Christian Nationalist Mischief (Update)
LifeWise Academy Invades Iowa Schools
NOTE: In December 2024, I wrote a three-part series on the growing influence of the LifeWise Academy based in Ohio. This program started in 2019, and has grown rapidly across 29 states. Marketing the program as a “Bible-based, Character education program,” the true intent is to prosyelytize children and convert them to an extreme form of Christian Nationalism. This is an update of their progress in the State of Iowa.
The Recent Mischief
Nothing says let’s destroy the separation of church and state more than having an evangelical Bible study organization yanking kids out of their public school building during the day to attend a Bible class (off site). This is happening with around 50,000 public school students across 29 states in the current school year.
They have now come calling in the State of Iowa.
“We recognize the mission field that is our local public schools,” says Joel Penton, the founder and director of LifeWise Bible Program. “Every week we’re talking about Jesus and we’re urging kids to trust in Him and find their hope in Him.”
It may come as a surprise to Mr. Penton, but public schools do not exist to give him a personal mission field so that he can propagate his version of Christianity which includes non-acceptance of LGBTQ people, transgender folks or anyone living in “sin” according to the Southern Baptist Convention. (That is where their curriculum originates). This should be the first really big, red flag for this organization.
Many parents are happy to have their children receive “Bible-based, Character Education” and sign a waiver to allow their child to physically leave the school building on a big red bus to a local church once a week for such instruction. There they get candy and toys (talk about bribery), play games and hear Bible stories.
Let me be clear about this and cover my posterior….I am not opposed to parents wanting that sort of influence in their child’s life. Religious freedom allows them that choice, but it does not allow that choice to be exercised during the school day. Public schools are a secular-religion free zone.
This same program could happen during after-school hours which many working parents would be delighted to have as an option. In fact, they could multiply their influence on kids by a daily after-school “Bible based-Character Education” program.
That isn’t what Penton is really interesting in doing.
For Penton, there is no greater pleasure and satisfaction than boasting time after time that this happens “During School Hours.” In fact, that is the title of the book Penton published promoting LifeWise. For Penton, talking about taking kids out of public school “during school hours” seems like a poke in the eye to the public-secular system. He relishes in his “victory.”
Think “Christian Dominionism.” It is a deliberate invasion of secular spaces with religious evangelism.
There is a legal basis for what historically has been called “released time, religious instruction” (RTRI). The foundation for this practice comes from the 1952 Zorach vs. Clauson decision from the Supreme Court.
The context for that decision was to allow religious education during the week for students already associated with a church or synagogue. These types of programs have been used by parents and churches for years to help prepare children for catechism, bar mitzvah or other religious education ceremonies. The intent of Zorach was not to turn public schools into an evangelistic open season hunting ground to create little converts.
That is precisely the goal of the LifeWise program
Penton’s goal is to reach all 50+ million public schools students with his version of the gospel message, which includes condemnation for those who are not Christians, LBGTQ+ individuals, and those who have divorced a spouse or are living together without being married. They will burn in hell forever as some children report learning and then go home to announce this to their parents, in tears.
Penton believes the public schools are his personal evangelistic playground mission field whether a young person is Catholic, mainline Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, atheist or anything else. Penton has put a big red target on their backs…he is coming for them.
A growing number of parents are skeptical. Some are outraged. Thousands have joined Parents Against LifeWise (now called Secular Education Association), a Facebook community and advocacy group where parents vent their concerns. Here is a partial list of issues parents have expressed:
LifeWise students are bullying their non-LifeWise peers by saying they are going to hell.
Kids are feeling left out when their friends return from the program with chocolate, lollipops, or free T-shirts.
There are concerns about hiring practices, asking questions about background checks and unsuitable staff.
They describe kids who didn’t opt in to the Bible program being put into classrooms without instruction while their classmates are away.
There is the disruption to the school day which already has a tight schedule to fit in all the academic requirements.
Another concern is the promotion of the program that uses school resources, staff or even space which would clearly represent the “establishment of a religion.”
Back in December I wrote a three-part series on the rise of this “during school hours” Bible program phenomenon. The focus of that series was on Ohio where the organization is headquartered and where most of the schools they have invaded are located. I warned that this group was targeting Iowa, and boy, was I right. This column will highlight the inroads LifeWise has made in the Hawkeye state.
Here are the active-enrolling LifeWise programs in Iowa:
Here is what is happening in Iowa as of spring 2025. You can find a convenient interactive map that shows the active LifeWise programs throughout the state and the whole country here. I have summarized the map for you in this article.
LifeWise uses a ten-step process to guide a school district toward getting a program going. From step one, which is to get 50 signatures from the local community who want to see a program started, to step ten which is the launch of an active-enrolling program, the process can be replicated easily in every locality.
Humboldt: This small north central Iowa school district reached step ten in February of this year. The program will be held in Dakota City which is in the Humboldt School District. The Director of the program is Tracy Thurm. Here is their website.
Boyden-Hull: This is another small district in northwest Iowa in Sioux County, which is also perhaps the most religious part of the state. LifeWise opened enrollment for their program in March 2024, and Kelley Crawford is the director. Here is the link to the Boyden-Hull LifeWise website.
The effort to launch LifeWise in Boyden appears to have begun in September 2022, with a kickoff luncheon sponsored by Pizza Ranch. Pizza Ranch along with the fast food giant, Chic-fil-A, are well known companies that support Christian Nationalist efforts. The next time you are trying to choose a pizza spot for a meal, you can decide if you really want to patronize the Pizza Ranch.
