formation for future leaders
A gap year discipleship program equipping students for Christ's Kingdom & Mission.
Legacy Bible Institute is an immersive, Bible-centered gap-year discipleship program based in Smithville, Ohio. Legacy is primarily meant for young adults who want to be more deeply grounded in God’s Word and more clearly equipped for a future of faithfulness. Through Scripture, formation, community, and practical discipleship, Legacy helps students grow in faith, discern God’s calling, and step into their next season with Gospel purpose.
YEARLY COSTS
$10.5k/year
Cost includes lodging, groceries, classes, all field trips, and more. We do our best to keep costs affordable, and sponsorships are also available.
PROGRAM LENGTH
August-May
Legacy's program is two semesters in length with breaks that follow a typical academic schedule.
PRIMARY AGE GROUP
18-25 y/o
Legacy is primarily intended for young adults in transitional phases of life, such as between high school and college, or during the college years.
OUR FOCUS
Legacy Essentials
A Gap Year In God's Word
Legacy Bible Institute is more than just a Bible study program—it’s a transformative experience designed to deepen your walk with Christ. Established in 2011, Legacy is a two-semester discipleship program that takes you through every book of the Bible while equipping you with a strong foundation in Christian doctrine, church history, and practical ministry.
At Legacy, we believe that learning and doing go hand in hand. Mornings are spent in interactive classes, where Scripture comes alive through discussion and study. Afternoons are dedicated to praxis—hands-on ministry opportunities where you apply what you’ve learned through outreach, service projects, and real-world discipleship. Evenings and weekends provide time for worship, fellowship, and serving in the local church.
Whether you’re exploring your faith more deeply or preparing for a life of ministry, Legacy offers a structured yet flexible environment where you can grow, serve, and be shaped by God’s Word in a community of like-minded believers.
Our Students
Legacy is designed primarily for young adults ages 18-25. It is intended for the young adult at a transitional point in life who desires to grow in grace, wisdom, and their understanding of Christ. Whether you’re:
- A recent high school graduate looking for a gap-year program that will strengthen your faith before college or career,
- A young adult seeking biblical grounding and ministry training, or
- Already involved in church leadership and desiring deeper discipleship
Legacy is designed to equip, challenge, and encourage you in your walk with Christ. If you’re eager to grow, serve, and be discipled, Legacy is for you.
What Sets Us Apart
Legacy Bible Institute isn’t just about gaining knowledge—it’s about building a life firmly rooted in Christ. Here’s why Legacy might be the perfect next step for you:
- Strengthen Your Faith – Establish a firm foundation in God’s Word as the ultimate guide for life, faith, and joyful Christian living.
- Grow in Biblical Confidence – Develop a strong Christian worldview and learn how to confidently share and defend your faith.
- Prepare for College and Life – Before stepping into your next chapter, spend a year in an intentional Christian community, learning, serving, and experiencing different cultures.
- Discover Your Calling – Explore your talents and interests through hands-on work, service, and ministry opportunities.
- Be Transformed – Through one-on-one mentoring, discipleship, and spiritual formation, become more like Christ in your everyday life.
- Make Lifelong Friendships – Surround yourself with like-minded believers and build deep, lasting friendships that will encourage you for years to come.
If you’re looking for a meaningful, life-changing year where you’ll grow spiritually, academically, and personally, Legacy is for you.
In the Heart of Ohio
Legacy classes and housing are located in Smithville (Wayne County), Ohio. This is a beautiful, semi-rural area with many nearby attractions and experiences. Students stay in separate male and female housing, with a staff RA, and attend classes on the upper floor of our ministry offices.
Our founders,
Richard & Margie Jankov, began dreaming early in their marriage of starting a Bible school for young adults at transitional points in their lives. In 2011, this dream came to fruition with the opening of Legacy Bible Institute as an extension of
Upward Bound Youth, LBI's parent ministry. Legacy is an expression of UBY’s overall mission to teach truth and equip youth & families with the gospel. We firmly believe that a gap year anchored in God’s Word and discipleship will nurture young leaders who further the gospel in their communities, future families, workplaces, and more.
Intentionally Small
Legacy classes typically have no more than twelve students each year, though our program is steadily growing. We prefer smaller class sizes as it can help improve learning retention and create room for deeper relationships.
Biblically Grounded
Our instructors love God's Word, and have a heart to help students love it, too. Students will read through the whole Bible in two semesters, as well as memorize portions of Scripture.
Hands-On Ministry
Legacy is an immersive ministry experience. Not only do students receive Biblical training, they also receive hands-on service opportunities to put what they are learning into practice.
