About
Our mission is to bring
to the lives of public school students, their families, and the community in general through teaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Release Time Bible education program.
hope and purpose
Released Time Bible Education
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Released Time Bible Education allows students to receive religious instruction during school hours at off-campus locations, with written parental consent. The program began in 1914 and has served millions of K-12 students, with hundreds of thousands participating annually. It upholds parents' constitutional right to guide their children's religious education while maintaining the separation of church and state.
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Released Time Bible Education operates under Supreme Court protection, established in Zorach v. Clauson (1952). This ruling affirms students' right to receive religious instruction during school hours when:
Instruction occurs off school grounds
Parents provide written permission
No public funds are used
Academic standing isn't affected
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The First Amendment protects parents' rights to direct their children's religious education. Released Time programs honor this right while maintaining the separation of church and state.
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Released Time programs provide:
Structured spiritual development
Character formation
Supportive community
Biblical literacy
A moral framework for decision-making
Released Time programs across America demonstrate:
Improved student behavior
Enhanced academic performance
Stronger community relationships
Reduced disciplinary issues
Increased student engagement
Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible to be the infallible, inspired, and authoritative word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The one living true God is creator of all things and is infinite in power, love, wisdom, and goodness. God is the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible.
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God‘s presence at work in the world, the church, and individuals. The Holy Spirit empowers, inspires, guides, and leads the believer into the truth of a new life in Christ.
We believe that humanity was created in the image of God for the primary purpose of glorifying and enjoying Him forever. Since the fall of Adam, however, sin has probed every person. We believe that God offers salvation to humanity and a lost world through Jesus Christ. When one turns away from sin, believes, and receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, that person is forgiven, transformed, and assured of eternal life.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Deborah Wilker has held Teacher Certification in the state of Florida from 1975 through the present, receiving her B.A. in Social Science, her Master’s in Psychology, and her Ph.D. in Philosophy.
For decades, she has been involved in teaching in high school, college, and seminary.
She has led a monthly community Bible study in her home since 2004.
For the past three years, Deborah has hosted a monthly devotional dinner for the Freedom Clubs of Dr. Phillips High School, where she previously taught for ten years.
Through teaching, Deborah has empowered others to recognize their gifts, develop and fine-tune their gifts, and use them in serving God and others in very tangible ways.
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John Wilker is a dedicated family physician with a distinguished career that began as a Navy doctor. After retiring from the Navy, he established his practice, ProHealth Family Physicians, in St. Cloud, Florida, in 1986. Over the years, he served in various leadership roles at St. Cloud Hospital, including as Chief of Staff, before retiring in 2005. Despite his retirement, he has continued to work part-time, demonstrating his commitment to healthcare.
John has been an active member of City of Life Church since 1987, where he has served as an Elder and Covenant Leader. He is also deeply involved in community and charitable work, serving on the boards of Hands to the World and Dave VanWinkle Ministries. Together with his wife, Debbi, John has hosted the Championship Clubs at Dr. Phillips High School for the past three years, further showcasing his dedication to mentoring and community service.
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James Coney is a graduate of Bob Jones University, with a degree in American History. Upon graduation, he joined the Orlando Police Department. He became one of the first officers assigned to schools as a liaison. While working in the school system as a police officer, he fell in love with teaching. He flipped his career. He currently is a government and economics teacher at Dr. Phillips High School.
James Coney has had a remarkable and fulfilling career journey as an educator and coach at Dr. Phillips High School for the last thirty-nine years. Through his teaching experience at the secondary level, he has dedicated his life to educating young minds in government and economics while also contributing significantly as a swim and soccer coach. In addition to these roles, his sponsorship of a faith-based club on campus suggests a commitment to supporting students' personal and spiritual growth. This blend of academic teaching and extracurricular involvement reflects a deep commitment to student development and education. Having been the first officer assigned to schools as a liaison would have provided a unique perspective on the educational environment. It's wonderful to hear that through his work within the school system, he discovered a passion for teaching. We are grateful for that pivotal moment, which prompted his career shift to education, because he has been making a significant impact on students ever since.
