On October 30, 2025, a crowd gathered around an excavator on the Palisades Christian Academy soccer field to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new building for Palisades Christian Learning Center.

Children participated in the ceremony singing “This Little Light of Mine,” dedicating the new learning center to shine hope, love, and learning into the surrounding community.

Eric Brown, vice president of administration for the Upper Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, invited parents and teachers to close their eyes and imagine the building that would one day be where he stood.

“Even though we can’t see the building yet, and it might be hard to imagine, we know it is coming. Which is a lot like Jesus. We know about Him, we have the blueprints for His kingdom, but it can be hard to imagine," said Brown. "Today, just as we imagine the moment when Jesus returns, we find ourselves waiting, hopefully and eagerly for what we know is coming.”

PCLC was first envisioned more than 10 years ago with the desire to provide young children with an opportunity to learn and know about Jesus.

“The early learning center was always in the plans when we were building the campus here at PCA, but we didn’t have the funds to complete it at the time,” said Tim Windemuth, PCA development director.

PCLC offers Christ-centered daycare services for children between 2 1/2–5 years of age in a positive Christian environment where they can learn and grow. Once operational, the new building will be able to facilitate up to 80 children with four classrooms.

The building project is estimated to cost $2.2 million.

“It may cost more or less; it’s hard to know for sure since we’re about a year away from completing the building,” said Windemuth. “But the Lord knows what we need, and He’s in charge.”

An anonymous donor has generously donated $1.8 million toward the project. PCA will continue to raise additional funds to cover the remaining project costs.

“The amazing team at PCLC provides a safe, loving, nurturing and Christ-centered space for young minds to grow and develop,” said Adam Littell, UCC vice president for education. “I am thrilled that there's going to be an expansion to this very important educational ministry in the Spokane area so even more students can get to know Jesus through the dedicated work of the teachers at PCLC.”

PCLC currently uses three classrooms in the main school building, which, with the construction of a dedicated space for early learning, will be made available to further expand PCA programs.

The original article was published on the North Pacific Union Conference news site.