Check out our Student and Parent questionnaires to help determine whether Legacy would be a good next step:
Experience a day in the life of a Legacy students, tour our classroom, visit the lodging areas, and meet our Legacy instructors at our next Preview Day!
OUR FOUNDATIONAL VERSE
Stay connected
Legacy Bible Institute is an immersive, Bible-centered, gap-year discipleship program based in Smithville, Ohio for young adults who want to be more deeply grounded in God’s Word and more clearly equipped for their future. Through Scripture, formation, community, and practical discipleship, Legacy helps students grow in faith, discern God’s calling, and step into their next season with Gospel purpose. To learn more about Legacy or apply for 2026, visit LegacyBibleInstitute.org
#legacybibleinstitute #bibleschool #gapyear #discipleship #christiangapyear
At Legacy, we are honored to be a part of forming young leaders for a life of faithfulness to Jesus. Students receive Biblical instruction, mentorship, opportunities to serve in ministry, and support from Christian community. We believe these young men and women are going to impact Christ’s Kingdom for eternity, and it’s a joy to be a part of their discipleship journey. Interested in Legacy for the 2026-2027 school year? Applications are open and we still have room for more students. We would love to hear from you! Visit LegacyBibleInstitute.org or visit the link in our bio.
#gapyearprogram #gapyear #discipleshipschool #discipleship
Last weekend, we celebrated the graduation of our 2025-2026 Legacy students! What a special day, filled with love from family and friends, as well as hope for these students’ futures. We can’t wait to see all God will do in and through them! 🙌
#legacybibleinstitute #gapyearexperience #gapyear #discipleship #bibleschool
Meet Courtney, one of our 2025-2026 Legacy students! Courtney came to Legacy for a time of deeper learning and growth from her hometown of Medina, Ohio. Courtney is an EMT and has brought her experiences serving others to Legacy with a readiness that is inspiring to see. She helps lead a small group of middle school students at Youth Nights, as well as pitching in wherever the team needs help each week. Some of her favorite hobbies include playing piano, roller blading, and going on road trips. We are so thankful for Courtney and excited to see how the Lord will use her after Legacy.
We are so thankful for the Word of God as the foundation for our lives, hopes, goals, and futures. It is our prayer that each Legacy student would leave their time with us having gained a deeper love for the Bible, but even more importantly, that they would be formed to be like Jesus, the Living Word!
#gapyear #legacybibleinstitute #christiangapyear
As the current school year here at Legacy wraps up, we want to honor the hard work that our students have put in this year, as well as send them off to wherever God leads them after Legacy.
We’d like to extend the invitation to join us for our Legacy 2026 Commencement! It would mean the world to our students to see everyone who wants to celebrate this milestone.
Date & Time: Saturday, May 16, 10:00 AM (with lunch following at noon)
Place: 887 West Main St. Smithville, OH
Please RSVP at the link in our stories or bio by April 30 if you would like to attend!
Happy Easter from all of us at Legacy! Jesus is alive! “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.’ And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.” Luke 24:1-9
Nearly all of our current Legacy class in a photo 😄These past few months have been so fun to learn about each student and seeing how they all, individually and collectively, make serving more fun and meaningful. Maybe you can see yourself in a Legacy class photo someday 👀 Learn more about our programs for 2026-2027 at LegacyBibleInstitute.org/Considering-Legacy
Currently, the Legacy students are all going through the book “The Peacemaker” by Ken Sande. Hear more about the insights and encouragement they are gleaning from this great book! #legacybibleinstitute #bibleschool #gapyear #christiangapyear #christianeducation
Are you ready to step into a deeper calling? Have you been looking for ways to anchor yourself and grow to be more like Jesus? Legacy Bible Institute is a two-semester discipleship program designed to help you grow, equip you for ministry, and prepare you for a life of purpose in God’s Kingdom. Learn more at LegacyBibleInstitute.org
Weekly community meals are a fun, intentional way for Legacy students to grow in their understanding of community and their engagement with the local & greater Church. Our learning model has a key emphasis on active & growing participation in Christian community, and we are so thankful for the hosts who open their home to the Legacy students each week. Each Community Meal involves fellowship, breaking bread together, and having thoughtful discussions. It’s safe to say these Monday nights are a highlight for our students 🙌
Growing in Christ doesn’t happen by accident. The heart of Legacy is to support you in your walk with Jesus to become more like Him every day. Whether you’re exploring your faith more deeply or preparing for a life of ministry, Legacy offers a structured yet flexible environment where you can grow, serve, and be shaped by God’s Word in a community of like-minded believers. To learn more, visit LegacyBibleInstitute.org.
