LifeWise Licking Heights OH

03/08/2026

02/12/2026

Join us for a Free Information Dinner where you can learn all about making a difference with LifeWise. It’s a relaxed evening full of inspiring stories, great info, and a chance to connect with others passionate about impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved and see how you can contribute to the community effort to bring Bible character education during school hours. Everyone is welcome, including homeschoolers! Please make your reservation by March 1st. For more information, found on Evenbright, go to

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/licking-heights-lifewise-evening-of-impact-free-information-dinner-tickets-1982972329618?aff=oddtdtcreator

02/10/2026

02/06/2026

LifeWise Licking Heights First Week Results

LifeWise Friends,

What an exciting week we’ve had at LifeWise Licking Heights! We thank the Lord—and the dedicated work of our volunteers—for a very successful start. This week, we taught Bible stories and shared the love of Jesus with four classes (grades 1–4) from Broad Peak Elementary and three classes (grades 1–4) from Lima Ridge Elementary.

The class logistics, lesson time, facilities, and transportation all went flawlessly thanks to the incredible efforts of our volunteers and our staff teacher, Ms. Laura (yay!). The children were highly engaged and friendly, leaving with smiles on their faces, proudly wearing their LifeWise T-shirts, and excited to share their experience with their friends.

Last night, Ms. Laura and I also had the opportunity to share about LifeWise at our information table during the Licking Heights Local Family Game Night and Resource Fair, attended by district parents and children, hosted at Licking Heights High School. Our big red LifeWise bus was parked right outside and drew a great deal of interest as families came and went. We gave away all of our Smarties candy and every miniature Jesus figurine—favorites among the children! We are grateful to the school for inviting LifeWise to be part of this event.

Please share in the excitement. LifeWise has just begun!

https://lifewise.org/program/3904800-licking-heights-local-school-district/

Gratefully,
Licking Heights LifeWise

Children's pictures used with parental permission.

01/24/2026

LifeWise Academy programs begin this week in Licking Heights! We are excited to see this vision become a reality.
We currently have 25 children registered for classes, with programs beginning on the following dates and at these locations:

Broad Peak Elementary
Meeting at Providence Presbyterian Church
Begins Wednesday, January 28 — 12 students registered

Lima Ridge Elementary
Meeting at Jersey Church
Begins Thursday, February 5 — 10 students registered

Everest Elementary
Meeting at Eastpointe Christian Church
Classes begin Tuesday, February 10. The start date was postponed to allow time for additional enrollment.

You may have already seen our LifeWise bus in the community. See the picture below.

We have twelve loving and dedicated volunteers ready to serve your children. Below is a photo from our recent volunteer orientation and training — a wonderful team prepared to provide Bible-based character education to your child. See the picture below.
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What Happens in a LifeWise Class

When a child arrives at LifeWise class, they will eat lunch while watching a ten-minute Bible lesson from The Bible Project. Following the video, our teacher, Laura Thompson, will lead a discussion on the lesson’s character focus and how students can practice these attitudes and behaviors with family, friends, and in their community.

This will be followed by a fun activity or game to reinforce the lesson. Bible concept memorization and music will also be part of the experience. Children will be prayed for and encouraged in every way possible. After approximately 35–40 minutes, students will return by bus to school for their next class.
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Our Work Has Just Begun

This week marks the beginning of years of Bible-based character education in Licking Heights with an emphasis on the Gospel. Will you join us in prayer and consider becoming a sponsor of this Gospel-centered ministry?

This past week, our program invested over $2,000 to finalize preparations for the Big Red Bus, which is essential to our transportation program. Air brake and suspension repairs, along with inspection preparation, totaled just over $1,000. LifeWise branding decals also cost us just over $1,000.

We stepped out in faith, trusting our partners would help cover these launch expenses. Would you help us meet this need? Any amount is appreciated and can be contributed online or by mail to: PO Box 146, Newark, OH 43055

LifeWise Academy Licking Heights Local Sponsor and Student Registration Link:
https://lifewise.org/district/3904800-oh-licking-county-licking-heights-local/
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It’s Real

This week, LifeWise Licking Heights moves from vision to reality. Please continue spreading the good news of LifeWise by sharing our link through text, email, and word of mouth. Children and families hearing the Gospel for the first time depend on a community of faithful friends.
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With gratitude,
LifeWise Academy Licking Heights Local

01/12/2026

Volunteer Orientation and training complete. Our teachers and volunteers are ready for classes starting in a couple of weeks! This crew are some of the finest people in our community! Thank you for serving!

01/07/2026

We've registered enough children to begin 5 classes with our first registration deadline. We are extending our registration deadline to February 1, 2026. Please share the love and enroll your children for our January 20th and February 5th programs. Our program teacher, Ms. Laura Thompson, and our volunteer teams are excited to care for your children during the school lunch hour.

