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NEW LONDON –At a time when public schools are becoming more hostile to Biblical values, something is happening during school in the Ohio Firelands region. Although eight in ten American youth may not attend church, nine out of ten youth attend public schools. Faith leaders are picking up on this and a group of pastors in one community have partnered together to reach the next generation in public schools with a Bible program during school hours.
Last week residents celebrated their success by opening a new schoolhouse to host the Bible-based LifeWise Academy that is spreading like wildfire across the nation. Last year over a quarter of the New London student body were transported a half-mile away by bus to attend LifeWise classes, but with a new brick and mortar building literally next door to the High School campus, that number is expected to climb as students are just a hop, skip, and jump away.
One pastor who has been instrumental in promoting the Bible-based LifeWise Academy in public schools believes communities like New London can turn the tide. “I believe that if the life-changing book (Bible) taught in this program is adopted by school boards across this nation, we can actually redeem the years we have lost,” Pastor John Bouquet said at the schoolhouse dedication. “If one atheist got school-sanctioned Bible-reading and prayer taken out of public schools, just think how much more impact a community of believers like this one here in New London can have in influencing the next generation. It all happens by getting the Bible back in the hands of students during school hours.”
The Ohio-based LifeWise Academy is a released-time religious instruction program providing Bible-based character education to public school students. The parachurch ministry works alongside local churches and started in 2019. LifeWise takes place off school grounds, is not federally or state-funded, and requires parents’ permission for students to participate. Enrollment in LifeWise Academy is entirely optional.
In 1952, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing public schools to release students to off-campus sites to study the Bible during the school day. More recently in 2013, the Ohio General Assembly passed a law allowing school boards to reward school credits for released time religious instruction if taught at the high school level. Classes are the length of a normal class period and then students are released and return to school to proceed with their day.
“If one atheist got school-sanctioned Bible-reading and prayer taken out of public schools, just think how much more impact a community of believers like this one here in New London can have in influencing the next generation. It all happens by getting the Bible back in the hands of students during school hours.”
Pastor John Bouquet
This year LifeWise Academy is in over three-hundred-fifty school districts across twenty-six states. The New London chapter of LifeWise started in the Fall of 2021 for students K thru twelve, and is one of the first schools in the North Central Ohio area to implement the program. In addition to New London Schools, other public school districts in Huron County, Ohio with LifeWise Academy include: Norwalk, South Central, Western Reserve, Plymouth-Shiloh, Firelands Local, Buckeye Central, and Edison Local. Nearby Ashland County has LifeWise Academy in everyone of its school districts.
The New London Faith Group, which helped finance and build the schoolhouse for students enrolled in LifeWise Academy, is a nonprofit organization made up of local churches. Pastors in the faith group comprise of: Mark Kilgrove of Fitchville Community Church, Brent Ziegler of Rochester Baptist Church, Doug Lang of New London Alliance Church, David Whitt of New London Methodist, John Bouquet of Savannah Bethel Chapel, Bill Given of New London Faith Group, and Jerry Shirley of New London First Baptist.
Buddy Workman oversees the New London LifeWise program as the Northeast Ohio Field Representative. He believes the New London community has given overwhelming support. “We have been extremely fortunate to have eight different churches in town donating financially and also donating their time as volunteers. With over two-hundred-thirty students enrolled in LifeWise Academy in New London, our Superintendent and Principal have been great to work with, and they see the difference in the students who participate.”
A comprehensive report released by Thomas P. Miller & Associates (TPMA) showcases the impact of LifeWise Academy’s Bible education programs. TPMA, a renowned national consulting firm headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, conducted the study to measure the implications of LifeWise Academy’s programming.
The study was based on data from seventy-six schools in Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa with LifeWise programming in place for multiple years prior to the 2021-22 school year. Findings showed that in the first year of LifeWise programming, a school’s attendance rate increased. From the second year on, schools saw improvements in discipline. The report said, “These results lead to an increased number of students in school every day with less disruptions, which should improve the learning environment for all students, whether they were in the program (LifeWise) or not.”
“There are almost thirty New London students who take advantage of the high school credits awarded for released time religious instruction,” says Workman. “I think the School Board is realizing that when graduating students are walking across that stage to get their diploma, they have provided an opportunity for the next generation of leaders to get a well-rounded education, instructing not just their intellect, but equipping their body, mind, and soul.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Proverbs 1, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction”
View slideshow of Wednesday’s open house dedication of the New London LifeWise Academy schoolhouse.
View the LifeWise Academy New London, Ohio impact video (4 min.)
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