Maybe you’ve been wondering about Legacy, and considering whether it could be for you! Swipe through to learn more about Legacy, and as always, feel free to reach out to see if Legacy is a fit for your unique situation as well 🙌
#gapyear #bibleschool #discipleship
Meet Luke, one of our 2025-2026 academic year Legacy students! Luke came from Michigan to join Legacy as a true gap year between graduating high school and choosing a career & college path. He has jumped into his studies here at Legacy with enthusiasm, joy, and a servant’s heart to work in multiple ministry and praxis opportunities. We are so grateful to have Luke here at Legacy!
Legacy applications & enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year are now open! Now is the perfect time to get in touch with us if you are considering Legacy, and have questions you’d like answered as you think about your plans for next year. You can contact us and learn more at LegacyBibleInstitute.org/Admissions or email us: info@legacybibleinstitute.org
Reminder: if you want to get a sample of what life at Legacy is like for yourself, our next Preview Day is coming up on March 26 from 8:30am-3:00pm! For more information, visit LegacyBibleInstitute.org/Preview_Day
We asked a few of our current Legacy students their perspective on who should come to Legacy 📖🙌 Legacy is for any young adult who wants to deepen their faith and dedicate time to learning God’s Word in community, and our program lends itself especially well to transitory seasons of life (for example, a gap year between high school and college). Visit LegacyBibleInstitute.org to learn more about who Legacy is meant for and if it could be a good fit for you!
#legacybibleinstitute #gapyear #bibleschool #discipleship #christianeducation
Weekly update from our Director of Education, Judah Weinhardt! So thankful for his heart to teach God’s Word faithfully to our students 🙏 Learn more about how Bible classes fit in to the overall learning model of Legacy at LegacyBibleInstitute.org/Learning-Model
#gapyear #bibleschool #biblestudy
We believe that leadership begins with a heart surrendered to Christ. The heart of Legacy is to form young leaders for a life of obedience and learning from Jesus. Christ’s example of leadership is one of radical sacrifice and humility, as he remained perfectly obedient to His Father. We pray that every day we can live like Jesus, as seen in Philippians 2:5-8:
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
How have you seen Christ-like leadership modeled in your life? Pray with us as we seek to equip leaders who serve like Jesus here at Legacy and beyond.
Save the date for our SPRING PREVIEW DAY 👀
If you are a high school junior, senior or graduate we invite you to join us at our next Legacy Bible Institute preview day on Thursday, March 26, 2026! Our preview days are opportunities for you to get to experience what it is like to participate in the discipleship program at Legacy. Click on the link below or scan the attached QR code for details and registration.
https://www.legacybibleinstitute.org/preview_day
Founded in 2011, Legacy is a discipleship-based gap year program located in Smithville, OH. While at Legacy, students will deepen their knowledge of and love for God and His Word, be equipped to serve in various ministry contexts, and develop a deeper sense of Christian community all while discerning the next steps that God has for them. Questions about Legacy? Feel free to reach out to our staff at info@legacybibleinstitute.org!
We’re excited that our students are back with us and have started this spring semester off strong!
Our students are looking forward to lots of great things we have planned for the spring. We’ll be sharing updates along the way so you can see the field trips, growth, and activities! Interested in Legacy for yourself or a friend? Visit us at LegacyBibleInstitute.org 📖
#legacybibleinstitute #christian #gapyear #bibleschool
Our Old Testament teacher Dan Rickett talks about what he’s teaching through this week.
Do you want to be transformed by Christ and Scripture?
Or maybe you just want to dedicate a year of your life to do a deeper dive into the Bible?
We’d love to have you here at Legacy Bible Institute! You can find more info on our page!
#christiantheology #biblestudy #gapyear #legacybibleinstitute #christian
2025 was a year for the books here at Legacy 🙌
These photos are just the highlights of our fall 2025 semester with our Legacy community. Legacy students continued to join local and global communities in a beautiful way to further Christ’s Kingdom. We celebrated weekly wins, baptisms, a new baby in our director’s family, a new marriage for another staff member, and more. Most importantly, students continued to grow and seek God in His Word more and more. We cannot wait to see what the spring holds!
There’s a place for you at Legacy, too! Contact us now about 2026 enrollment: info@legacybibleinstitute.org or send us a DM anytime 🥳
Cover video 🎥: @diegofilms
Merry Christmas from all of us here at Legacy! We hope you have an amazing Christmas with friends and family as we celebrate together that Christ has brought us peace!
