Bible Education for Public School Students During School Hours
Written by Ashley Fischbach, LifeWise Academy Westerville Board Member
The heart behind LifeWise Academy is to reach the next generation with the Word of God through a Bible-based character education program offered to public school students during school hours.
This is made possible by a Release Time Religious Instruction Policy approved by the Supreme Court in 1952 that has been upheld ever since. LifeWise strives to keep the main and plain things taught in Scripture the main and plain things taught in the LifeWise classroom.
But did you know that the main and plain things taught in Scripture are becoming increasingly unknown to the children in our community? Statistics show that 8 out of 10 students across America do not attend church anymore. Since there are more than 15,000 students in Westerville City Schools this year, that means that more than 12,000 Westerville school students might not be attending church regularly!
At a recent LifeWise Summit conference, a speaker with her Master's Degree in Apologetics shared that teaching the Bible to the “Alpha generation” - children ages 12 and under - is comparable to becoming a Wycliffe Bible translator. It is as if America's children are becoming their own tribal group that needs the Bible translated to them in their own language.
The Lord has opened doors for LifeWise partnerships with schools throughout Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Iowa, Florida, and other states. Each LifeWise school partnership is an opportunity to “translate” the Word of God for the next generation, right where they are, in the middle of their school day.
In Westerville, with parent permission, this is an optional program for students once a week during the student's lunch and recess hour. Our program has begun with classes for Hanby and Emerson Elementary students, representing only 2 of the 15 elementary schools in our Westerville school district. Could you dream with me in wondering what it could look like to make Bible education available to all 15,000 Westerville City School students? How could that shape our community, and even more significantly, shape entire eternities? We believe the Lord is mercifully and graciously opening doors for His Word to touch young lives with a transformational, eternal impact.
Each LifeWise school partnership requires an off-site location, teachers, volunteers, transportation, and funding for curriculum and classroom supplies. The beauty of LifeWise Academy is that it encourages local community churches to unify and support the vision and mission of LifeWise together. In many ways, churches come together to support the main and plain things of Scripture. This is a stunning sneak peek into Heaven, and it is a part of the Lord's kingdom work. Our LifeWise Westerville team of our Director, Board members, teachers, volunteers, bus drivers, and donors currently represents over 20 local churches! We are so grateful for the generous partnership offered by Westerville Christian Church. Our prayer is that our church partnerships will prove to be a mutual blessing for both parties as we serve the Lord together for His glory.
If you are stirred to support or join in this unique work of the Lord, we encourage you to visit the LifeWise Westerville webpage or email our Program Director, Jennifer Jury, at jenniferjury@lifewiseacademy.org.