FBC Napoleon Blesses Community Through LifeWise Academy
By Matt Pardi, SCBO Northwest Region catalyst
LifeWise Academy is alive and well in the Northwest Ohio Region.
LifeWise Academy is a nonprofit organization that provides Bible education to public school students during school hours off campus.
The 1952 U.S. Supreme Court decision Zorach v. Clauson determined that teaching the Bible during the public school day was constitutional and therefore legal in all 50 states under three conditions: the program must take place off site of school property; it must be privately funded – no government funds can be used for the program; and parental permission is required for a child’s participation.
First Baptist Church, Napoleon, is a light to its community as a LifeWise Academy
First Baptist Church, Napoleon, is a light to its community as a LifeWise Academy location. Pastor Jeff Wallen and Administrative Director Christa Behm welcome over 500 students daily from Napoleon Elementary School to learn from the Bible.
The program is changing lives and families in Napoleon and FBC is using this opportunity to bless its community. According to the LifeWise Academy website, “The LifeWise plug-and-play mode is flexible so that any community can offer Bible education to their public school students during school hours.”
In 2022 Pastor Jeff Wallen led FBC Napoleon through the completion of a beautiful remodel of the church. A vision for the property grew and the church desired to use the new building for more activities.
Since its start in 2021, LifeWise Academy in Napoleon had grown and needed more space for students to learn about the Bible. FBC Napoleon invited them to use a whole wing of its building as well as office space.
This fall LifeWise Academy in Napoleon has expanded to serve students in Kindergarten through seventh grade with 575 students served daily.
Administrative director, Christa Behm said, “It is a joy to work with LifeWise and FBC Napoleon to bring the light of Jesus to our community.”
It is a joy to work with LifeWise and FBC Napoleon to bring the light of Jesus to our community
Napoleon LifeWise Director Cathy Bressler is doing an amazing job organizing and leading all the moving parts of the school.
If you have questions about FBC Napoleon or want to encourage them, you can contact the church at firstbaptist@outlook.com. Find out more about the LifeWise Academy at lifewise.org
We praise God for the hospitality and life giving work of Pastor Jeff and Christa Behm in Napoleon. Thank you for reaching the young people of the Northwest Region and building the kingdom of God.