Lemars: A larger district in northwest Iowa, Lemars opened its LifeWise enrollment in March 2024. They have three elementary schools that appear to be involved. The program director is Lindy Dohman. Here is their website. The LifeWise program in LeMars has utilized a program called “LeMars LifeWise Evening of Impact” to gain community support. It includes silent auctions with donations from local businesses and students who tell their stories about how great LifeWise is.
Des Moines: The largest school district in Iowa now has a functioning LifeWise program. They just started to enroll students for their programs as of March 21, 2025. Des Moines has around 60 elementary schools and around 37 of those elementary programs are listed in a dropdown menu on the LifeWise website. A director is not listed yet.
Iowa City: Although it is on step nine, called “execute the plan,” the Iowa City LifeWise program appears to be enrolling students now according to the LifeWise Iowa City website. In fact, the FB LifeWise Iowa City page indicates they officially launched this week. The director of the program for Iowa City is Randal Jones and the program is currently only available to Penn Elementary School.
East Mills: Another community that is at step nine “execute the plan” is East Mills in western Iowa that includes the town of Malvern and surrounding areas. The FaceBook page indicates that they will be enrolling students for the 2025-26 school year. Roberta Walker is listed as the LifeWise director.
Beyond the six school districts that have functioning or soon to be functioning LifeWise program, there are about a dozen schools that are on their way to that goal. Here are those that will likely be running a LifeWise program in the next year or so
There are dozens of communities that are at the starting line of the process which is step one: gathering signatures. From the experience of those schools with active programs, the process can take anywhere from one to two or even three years.
Trust me….they do not care how long it takes.
You can be sure that the aggressive nature of this program will make attempts in any and all school districts that will allow it. They hide behind their three principles that technically keep them within the law:
Parents give their permission for children to attend the program
Bible classes are held off the school grounds, transportation provided by LifeWise
Privately funded, no public funds are utilized
Behind this wall, the organizers of the program push the boundaries wherever they can. By getting the schools to help with promotion or asking the school to help with scheduling and logistics, LifeWise actively seeks to “partner” with schools to achieve their predatory mission. Schools will walk a tightrope legally if the become entangled with this organization.
What Can School Districts Do?
In the series I authored in December 2024, I made some specific recommendations for school districts to consider when reviewing their policies regarding RTRI. The state of Iowa does allow such programs. However, school boards should consider setting up policy boundaries and barriers between themselves and LifeWise.
Here are the recommendations from Part 3 of my series,
Set all classes as "core" classes. These include art, gym, library, music, and technology. Students should never be excused from a core class to attend religious instruction. Absences for RTRI will be “excused,” but students must make up work or lessons that they miss.
Require students to be signed out by a parent/guardian or an emergency contact. This is already standard practice in most schools, but some LifeWise schools have made an exception for released time instruction. Don’t do it. School personnel should not be lining students up to march them out to the big red bus.
Specify precisely how communication for RTRI programs is limited on school property. Nothing should be sent out with school letterhead that mentions LifeWise nor should LifeWise appear anywhere on the school website.
State that students who do not attend RTRI will continue to receive instruction (not just plopped down in a study hall) and explain how missed work will be made up. Schools are not required to adjust or coordinate their schedule with or for the RTRI provider.
Do not allow advertising, promoting, or recruiting students on the school property. Specify that the RTRI program cannot use school communication systems to send home applications, announcements, flyers, or any other type of communication.
If students leave over a lunch hour, it is the parent’s responsibility (or the program's) to provide lunch. The school will not give preferential treatment to students who are allowed to “cut in the lunch line first” so they can get on a big red bus.
When students return, do not allow candy, toys, or other “rewards” from the RTRI program to be brought into the classroom.
Ensure that students leaving the building for an RTRI program do so in the least disruptive manner possible. Same for returning.
Do not allow students to recruit other students by handing out flyers, business cards, or other communications to peers. Do not allow students to be bullied or coerced because of their non-participation in the program. Telling another student they are going to “hell” should be considered bullying or harrassment.
Just as with any visitor to the school, don’t allow an RTRI program to set up a booth at any school function, hold any fundraising event on school grounds, or enter the school facilities without clearance from the school office. This would be true for any religious organization.
Clarify publicly that the school and the RTRI provider are NOT partners. The school is simply allowing parents to utilize their choice for released-time religious instruction.
A Warning!
I’ll end with this warning. What LifeWise Academy is doing is part of the broader Christian Nationalist agenda related to Dominionist teachings called “The Seven Mountain Mandate.” In this theological construct, Christians believe they are mandated by God to control all institutions of society, including education.
For them it isn’t about just trying to get some kids to “accept Jesus as their savior.” This is about owning the public school system. It isn’t a game because these folks are playing for keeps. They will either destroy the public school system through de-funding and voucher plans that siphon money away from public schools OR they will take over the public school system and turn them into quasi-religious institutions, whichever comes first.
Parents and citizens who oppose this agenda need to rise up and speak up…loudly.
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This is alarming. I had not seen your previous articles, but will go back to read them. Thank you for all you are doing.
Good article Dan. This movement is gaining ground and needs to be stopped. Public schools are made up of a wide variety of beliefs and religions. No religion should be in public schools. If they are going to be allowed, then every other religious group should start filing for permission to do the same. Again, no religion should be in public schools, but if one is going to be allowed, then every group should be there too.