By now I am sure you have noticed the red LifeWise Academy bus traveling from a school to a nearby church or have seen it parked in the parking lot for the Dresden Swim Center. In another Muskingum community, another bus with the LifeWise logo and prominent red paint job may have been recognized parked elsewhere. When you see these busses or the LifeWise brand in our communities it means children in that area have access to Bible-based character education that can be incorporated into their school day.
Children from all six Muskingum County school districts have or will have (some are projected to launch either the 2024 or 2025 school year), the option of enrolling in LifeWise. Although the program is not yet available to all grade levels, that does not mean it can’t be. The program is quickly growing and can already be found in twelve states! In 2019, the community within the River View school district came together to launch one of the first LifeWise Academy programs. The academy became available to students in Tri-Valley and Franklin Local in 2022. From Tri-Valley, Adamsville Elementary students were the first to have access, shortly after children attending the other three elementary schools also could enroll bringing the total number of enrolled students to 795 within the district. The program is represented by 31 churches from the community and supported by 102 volunteers and ten certified teachers made up of educators and ministers. All adult and high school volunteers as well as board members are required to pass a background check before being cleared to work with or around students. At this time, LifeWise is open to all Tri-Valley students in first through eighth grades and for kindergarten through sixth for those attending Franklin Local. Next school year Franklin Local students in grades seven through twelve will also have the opportunity to enroll in LifeWise. Children in three of the Zanesville City elementary schools enrolled in kindergarten through third grade can participate, fourth grade will be added next year. Some Maysville students are estimated to have access to the program in the fall of 2024 with East Muskingum and West Muskingum following soon after with a projected date of 2024/2025.
LifeWise was founded in 2018 by Joel Penton, a ministry leader from Columbus, Ohio. LifeWise is the released time Bible education program of Stand For Truth, a 501c3 nonprofit ministry. The program serves over 30,000 students and 323 schools in the United States. LifeWise works with public schools to integrate their flexible plug-and-play model into their weekly class schedule. A student has the option to enroll in LifeWise during a period that would be typically set aside for specials like art or music or they can eat lunch off-site in their LifeWise class and not miss out on any specials they enjoy. It is important to understand that the LifeWise program does NOT take the place of any core classes such as math or reading.
Classes are held off school property, are privately funded, and parent-permitted. For Dresden Elementary and Tri-Valley Middle School students, for example, classes are held in a dedicated space, the Wolford Room in the Dresden Swim Center. Most of the other area programs take place in spaces provided by Churches that are close to the elementary schools the children attend. A typical LifeWise Academy class will include prayer, bible lessons, and a game.
Since LifeWise is only available during school hours, the program promotes area Vacation Bible Schools so children have continued access to Bible-based learning through part of their summer.
For those who would like to support the program, there are a few ways to do so. Volunteers are always welcome including any high school students who would like to help after school. There is also always a need for cleaning (Clorox/Lysol) wipes and boxes of tissues. Monetary donations may be made through the website www.lifewise.org. So far the community support has been outstanding with several local businesses providing lunch for students and other community members making donations but support is still needed as LifeWise Academy continues to grow to reach the needs of the communities it serves.
For further information about LifeWise Academy please visit www.lifewise.org. Directors for each of the programs launched in Muskingum County can be found by visiting www.lifewise.org/interest, selecting OH, and then typing the school district the program director you want to reach is from.
