180 students… as every one of my adult students asks me the profound question, ‘So what brought you here to France?’ Which always makes the way for more Gospel conversations and the chance to share my faith.”

Currently, Kana and her husband just want to be faithful in the ministries they are called to, but they feel God has been speaking and giving the vision of church planting in cities where there is a profound need for Bible-centered churches that could reach the next generation (as cities like La Rochelle are college towns where there is a great need to reach the students).

To those beginning their CCBC journey, Kana says:

“God is faithful, and Jesus is worth it. No time you are spending now to seek His face will ever be wasted. Even if trials may come or your life and ministry look different than you plan, Jesus is everything, and He will never fail you.”

And for recent graduates:

“Don’t ever lose your touch with Jesus. This is the only that will carry you through every season. Stay in His Word, let Him speak to you and meet you with His presence. This is your lifeline and your source of joy and strength whatever comes your way.”

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

“Places like CCBC are training and raising up the next generation of soldiers and ministers for Christ, and they are indispensable.”