CRESTLINE, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW) — Despite the incoming weather, many packed The Hub on Thursday night to hear LifeWise Academy founder Joel Penton speak.
Former Ohio State head coach and current lieutenant governor Jim Tressel was scheduled to speak, but canceled at the last minute because of unforeseen circumstances.
Tressel, whom Penton says has been a champion of LifeWise Academy, has spoken at banquets since the program’s beginning.
The crowd gathered not just to hear Penton speak, but to better understand how LifeWise operates. The program offers Bible education for public school students during school hours — something that is legal under the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1952 Zorach v. Clauson ruling. Public school students may be released during school hours to attend religious classes if the program is off school property, privately funded, and students have parental permission. The program is typically offered in elementary grades, with students taken during recess or specials and returned afterward. Students do not miss core classes. They are bused to off-campus locations in red LifeWise buses.
Penton, a defensive lineman at Ohio State from 2002 to 2006, transitioned to motivational speaking after college, spending 12 years traveling the country and speaking in middle and high schools.
After those 12 years, he took the opportunity to begin released-time instruction, which eventually became LifeWise Academy.
When choosing a name, Penton said he asked family, friends, and staff from the nonprofit he was leading at the time for ideas. One team member suggested the phrase “life wise,” noting that the Bible offers wisdom for life and “wisdom that can lead you to eternal life.” Penton liked it, but wanted to add “Academy.” The name was put to a staff vote, and LifeWise Academy won almost unanimously.
While LifeWise now serves hundreds of schools nationwide, the growth has not come without challenges — including opposition despite its legality, the logistics of launching programs in multiple states, hiring across state lines, navigating insurance limitations, technology, curriculum, and more.
Despite the obstacles, Penton said he never wavered.
“As a Christian, as one whose life has been transformed by the Word of God, there’s nothing more important than the Word of God and passing it on to the next generation — it is so intrinsically important,” Penton said. “Scripture says the Word of God is living and active, and that it doesn’t return void, that it transforms lives. And I’ve experienced that. I’ve seen that. So to make an opportunity for kids to have access to that where they haven’t had access, it’d be worth multiplying the obstacles we face times 100, and it’s still worth it, because it is infinitely important.”
For Penton, the mission behind LifeWise is rooted in his own experience. Though he grew up attending church and Sunday school, he said his faith didn’t become personal until he was a freshman in high school — a moment that changed the trajectory of his life. He recalled hearing the Gospel message many times before, but said it finally “clicked” that year, shaping his desire to share that message with others.
LifeWise Academy now serves more than 1,000 schools across 30 states. In Crawford County, the program operates in all six districts: Buckeye Central (grades 2–5), Bucyrus (grades 1–5), Colonel Crawford (grades 2–5), Crestline (grades 2–4), Galion (grades 1–5), and Wynford (grades 1–5). LifeWise launched in the county in spring 2022 in three schools. The 2024–25 school year is the first with all six districts participating.
Thursday’s event benefits LifeWise in Crawford County, and all six districts were represented.
“It’s exciting to see the community come together. This is rare for LifeWise; we serve 1,000 schools across 30 states, but it’s pretty rare to see an entire county come together and really work together,” Penton said.
Some schools offer classes five days a week, so every student has the opportunity to attend once per week. Because the program operates during school hours, participation can reach — or exceed — 50% of a grade level. Some districts nationwide have seen participation as high as 90%.
Looking ahead, Penton said his goal is to make LifeWise available nationwide, with access for all 13,000 school districts, 90,000 school buildings, and 5 million public school students in the United States.
The evening closed on a reflective note, with attendees lingering on Penton’s message and the sense of unity shared throughout the event.
As attendees were leaving, the weather outside had worsened. Tornado sirens began sounding across the area, and as many hurried out, those who stayed behind to help clean up paused to pray for the safety of everyone heading home.