Lifewise Academy 
The information on this page was last updated 1/27/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
LifeWise Academy partners with local communities and churches to provide Bible education to public school students during school hours through Released Time Religious Instruction. Since launching in 2019, LifeWise has grown from two pilot schools in Ohio to more than 1,200 schools across 35 states, reaching over 50,000 students each week.
The LifeWise model equips local volunteers, teachers, and churches to bring high-quality, gospel-centered instruction to their schools-legally, off-campus, and fully funded by private donations. Independent studies and annual surveys show that LifeWise programs strengthen students' decision-making, character, and sense of purpose while benefiting school culture and family life.
LifeWise exists to see every public school student hear and understand the gospel. Through its community-driven approach, the ministry seeks nothing less than a generation transformed by God's Word.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Lifewise Academy
PO Box 1179
Hilliard, OH 43026
Website: lifewise.org
Phone: 614.367.5167
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 454002535
CEO/President: Joel Penton
Chairman: Steve Hubbard
Board size: 7
Founder: Joel Penton
Ruling year: 2013
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2025
Purpose
LifeWise Academy exists because today's students desperately need God's Word. Decades ago, Bible education was systematically removed from the public school day, leaving a generation increasingly disconnected from biblical truth. The results are visible in record levels of anxiety, depression, and moral confusion among youth.
LifeWise exists to restore what was lost-to give every public school student the opportunity to hear and understand the gospel during the hours when they are most reachable. By operating under Released Time Religious Instruction laws, LifeWise provides a legal, high-quality, community-supported way to bring Bible-based character education back into students' daily lives.
At its core, LifeWise's purpose is transformation-of students, families, and communities-through the power of God's Word. We believe the next generation's greatest need is not more information, but revelation, and we are committed to making that truth accessible to every public school student.
Mission statement
LifeWise's mission is to reach all students in public schools with the gospel through a high-quality, community-driven released time religious instruction program.
Statement of faith
LifeWise Academy maintains a high view of the authority of Scripture, and we align ourselves with historic, orthodox Christian beliefs as expressed in the Nicene Creed. We believe the storyline of Scripture that climaxes in the central gospel message, that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead. We believe this gospel is true and essential and announces the way by which sinners are reconciled to God.
The work of LifeWise Academy to reach public school students with the gospel is celebrated and supported by Christians from diverse theological backgrounds. We seek to avoid discussions about denominational differences in the classroom while keeping the focus on what's clearest in Scripture.
We strive to keep the main and plain things in Scripture the main and plain things taught in class.
LifeWise teachers and content reflect the following beliefs in all teaching:
1. Scripture, God's infallible written Word consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, and it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks. (Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
2. There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:13)
3. Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever. (John 1:1,14; Matthew 1:18-23; John 14:8-9)
4. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18)
5. Jesus Christ rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Luke 24:36-43; Philippians 3:21)
6. Jesus Christ ascended bodily into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. (Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5)
7. Man was created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3; Romans 5:12)
8. Man's nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 3:3)
9. The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation and thereby justifies them in His sight. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:5; Philippians 3:9)
10. The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer's life by faith. (John 16:13-14; John 3:5-8; Ephesians 1:13-14)
11. Every Christian is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God. (Galatians 5:16,22-23; Romans 8:13-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
12. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His body, which is composed of all people, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 12:13)
13. God admonishes His people to assemble regularly for worship, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement. (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16)
14. At physical death, the Christian enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing. (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Matthew 25:46)
15. At physical death, the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting judgment and condemnation. (Luke 16:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 25:46)
16. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth-personally, visibly and bodily-to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:30)
