Man on a Mission: Joel Penton is Bringing the Gospel into Public Schools

The Heidi St. John Podcast

Heidi St. John

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.9 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 19 April 2024

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

LifeWise Academy is on a mission to reach school children with the gospel—during school hours! When LifeWise launched in 2018, the initial goal was to serve 25 schools by 2025, but it surpassed that long ago. By the start of this year, LifeWise had set up chapters in more than 300 schools in a dozen states, teaching 35,000 public school students weekly Bible lessons that are usually scheduled to coincide with lunch or non core courses such as library, art or gym class.

Show Notes: http://heidistjohn.com/blog/podcasts/joel-penton-bringing-gospel-public-schools

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Well you guys know that we are experiencing a crisis in our public schools but I have a story of hope for you today.
0:06.6	Life-wise Academy is on a mission to reach school children with the gospel and I have the CEO of Life Boys Academy with me here today.
0:15.0	Joel Penton is here.
0:17.0	I just spent the last 40 minutes talking to him and I'm telling you what, you guys.
0:20.0	I was on the verge of tears the entire time I was talking in because the Holy Spirit is so
0:24.8	powerfully working through this man and through this organization.
0:27.8	You guys are going to love this conversation.
0:29.4	This is the Heidi St. John podcast.
0:31.4	Stick around.
0:31.9	I think you're going to be encouraged. LifeWise Academy, an Ohio-based Christian nonprofit, found a legal way to offer
0:47.4	Bible lessons to thousands of school children during the school day.
0:51.2	Antonia, every time you visit here I get a distressing picture of what's happening
0:56.4	elsewhere in the country and this this is this is not any exception.
0:59.9	I'm sorry to stress you well and they're all wearing their red shirts and their popcorn parties that Lifewise
1:05.1	is having and then there are these notes that these kids pass each other about how great and how
1:09.2	fun Lifewise is.
1:10.2	I mean, I just wonder if this is not running afoul of certain First Amendment stuff.
1:14.4	So Joel, welcome to the podcast.
1:16.4	I'm glad you're here.
1:17.4	Thanks for having me.
1:18.4	Well, this is exciting for me because, you know, my friend Matt Varrci reached out and he's like,
1:23.3	have you seen what is happening?
	...

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