A New Era of Hope for Ohio’s Children
The Church Is Reclaiming Education
In a culture that often feels like it’s drifting further from its foundations, it is easy for the faithful to become discouraged. We see the headlines, we track the legislative battles, and we feel the weight of a world increasingly at odds with the Gospel. But as pastors and leaders across the Buckeye State, we know that light shines brightest in the darkness.
Today, we have a reason to celebrate. Something extraordinary is happening in our neighborhoods: The Church in Ohio is reclaiming its role as the center of education.
The Boom of the “School-in-a-Church” Model
For decades, the idea of starting a Christian school felt like an impossible mountain for most local congregations to climb. The overhead, the staffing, and the regulatory hurdles seemed insurmountable. However, through the work of the Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN), a ministry of Center for Christian Virtue, that narrative is changing.
Since 2022, we have seen a surge in “school plants”—innovative models in which churches use their existing, underused facilities to launch full-time Christian academies. In 2025 alone, five new schools were launched through this partnership, bringing the total to fifteen, with dozens more currently in the pipeline.
The impact is measurable and moving. One school recently reported a 58 percent increase in enrollment in a single year after securing a charter that allowed families to utilize the EdChoice Scholarship. This means that a high-quality, Christ-centered education is no longer a luxury for the wealthy; it is becoming accessible to every family in Ohio, regardless of their zip code or income level.
Why This Matters for the Great Commission
Education is not just about academics; it’s about discipleship. As the great Christian thinker C.S. Lewis once wrote in The Abolition of Man: “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.” Our public squares have become spiritual deserts, but our churches are beginning to irrigate the hearts of the next generation with the living water of the Word.
Scripture reminds us in Deuteronomy 6:6-7:
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
By integrating the Gospel into the Monday-through-Friday rhythm of a child’s life, Ohio pastors are moving beyond the “one-hour-a-week” model of discipleship. We are seeing students who aren’t just learning about God, but are learning to see the entire world through Him.
LifeWise Academy: Bringing the Bible Back to Public Schools
The revival isn’t limited to private Christian schools. LifeWise Academy, an Ohio-based Released Time Religious Instruction program, has seen explosive growth. Following the passage of religious release laws, more than 100 Ohio school districts added LifeWise in 2025.
This program allows public school students to leave campus during the day for Bible education. It’s a beautiful picture of the Church and the community working together to provide students with a moral and spiritual compass. As Charles Spurgeon famously said, “Instruction ends in the schoolroom, but education ends only with life.” By reaching students in the public sphere, we are ensuring that the seeds of faith are planted early and often.
A Call to Courageous Leadership
To the pastors of Ohio: this is your moment. Whether through the Minnery Fellowship, which equips shepherds to lead with biblical clarity, or by exploring how your own church building could host a new academy, the opportunities for impact have never been greater.
We are witnessing a “cultural course correction.” When we stop playing defense and start proactively building institutions that honor God, the world takes notice. Let us continue to stand boldly, pray without ceasing, and invest in the next generation.
The “revival that awakened in 2025” is not a fleeting moment; it is the beginning of a lasting renewal for the state of Ohio.
Are you interested in how your church can impact your community through education?
Learn more about planting a school at OhioCEN.org.
Join the Church Ambassador Network to connect with other courageous leaders across Ohio.
Support the mission of CCV as we advocate for biblical values in our statehouse by clicking here.