12/24/2025

A Merry Christmas Greeting from all of us at LifeWise Licking Heights! Our Hope has come!

12/19/2025

LifeWise Licking Heights End of the Year Matching Gift – More for Charitable Giving and less in Taxes

Dear LifeWise Academy Licking Heights Friends,
Enrollment is well underway, and we now have enough students enrolled to launch five classes, all beginning in less than a month. In addition, our bus is being painted LifeWise red thanks to a combined generous $5,000 in gifts received this past week that fully covered the cost. Thank you for being such a supportive community with a genuine heart for children.

End-of-Year Matching Gift Opportunity — Give More to Charity While Reducing Taxes

In response to last week’s matching gift, a local business couple has stepped forward with an additional $2,500 matching gift to encourage local citizens and business owners to help us reach a new $2,500 goal. This year-end giving opportunity is especially meaningful for those who would prefer to make a charitable contribution rather than pay additional taxes—supporting a nonprofit organization like LifeWise Academy in the process.

Would you consider making a year-end gift toward this matching opportunity? Details on how to contribute are provided below.

Finally, please help us spread the word by encouraging parents to enroll their children by January 6. Thank you for your continued prayers, generosity, and partnership.

Campus Launch Dates and Locations

• Everest Elementary – Starts January 20, 2026 at Eastpointe Christian Church
• Broadpeak Elementary – Starts January 28, 2026 at Providence Presbyterian Church
• Lima Ridge Elementary – Starts February 5, 2026 at Jersey Church

Please help bring the Gospel and the Word of God to the children of Licking Heights. Your support ensures students—and their families—hear about God’s love.

Once your donation is received, our Program Director will contact you regarding how you would like your contribution to be used.
You can give or become a monthly sponsor at
lifewise.org/lickingheightsoh,
or simply scan our QR code to visit the program website.

Or Mail checks to LifeWise Licking Heights, PO Box 146, Newark, Ohio, 43055. Please note: Mailed checks require additional staff time to process, so give online if you can.

Thank you,

All for Jesus, Your local LifeWise Licking Heights Community Leadership Board

Kevin Carr
Derek Myers
Matt Hazelwood
Tim Rohr
Phil Hooks
Pastor Aaron Fry
Roger Weaver
Darrick Boord
Dr. Wayne Pessia (Program Director)

12/12/2025

Dear LifeWise Academy Licking Heights Friends,

Because of your incredible generosity, our community raised more than $26,000 in financial support and pledges in November to launch our program on January 20, 2026. We also received a strong response from those interested in serving as classroom volunteers and leadership board members, to form teams for all three campuses, with room for even more to join.

Thank you for helping us build this momentum.

Enrollment is well underway thanks to school district newsletters, and we now have enough students to begin five classes. Our bus is preparing for its transformation into LifeWise Red, and our classroom teacher, Laura Thompson, along with Dr. Pessia, are actively securing the supplies needed for our first sessions.

Campus Launch Dates and Locations
• Everest Elementary – Starts January 20, 2026 at Eastpointe Christian Church
• Broadpeak Elementary – Starts January 28, 2026 at Providence Presbyterian Church
• Lima Ridge Elementary – Starts February 5, 2026 at Jersey Church
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Two Ways You Can Help This December

1. Matching Funds Needed to Paint Big Red #1
Branding and painting our LifeWise bus will cost $5,000. Generous donors have committed $2,500 in matching funds, and we are seeking partners to help raise the remaining $2,500. Your gift—large or small—will directly help us put Big Red #1 on the road. Details on how to contribute are below.

2. Volunteer CDL Bus Drivers
Do you or someone you know want to make a meaningful impact in a child’s life? We are looking for CDL-certified volunteer drivers to help transport students to LifeWise. The commitment is just three hours, one day a week, during the school year. Please share this opportunity with anyone who might be interested.


Please help bring the Gospel and the Word of God to the children of Licking Heights. Your support ensures students—and their families—hear about God’s love.

Once your donation is received, our Program Director will contact you regarding how you would like your contribution to be used.
You can give or become a monthly sponsor at
lifewise.org/lickingheightsoh

Or Mail checks to LifeWise Licking Heights, PO Box 146, Newark, Ohio, 43058. Please note: Mailed checks require additional staff time to process, so give online if you can.

Thank you,

All for Jesus, Your local LifeWise Licking Heights Community Leadership Board

Kevin Carr
Derek Myers
Matt Hazelwood
Tim Rohr
Phil Hooks
Pastor Aaron Fry
Roger Weaver
Dr. Wayne Pessia (Program Director)