By Sydney Byerly
The Indiana Citizen
September 24, 2025
NEW ALBANY, Ind. — LifeWise Academy’s rapid expansion of weekday Bible classes for public school students is drawing both warm praise and sharp criticism in Floyd County and across Indiana.
The Ohio-based nonprofit provides “released-time” religious instruction that takes children off campus during the school day—a practice permitted under a 1952 U.S. Supreme Court decision and a 2024 Indiana law. The state statute requires schools to approve parental requests for up to 120 minutes of weekly off-site religious education.
The organization’s reach has accelerated. Last year, IndyStar reported that LifeWise planned to operate in 52 Indiana counties during the 2024–25 school year. By this fall, The Indiana Citizen confirmed, the group has at least one participating school in all 92 counties, with ambitions to add more sites in each.
That growth has fueled a broader debate about the line between public education and private evangelism.
Public filings underscore how that growth is financed.
In its most recent IRS Form 990, LifeWise reported about $35 million in revenue—more than double the previous year—against $18 million in expenses, leaving a surplus of more than $17 million and assets of roughly $25 million.
About 95% of its income comes from private contributions, with smaller amounts from program services and investments. The group emphasizes that it is privately funded, and says local chapters generally cost $200–$400 per student per year to operate, covering staff, facilities, and transportation.
On Sept. 3, LifeWise began weekly sessions for 16 first- and second-graders from Greenville Elementary, who walk next door to Greenville Christian Church for “Bible-based character education.”
Local program director Victoria Thornsberry told the News & Tribune the privately funded effort is voluntary and designed so “kids would not lose instructional time.” The group hopes to reach every elementary school in the New Albany–Floyd County School Corporation (NAFCS) within five years, then expand to middle and high schools.
District Superintendent Travis Madison emphasized to the News & Tribune that the schools “neither sponsor nor promote LifeWise,” but must process parental requests under state law.
A Sept. 20 forum hosted by Do Something Southern Indiana showcased a growing resistance.
“We’re here tonight because our public institutions must remain transparent and accountable,” said group president Kathy Collins.
Panelist Michael Slatter of Kentucky Citizens for Democracy warned, “This is very insidious. It does affect your kid… when you pull kids out during the school day, the entire school schedule is impacted,” describing a “10-step process” that communities may not detect until it is well underway.
“Don’t let them ever frame this as if you’re some heathen because you oppose this group,” he added. “We totally believe in freedom of religion.”
Retired assistant superintendent Anita Davis said the curriculum “has nice headings like ‘Perseverance’ and ‘Patience,’ but the meat of their teachings are in the details,” including lessons about “juvenile dinosaurs” on Noah’s Ark and controversial, scripted answers on topics such as unmarried parents and homosexuality.
John Sutton, vice president of the Kentucky chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, cited the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which bars government entities—including public schools—from promoting or establishing an official religion.
“The Constitution says the government cannot ‘establish’ religion,” Sutton told the audience. “As soon as that teacher puts a pen to paper for 15 seconds to schedule a child to leave class, that is a solid breaking of the Establishment Clause.”
He argued that even small administrative steps, such as a teacher signing a permission slip, could be viewed as government endorsement of religion.
Sutton also highlighted LifeWise’s scheduling strategy: “If you restrict sessions to lunch or recess, enrollment drops by more than 50 percent—kids don’t want to give up lunch or recess for a Bible class, but skipping math? That’s a no-brainer.” Peer dynamics, he added, magnifies the pressure: “Who doesn’t want to have an ice cream, right?”
Pastor Rich Genzero of Madison offered a theological caution: “Anything that diminishes dignity in God’s name cannot be holy.”
Slatter summarized the group’s broader worry: “This isn’t about being against religion. It’s about protecting instructional time and making sure public resources aren’t diverted to private evangelism.”
Not all families share those concerns.
Rachel Manias, whose first-grade daughter attends the Greenville LifeWise class, praised the program on the News & Tribune’s Facebook page:
“We are so excited to participate! … My daughter was so excited to be the first participating yesterday! Not only are they learning the Bible, they are learning about how to build their character and serve others!”
Manias said she attended an open house to meet teachers and review the statement of faith before enrolling.
“I was excited that if they start in first grade, they can go through the whole Bible by fifth grade,” she explained. The weekly class “just feels like an elective” and hasn’t interfered with core academics, she added.
She noted the convenience of Greenville’s setup, where students walk to a neighboring church: “It’s kind of the ideal situation.”
Manias also praised volunteers “willing to give their time and money to support kids they don’t even know,” and hopes the program “is seen in more and more schools across the state.”
Other online commenters, however, questioned potential liability and warned of “too many variables involved,” underscoring a divided community.
Concerns extend beyond Floyd County.
In July, the New Prairie United School Corporation near South Bend delayed a LifeWise launch after the group initially declined to share individual volunteer background checks or adopt the district’s screening process. LifeWise later offered affidavits verifying checks but maintains it is not legally required to release personal records. After a brief remediation, the school district consented Aug. 4 to students leaving class for the LifeWise lessons off-site.
In a separate The Indiana Citizen report, Zach Parrish of the Secular Education Association described LifeWise as “well-funded and organized,” lobbying legislatures to change release-time laws from “may allow” to “shall allow,” removing local discretion. Parrish said some children who opted out were left alone while classmates attended off-site “ice cream and pizza parties.”
The Secular Education Association also released a video that heightened debate. In it, Family Policy Alliance CEO Craig DeRoche—whose organization is a national Christian advocacy group that promotes what it calls “biblical citizenship”—declares that Christians “own the school district… the city… the state… the country,” a phrase he uses to argue that Christians, as voting residents and taxpayers, have both the right and the responsibility to be active in civic life and influence local government and education decisions. In the same video, LifeWise founder Joel Penton touts a “plug-and-play” plan to spread the program nationwide.
LifeWise leaders dispute claims of secrecy or sectarianism.
Thornsberry described the program to the News & Tribune as non-denominational, saying all staff and volunteers undergo national background checks and child-safety training “meeting or exceeding nonprofit industry standards.”
“We’re giving kids an opportunity to learn about the Gospel,” she said. “We provide the education and let God water the seeds.”
The organization offered only a brief public response to the Floyd County debate. Corrine Williams, a public relations representative, said in a written statement:
“LifeWise Academy is encouraged by the warm response from the community and looks forward to serving New Albany-Floyd students. Please visit our website to learn more about our program. We appreciate your interest and are excited to be part of Greenville’s future.”
Williams said LifeWise representatives would not comment further on criticisms from the Do Something Southern Indiana forum.
LifeWise plans to expand next to Georgetown and S. Ellen Jones elementary schools early next year. Opponents are urging the local school board to hold a public hearing before any further growth.
“Our schools belong to the whole community,” Collins, of Do Something Southern Indiana, said. “We must keep them welcoming to every child, regardless of faith.”
Sydney Byerly is a political reporter who grew up in New Albany, Indiana. Before joining The Citizen, Sydney reported news for TheStatehouseFile.com and most recently managed and edited The Corydon Democrat & Clarion News in southern Indiana. She earned her bachelor’s in journalism at Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism (‘Sco Griz!).
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org.