17. The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. This gospel is Christological (the message centers on the death and resurrection of Christ, that Christ died for our sins and was raised), biblical (His death and resurrection are according to the Scriptures), theological and salvific (Christ died for our sins, to reconcile us to God), historical (If the saving events did not happen our faith is worthless, we are still in our sins, and we are to be pitied more than all others), apostolic (the message was entrusted to and transmitted by the apostles, who were witnesses of these saving events), personal (where is preached, received, believed, and held firmly, individual persons are saved), and communal (Christ's work unites Christians with fellow members of the body of Christ). (1 Corinthians 15:1-5; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
Articles
| 2/17/2026 | LifeWise Academy Expands Into Kentucky, Teaching the Bible to Public School Students |
| 2/13/2026 | MOVIEGUIDE Rises, American Heritage Girls Drops in Financial Efficiency |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Christian Growth
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1239 of 1423 | 59 of 72 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1097 of 1423 | 53 of 72 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 998 of 1423 | 49 of 72 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1045 of 1424 | 53 of 72 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 1% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 7% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 75% | 88% | 95% | 96% | 93% | 86% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 4% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 9% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 25% | 12% | 5% | 4% | 7% | 14% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 76% | 77% | 75% | 56% | 75% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 72% | 51% | 68% | 71% | 59% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 55% | 39% | 51% | 40% | 44% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 28% | 49% | 32% | 29% | 41% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | 34% | 69% | 57% | 53% | 54% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 14% | 14% | 17% | 35% | 23% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.09 | 0.81 | 0.73 | 1.22 | 1.25 | 0.69 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.37 | 1.68 | 1.27 | 1.23 | 1.17 | 1.25 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.89 | 1.36 | 0.92 | 1.51 | 1.47 | 0.86 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.83 | 10.83 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 43.24 | 15.00 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.02 | 0.07 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.77 | 8.01 | 13.03 | 7.96 | 8.00 | 13.03 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 5% | 0% | 1% | 6% | 11% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 3% | 6% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 74% | 117% | 138% | 81% | 75% | 129% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $12,254,405 | $8,917,972 | $5,012,844 | $2,788,639 | $1,360,087 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,223,403 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $53,454 |
| Short-term investments | $7,250,212 | $10,688,546 | $1,271,651 | $391,082 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $20,728,020 | $19,606,518 | $6,284,495 | $3,179,721 | $1,413,541 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $14,191,719 | $2,445,148 | $1,461,700 | $479,491 | $349,843 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $2,805,182 | $8 | $71,586 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $14,191,719 | $5,250,330 | $1,461,708 | $551,077 | $349,843 |
| Total assets | $34,919,739 | $24,856,848 | $7,746,203 | $3,730,798 | $1,763,384 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,913,321 | $0 | $0 | $73,534 | $94,261 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,913,321 | $0 | $0 | $73,534 | $94,261 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $94,323 | $99,811 | $103,898 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $59,751 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $94,323 | $159,562 | $103,898 |
| Total liabilities | $1,913,321 | $0 | $94,323 | $233,096 | $198,159 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $33,006,418 | $24,856,848 | $7,651,880 | $3,497,702 | $1,565,225 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $33,006,418 | $24,856,848 | $7,651,880 | $3,497,702 | $1,565,225 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $34,487,814 | $33,722,992 | $13,270,526 | $6,070,163 | $1,766,841 |
| Program service revenue | $658,257 | $692,977 | $513,883 | $480,226 | $134,690 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $3,869,122 | $864,231 | $48,922 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $264,383 | $50,506 | $14,508 | ($33,848) | $164,600 |
| Total other revenue | $4,791,762 | $1,607,714 | $577,313 | $446,378 | $299,290 |
| Total revenue | $39,279,576 | $35,330,706 | $13,847,839 | $6,516,541 | $2,066,131 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $21,516,259 | $13,819,176 | $7,129,262 | $2,624,190 | $912,211 |
| Management and general | $3,865,223 | $2,610,037 | $1,598,132 | $1,615,066 | $285,150 |
| Fundraising | $2,789,661 | $1,628,444 | $741,890 | $419,601 | $17,788 |
| Total expenses | $28,171,143 | $18,057,657 | $9,469,284 | $4,658,857 | $1,215,149 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $11,108,433 | $17,273,049 | $4,378,555 | $1,857,684 | $850,982 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $11,108,433 | $17,273,049 | $4,378,555 | $1,857,684 | $850,982 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Steve Clifton | COO/ CFO / Secretary / Vice President | $199,991 |
| Derek Stemen | VP of Advancement | $138,477 |
| Joel Penton | CEO / President | $120,299 |
| Jeffrey Peterson | VP of Operations | $119,801 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2025
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 1/27/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
LifeWise Academy was born from a partnership between two ministries-Stand For Truth and Cross Over the Hill-both committed to reaching public school students with the gospel.