Over 2000 years later, the effects of what happened the night Jesus was born still echo throughout space and time, impacting each and every one of us! We pray you are having a wonderful Christmas Eve 🌟
Our fall 2025 semester came to a close with a fun, family-style dinner with each of the students and their instructors.
It's such a joy to be in community with these students! We're thankful for each and every one of them for sharing their hearts at this dinner and for giving Legacy their all this semester.
Can't wait to see what God does in the spring!
#christian #christiangapyear #christiancommunity #legacybible #legacybibleinstitute
How incredible to reflect on the truth that God is with us! Take time this Christmas to celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Light has invaded the darkness! Jesus Christ has come to redeem us! We encourage you to let the glory of Christ shine through you this Christmas season 🙏
Day 4/4 of our annual trip to North Carolina. All trips must come to an end. 😢 Today we had one last breakfast together, packed up and went to Church for morning service. After that, we headed back home to Ohio. Thank you @samaritanspurse for being such great hosts! #legacybibleinstitute #discipleship #bibleschool #christianeducation #christian #gapyear #christiangapyear
Day 3/4 of our annual trip to North Carolina. What a day! We had a relaxing morning at our Airbnb getting to spend time together in fellowship with each other. Some recreational activities in the afternoon and finally, our evening shift at the OCC shoebox processing center. It was so fun to be a part of the work that God is doing through Samaritans Purse. #legacybibleinstitute #discipleship #bibleschool #christianeducation #christian #gapyear #christiangapyear
Day 2/4 of our trip to North Carolina! It was amazing to see how God has been working through Samaritans Purse! It’s such an encouraging time to come back and visit every year! #legacybibleinstitute #discipleship #bibleschool #christianeducation #christian #gapyear #christiangapyear #
Day 1/4 of our annual trip to Samaritans Purse in North Carolina! Our students will have the opportunity to visit SPs headquarters and get to see the amazing work that they are doing in Jesus’ name! #legacybibleinstitute #discipleship #bibleschool #christianeducation #christian #gapyear #christiangapyear #samaritanspurse #
This past weekend we had the opportunity to be a sponsor at the Ashland University Homeschooling conference.
It was so encouraging to see this community that is deeply committed to providing their children with a strong education.
We invite you and your church community to experience Legacy Bible Institute at our upcoming Preview Day on Thursday, October 2nd and Thursday, November 20th.
Legacy is a discipleship based gap year program located in Wooster, OH. It was established in 2011 and while its main focus has been young adults who are preparing for college, the mission field or the workforce, it is open to and welcomes adults of all ages. Legacy provides a unique setting where students can deepen their knowledge of and love for God and His Word, be equipped to serve in various ministry contexts, and develop a deeper sense of Christian community all while discerning the next steps that God has for them.
What to Expect:
- Campus Tour & Student Life Overview
- Sit in on a Class
- Lunch With Our Staff & Current Students
- Q&A Session for Parents & Students
- Curriculum & Courses Overview
Link to our webpage in our bio.
Growing up in the age of technology has caused us to have false beliefs about the nature of ourselves and the world that we live in.
Many of these beliefs are held subconsciously and we don't even realize just how much it affects us and our relationship with God and other people.
Last week, the Legacy students participated in the weeklong Digital Discipleship class. They were challenged to reflect on the role that their technology plays in their lives and how God may be calling them to change.
We're super excited to be kicking off our fall semester with orientation day tomorrow!
We can't wait to meet all of our new students this year!
Our fall semester starts next Monday August 25.
It's never too late to join us at Legacy!
If you aren't sure what you are going to do this coming year, consider coming to Legacy!
At Legacy Bible Institute you would:
- Read through the entire Bible in 8 months
- Gain hands-on ministry experience
- Build good habits and spiritual disciplines
- Learn to be a life-long learner and studier of the Bible
- Get plugged into a vibrant Christian community
- Build life-long friendships
You can find the link to our website on our page!
Starting our day with the Word of God is so important for our daily walk as followers of Christ. The Lord commanded the Jewish people to meditate on His words day and night. We too should have the word of God in our minds and hearts throughout the day!
Why should you take a gap-year?
Many studies are being published that show the benefits of taking a gap-year in your life after you leave high school.
Here at Legacy, we believe you are provided with a unique learning experience and environment that you cannot find anywhere else.
What are you thankful to God for lately?
Leave us a comment and let us know!
We all know the feeling. In our fast paced western culture, we never seem to have enough time to do all the things that we need to do.
This weight and pressure feels inescapable and we become burdened with worry and anxiety as our endless to-do lists get longer.
It seems impossible to find time to be still and rest in the presence of God when our minds are constantly running at 100 miles an hour.
