Lifewise Academy transformes lives through Bible studies for students

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Lifewise Academy is a program that is gaining traction around the country and right here in Shelby County, transporting students from their school once a week, to structured bible studies and character education.

In the middle of the school day, some students at Riverwood Elementary left school and hopped on a red bus for a short trip to Grace Celebration Lutheran Church.

Even the time on the bus is learning time, making the most of the 50 minutes or so they have to share a lesson.

“What we are seeing is lives being changed,” said James Brodnax, Executive Director of Lifewise Shelby County. “These children are being released from school during the school hours to receive religious and moral instructions. They are leaving school at a time of learning to learn about the bible and have bible study.”

And he says it’s all legal after a 1952 Supreme Court Ruling on “Release Time for Religious Instruction,” saying students can be released from school during the school day to receive religious and moral instruction.

With three caveats: parents must give permission, it must be done off school grounds, and it must be privately funded.

“To me, this is the greatest missed opportunity that we have had as a church to pass the gospel on to the next generation,” said Brodnax.

For the last two years, Shelby County has been tapping into this space and providing students whose parents allow it, lessons from the bible with a focus on character issues like integrity, trust, and obedience.

Grace Church was quick to sign on.

“A lot of churches and schools don’t know about it. When we learned this was part of the law and we had this opportunity, we jumped right on it,” said Rev. Terry Tieman, Senior Pastor of Grace-Celebration Lutheran Church.

The church says the bus was donated to them, but now it’s equipped for Lifewise. They say when kids see the red bus coming, they get excited.

“We think we have an opportunity to change the culture of Memphis, change the characters of families and children,” said Rev. Tieman.

Lifewise says things are already changing.

“When kids are coming into this program, they are having less anxiety in their lives, less depression, less thoughts of suicide because they are beginning to realize they have a purpose in life,” said Mary Wasson, Lifewise Regional Program Director. “We are also finding suspension rates in classes are going down. Attention is increasing.”

They are hoping more schools and parents will sign on, more churches will step up with space, and more businesses will join as partners.

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“This is no cost to the families, this is no cost to the schools. It just seems like a win-win. We just need to get the parents’ permission. We need to get the churches to come alongside us so we have a safe place for these classes to be taught,” Wasson said.

Recently, a Satanic club raised worry after Memphis Shelby County Schools allowed it to hold an after-school club meeting in one school building.

“MSCS allowed them to come because of their laws and constitution. So they were able to run their program. I don’t know exactly how well they are doing. But I know we are trying to spread the gospel as much as we can,” said Brodnax.

It seems to be catching fire with students.

“It was so exciting today to hear one of the students. The very first thing he said when he was leaving was ‘When are we coming back?'” Wasson said.

Students are even given bibles to take home.

“They can then become the evangelists in their families and their communities,” said Brodnax. “We haven’t even hit the surface of the potential for what we can do in our city. We’re excited about the next phase.”

Lifewise Academy is currently in seven schools in Shelby County with another nine schools in the pipeline for Spring 2025. It is currently serving 144 students.

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