6 | May 2024
By Diana Chandler, senior writer, Baptist Press Teaching Bible During Public School Days Grows Nationally
HILLIARD, Ohio (BP) — LifeWise Academy founder Joel Penton was on Bluetooth, driving a vibrant red and yellow school bus fashioned into a camper, heading from Ohio with his wife and five school-age children to the newest academy sites in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia. He wanted his family to be present as LifeWise Academy launched its latest local chapters teaching elective, off- site Bible education to public school students during the school day, Penton told Baptist Press April 10. The pro- gram offering released-time religious instruction is fully protected by law that has survived challenges at the U.S. Supreme Court. With an original goal of 25 sites in the first five years after its 2019 launch, LifeWise Academy is already offered to 330 schools in 14 states and confirmed to serve over 450 schools in 19 states by the fall of 2024, Penton said. “The goal is to make Bible education available to every one of the 50 million public school students nationwide,” he said, “and in doing so introduce them to the Gospel, which will change their lives forever. “We recognize the mission field that is our local public schools,” he said. “Every week we’re talking about Jesus and we’re urging kids to trust in Him and find their hope in Him.” In Zorach v. Clauson in 1952, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled released-time religious instruction is legal during
the public school day if it is held off-site from school grounds, is not supported by public funds, and requires parental permission for enrollment. Southern Baptist pastor and LifeWise board member Stephen Hubbard leads his church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Logan to support the program by providing funds, offering prayer support, volunteering, serving on local chapter boards and donating buses to transport students. “I cannot even begin to fathom a reason why any local church would not embrace, pray for, financially support, encourage volunteers to be involved in the local pro- grams,” Hubbard said, “and if their church is within a close proximity of a local school, even allow LifeWise to use their church as a meeting location.” LifeWise provides churches opportunities to present Christ to elementary-through-high-school students who might not attend church, to teach character to students and to present the local church within the community, Penton said, even building positive relationships with lo- cal schools. Ebenezer supports local LifeWise Academy chapters in Hocking, Perry, and Fairfield counties. At a building it owns in Perry County, Hubbard said, the church opens a restaurant during the annual Perry County Fair and do- nates all its proceeds to LifeWise. Story continues on the next page...
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