In Jordan Raynor's book Redeeming Your Time, he offers 7 biblical principles for being purposeful, present & wildly productive as followers of Christ.
The first principle that Jordan gives in his book is Spend Time in The Word.
Even when our schedules feel full and we feel like we can't find time to spend with God, Jordan urges us to see the value in starting each day in the presence of God and reading His Word.
Look forward to a full review of Jordans Redeeming Your Time in one of our future newsletters!
You can find Jordan's book here:
https://a.co/d/bK2Egzk
What is the motivation behind our actions?
Christ calls us to practice our righteousness in secret. If we are doing things just because we want to be noticed by them, we will have no heavenly reward from the Father.
We should ask God to give us a heart for serving others out of a pure heart.
Ever wonder which books actually stick after Bible school? 📚✨
We asked a few Legacy Bible Institute alumni:
“What was your favorite textbook — and why?”
Their answers? A mix of classics we still use and hidden gems from years past — all part of how God has shaped lives through deep study, honest reflection, and transformative truth.
Some books taught practical tools.
Some challenged stubborn hearts.
Some pointed students right back to the one Book that matters most.
This is why we do what we do — because faithful resources + faithful teaching can change the way we see God, ourselves, and the world.
Which one would you pick up again? #LegacyBibleInstitute #BibleSchool #ChristianEducation #BibleCollege #ChristianBooks #SpiritualGrowth #Theology #BibleStudyTools #Hermeneutics #Discipleship #BiblicalStudies #ChristianReads #ChristianBookstagram #ChristianAuthors #BookQuotes #BookRecommendations #FaithBasedBooks #NonfictionReads #BooksThatStick #TextbookThrowback #FavoriteBooks #AlumniStories #GodAtWork
God just called Moses… and now He’s trying to kill him?!
Yeah, Exodus 4:24 is one of those verses.
But weird doesn’t mean worthless. It means we need to slow down and study it right—in context, with care, and with the right tools.
That’s what we do in Bible Study Methods at Legacy.
Mondays this fall with @astrodan06—come learn how to handle the Word faithfully (and not skip the wild parts).
#BibleStudy #Exodus424 #GraspingGodsWord #ContextIsKey #LegacyBibleInstitute #StudyTheBible #Hermeneutics #BibleStudyTools #DontSkipIt #ZipporahKnewWhatWasUp #FaithfulInterpretation #ScriptureInContext
Fall Start Coming Soon!
Our next Legacy gap year class launches on August 22, and we’d love for you to be part of it.
Applications are open, and spots are filling—if you’ve been thinking about joining, now’s the time!
Take the next step today: https://www.legacybibleinstitute.org/admissions
#ChristianGapYear #GapYearProgram #GapYearLife #NextStep #YoungAdultsInChrist #StudentMinistry #ChristianStudents #CollegeAlternative #LifeAfterHighSchool #GrowInFaith #LegacyBibleInstitute #LegacyBible #BibleSchool
Welcome! Legacy is a discipleship based gap year program located in Wooster, OH. It was established in 2011 and while its main focus has been young adults who are preparing for college, the mission field or the workforce it is open to and welcomes adults of all ages. Legacy provides a unique setting where students can deepen their knowledge of and love for God and His Word, be equipped to serve in various ministry contexts, and develop a deeper sense of Christian community all while discerning the next steps that God has for them.
Check out the slides above for more information! #bible #gapyear #institute #biblestudy #ministry #christian #discipleship #gospel #church #evangelism
Here’s what our Students had to say about the D.C Trip to the Bible Museum!
D.C Trip 2025
From walking through the story of scripture at the Museum of the Bible, the sobering halls of the Holocaust Museum, enjoying the National Mall, and worshipping at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, God moved our hearts in every moment.
May we be a people shaped by God’s Word and sent into the word with its life giving message.
#legacybibleinstitute #LBI #DCLegacy #Museumofthebible #aslanisonthemove #faithandhistory #capitolhillbaptist #solascriptura #scripturestudy #bible #christian #washingtondc #students #gospelliving #gospelfluency
Ezra set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, to live it, and to teach it. At Legacy, we follow the same path—devoted to Scripture, transformed by truth, and equipped to disciple.
What truth from God’s Word is shaping you right now?
#LegacyBibleInstitute #Ezra710 #StudyDoTeach #BibleTraining #Equipped #TheologyMatters #ChristianEducation #Discipleship #ScriptureFirst #FaithInAction #BibleLife #LiveTheWord #ScriptureMatters #RootedInTruth #JesusFirst
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