photo by: Ainsley Hall

From left, David Shultz, Dan Collis, Shalonda Winston, Cora Abrahante, Belinda Linton and Kim Foster lead the LifeWise Academy program in Berkeley County.

HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. — LifeWise Academy has officially come to Berkeley County, starting its first meetings this month. LifeWise is a program dedicated to teaching kids about the Bible all over the country. During school hours and with parents’ permission, kids gather to learn from teachers and volunteers.

When Shalonda Winston learned about LifeWise, she thought it would be a great program to bring into Berkeley County. After getting in touch with Back Creek Valley Elementary, she opened the program to those students, and several homeschool families that were interested in participating.

“With our kids, in school, going through bullying, some with depression, anxiety, it’s another outlet for them to come and learn how to cope with that and how to handle the stresses of the world,” Winston said.

Winston believes it’s important for kids to have the opportunity to participate because they might want to learn more about Christ but might not have an opportunity to do so otherwise. LifeWise gives them that opportunity while also giving them fun activities and opportunities to make new friends.

LifeWise had its first meeting Friday, Sept. 19 where students and parents could meet the teachers and learn more about the program. Each of the kids were given their own Bible and other LifeWise merch to celebrate the beginning of the new program. They will continue to meet every Tuesday for classes.

Cora Abrahante is the Elementary School Teacher at LifeWise Academy. When she first heard about the program, she was inspired by its focus on Faith based education and decided she wanted to get involved.

She reached out to Winston and joined the LifeWise team.

“We definitely focus on Bible education, educating the little children about the Bible,” Abrahante said. “Hopefully, we are molding them into having good faith and then be able to plant those seeds and them and hopefully merge them into the communities to engage in with their local churches.”

As a believer, Abrahante believes all Christians are called to teach the least of these, which includes children. She hopes that as the program grows, more children will invite their friends to come try it out.

LifeWise Academy will meet every Tuesday at 2030 Back Creek Valley Road, right by Back Creek Valley Elementary School.