Lessons in faith
LifeWise Academy launches free Bible education for Cleburne students
STORY BY Monica Faram
A
new program in Cleburne is giving public school students the opportunity to learn Bible lessons and character qualities during the school day— with parental permission and at no cost to families.
LifeWise Academy began its first classes on the first Friday in February. Cooke Elementary School is the nonprofit’ s first campus in Cleburne ISD.
The program operates under federal and state religious release time laws, which allow students to leave campus during school hours for off-site religious instruction, provided it is parent-approved, privately funded and held off school property.
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In its first weeks, the program served about 26 students, though Balmer said more have recently enrolled. She estimates that 356 students from first through fourth grade at Cooke could potentially participate.
The Cleburne site is the first LifeWise Academy program in Johnson County. Nationally, LifeWise operates in 36 states and more than 1,000 schools.
Balmer said launching the program locally required months of preparation, including gathering community support, meeting with district leadership and raising funds.“ The conversation started in September 2024,” she said.“ It took time— from getting signatures to getting approval, then funding and buying materials. Everything takes energy and resources.” Funding comes from local donors, churches and businesses. Families do not pay to participate. LifeWise encourages community members to sponsor a student for $ 30 per month to help cover curriculum, insurance and operational costs.“ We survive by sponsoring students,” Balmer said.“ Right now, I have 26 students, and about 11 are sponsored monthly. I want them all.”
Jackie Pinkerton, a volunteer with the program, said the team remains focused on growth and service despite early challenges.
“ Everybody wants to wait and see,”
Diana Balmer, program director for LifeWise in Cleburne, said the goal is simple: teach children that they are loved and valued.“ We teach kids the Bible and character qualities during school hours,” Balmer said.“ Every single lesson includes Jesus, and the kids learn that He loves them. If we can just get that across— that somebody loves you, that you matter— that’ s the point.”
On Fridays, volunteers walk students from Cooke to College Heights Baptist Church for a 35-minute lesson, then return them to campus. Balmer works with school administrators to schedule classes at times that minimize academic disruption.
“ I picked the best time where we’ re not taking them out of a core class,” she said.“ They’ re in school about 40 hours a week.
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We’ re with them for about 55 minutes. That’ s roughly 2.5 % of their week.”
Participation requires signed parental consent, and the program is entirely privately funded. LifeWise carries its own insurance and conducts background and reference checks on all volunteers.
“ It’ s very calculated and thorough,” Balmer said.“ From a legal standpoint, everything is structured the way it should be.”
LifeWise Academy partners with an established Bible curriculum tailored by grade level. Lessons focus on character traits taught through Scripture. Last week, students learned about grat-
Pinkerton said.“ But we’ re not going to let that deter us. We’ re going to be the hands and feet of God and keep going.”
College Heights Baptist Church has partnered with LifeWise to provide space and support. Balmer said she hopes to expand the program to additional campuses in Cleburne and eventually throughout Johnson County as funding and volunteers allow.“ We would like to be in every single school,” she said.“ If we can reach the kids who may never step foot in a church and let them know they have value, that somebody is praying for them— that matters.”
Community members interested in volunteering or sponsoring a student can learn more through the LifeWise Academy website at lifewise. org.