Stand For Truth, founded in 2011 by former Ohio State football player and current LifeWise CEO Joel Penton, focused on school assemblies that shared messages of faith and character. Cross Over the Hill, launched in 2012 in Van Wert, Ohio, provided Released Time Bible education to public school students during school hours.
In 2018, Cross Over the Hill board member Tim Stoller invited Penton to explore why Released Time programs-legal since Zorach v. Clauson (1952)-remained rare despite their impact. They concluded that communities needed a plug-and-play model that removed barriers to entry. Out of this collaboration, LifeWise Academy was formed as a new division of Stand For Truth.
Two pilot programs launched in 2019 at Ayersville and Riverview Schools in Ohio, each enrolling more than 60% of eligible students. The success confirmed the model, and additional programs quickly followed.
Even amid the 2020 pandemic, LifeWise expanded to new schools. By 2021, 28 new schools launched-surpassing early goals-and the organization set a new vision to reach 1,000 schools by 2026-27.
From 2022 onward, LifeWise has grown rapidly through its Coast-to-Coast initiatives, helping local communities start and sustain Released Time Bible education. As of 2025, LifeWise serves more than 1,200 of schools across 35 states, engaging tens of thousands of public school students each week.
Through every season-from its "Ancient History" roots to a national movement-LifeWise has remained focused on one vision: to reach all students in public schools with the gospel through a high-quality, community-driven Released Time Religious Instruction program.
Program accomplishments
Since launching in 2019, LifeWise Academy has grown from serving two schools in Ohio to hundreds of schools across more than 30 states. The program provides Bible education to public school students during school hours under the Released Time Religious Instruction framework, empowering local communities to bring the gospel to their schools.
In 2023, LifeWise celebrated its fifth year, serving 340 schools with 27,000 students enrolled across 15 states. By the 2023-24 school year, enrollment exceeded 35,000 students, with more than 67,000 community interest signatures gathered.
Independent research by Thomas P. Miller & Associates, commissioned by Ambassador Enterprises, found measurable benefits to schools and students. As student participation increased 10 percent, school attendance improved nearly 7 percent, and both in-school and out-of-school suspensions declined over subsequent years.
Annual surveys continue to demonstrate strong impact:
-- 95 percent of parents report growth in their child's biblical understanding.
-- 83 percent say LifeWise has increased faith-based conversations at home.
-- 78 percent say the program helps their child make better decisions.
-- 76 percent of educators agree their school benefits from LifeWise, with 65 percent seeing improved student outlook and 56 percent reporting better behavior.
In 2025 LifeWise's reach surpassed 50,000 students nationwide, supported by 10,000+ teachers and volunteers serving students at more than 1,200 schools.
The ministry continues toward its long-term vision to make Bible education available to every public school student in America-13,000 districts, 90,000 schools, and 50 million students by 2030.
Needs
As LifeWise continues its rapid expansion, the ministry's greatest needs center on:
-- Community partnerships - equipping local volunteers, teachers, and churches to launch and sustain programs in new school districts.
-- Student sponsorships - ongoing support ensuring every child can participate in Bible education during school hours, regardless of local resources.
-- Operational capacity - continued investment in curriculum development, teacher training, and technology infrastructure that maintains excellence as growth accelerates.
Ultimately, LifeWise's need is not merely financial but relational - to raise trust that fuels partnership. Every gift represents a family, church, or donor joining the mission to bring Bible-based education to public school students during school hours across the nation.
So, what will it take? It will take a lot - a lot of people, a lot of resources, a lot of presentations, and a lot of prayer. There's certainly a cost to make this happen. But our team continually asks: What will it cost us if we don't do it? What will it cost our communities? What will it cost the next generation?