>>> TONIGHT, THE POWERFUL STORMS ARE MOVING EAST AFTER TORNADOES LEFT A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION IN THE HEARTLAND. A DANGEROUS NIGHT AHEAD AFTER A TORNADO OUTBREAK IN THE CENTRAL U.S. A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN KENTUCKY. A COLLEGE STUDENT BLOWN OFF THEIR FEET. HOMES DAMAGED IN OKLAHOMA. TENS OF MILLIONS AT RISK TONIGHT FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO THE GULF COAST. THEN THE SYSTEM MOVING EAST AS AN APRIL NOR'EASTER. AL ROKER IS HERE WITH THE LATEST. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE ISRAELI AIR STRIKE KILLING SEVEN AID WORKERS IN GAZA, INCLUDING AN AMERICAN. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU CALLING IT TRAGIC AND UNINTENTIONAL. THE REACTION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, SAYING IT'S OUTRAGED. DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGNING IN THE MIDWEST AFTER POSTING A $175 MILLION BOND IN HIS CIVIL FRAUD CASE. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN AND CHINA'S LEADER XI JINPING SPEAKING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEIR NOVEMBER SUMMIT. THE SECURITY CONCERNS THE PRESIDENT RAISED ABOUT TIKTOK. >>> THE NEW 3D IMAGES OF THE COLLAPSED BRIDGE IN BALTIMORE. WHAT THEY REVEAL. THE AMERICAN TOURISTS WHO SAY THEIR CRUISE SHIP STRANDED THEM ON AN ISLAND OFF AFRICA. THEIR RACE TO GET BACK ON BOARD. ALIVE IN L.A. SCHO, AND THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AFTER AN OSCAR WINNING FILM. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. AN UNSETTLED NIGHT AHEAD FOR POTENTIALLY 53 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN AREAS AT RISK FROM ANOTHER NIGHT OF SEVERE WEATHER. TONIGHT, THE CLEANUP IS BARELY UNDER WAY AFTER VIOLENT WEATHER BARRELED THROUGH PARTS OF OKLAHOMA, MISSOURI, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, AND KENTUCKY, TOPPLING TREES AND KNOCKING OFF POWER ACROSS SECTIONS OF THE MIDWEST AND OHIO VALLEYS. AT LEAST NINE TORNADOES WERE REPORTED. TONIGHT, THE SEVERE WEATHER RISK IS SPREADING EAST, WITH 41 MILLION PEOPLE FROM THE MIDWEST INTO THE MIDATLANTIC AT RISK FROM FLASH FLOODING. AL ROKER WILL JOIN ME IN JUST A MOMENT WITH A FORECAST. BUT FIRST, HERE IS MORGAN CHESKY FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, DRENCHING RAINS, HIGH WINDS, AND TORNADOES WREAKING HAVOC. THE DANGEROUS TRIO SPARKING A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN KENTUCKY. STRIKING SO FAST, THIS STUDENT WAS KNOCKED RIGHT OFF THEIR FEET. THE MASSIVE STORM RIPPING THROUGH THIS MOBILE HOME. A FAMILY TRAPPED INSIDE, BUT SOMEHOW ABLE TO ESCAPE UNHARMED. SEVERE WEATHER BLASTING SEMITRUCKS OFF THE ROAD. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT PICKED IT UP, MOVED IT DOWN THE ROAD, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GROUNDING AGAINST THE BLACK TOP. >> Reporter: IN OKLAHOMA, THIS SAME SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR MULTIPLE OVERNIGHT TORNADOES. >> IT WAS POUNDING THE WINDOWS AND THE SIDES OF THE HOUSE. IT WAS CRAZY. >> Reporter: IN THE TOWN OF BARNSDALL, ONE REPORTED TWISTER SENT DEBRIS EVERYWHERE. AND IT'S BLAMED FOR RIPPING OFF ROOFS, INCLUDING THE ONE BELONGING TO SHARON HORST. BUT FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES. >> I'M NOT AFRAID OF STORMS. >> Reporter: BUT THIS ONE? >> I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN MY WHOLE LIFE. >> Reporter: IN ILLINOIS, AN APPARENT TORNADO TOUCHING DOWN. AND IN INDIANA, ANOTHER CLOSE CALL. >> GRAVEL IN MY HEAD. THERE IS GLASS IN MY HEAD, WHATEVER, AND MUD. THERE IS STILL MUD BEHIND MY EARS. >> Reporter: KEYANA DUFF HEARD THE TORNADO WARNING SECONDS BEFORE THE STORM SHATTERED EVERY WINDOW IN HER CAR, YET SHE WALKED AWAY WITHOUT EVEN A SCRATCH. AND IN MISSOURI, FIREFIGHTERS BRAVED THE ELEMENTS TO RESCUE A DELIVERY DRIVER TRAPPED BY RISING WATERS. >> HE WAS IN HIS TRUCK, AND THE WATER CAME UP SO FAST HE GOT STRANDED IN THERE. SO WE HAD TO RESCUE HIM BY BOAT. >> Reporter: BUT BACK IN OKLAHOMA, AFTER A FRIGHTENING NIGHT OF TORNADOES, THE RUSH IS ON TO MOVE ON. >> WE ALL GOT TO HELP ONE ANOTHER IN THIS TIME OF NEED. >> AND MORGAN JOINS US NOW FROM BARNSDALL WHERE AUTHORITIES SEARCHED OVERNIGHT AND REPORT EVERYONE IS ACCOUNTED FOR. >> YEAH, LESTER, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WHEN YOU SEE THE DAMAGE SUFFERED, IT IS FRANKLY INCREDIBLE. ONE HOMEOWNER TOLD ME HE WAS INSIDE THE BUILDING MINUTES BEFORE THE STORM CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSE. SO MANY PEOPLE HERE CREDITING FORECASTERS WITH GIVING THEM CRUCIAL MINUTES TO SEEK SHELTER WELL AHEAD OF THAT TORNADO. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT, MORGAN, THANK YOU. FOR MORE ON THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TONIGHT, LET'S BRING IN AL ROKER. THIS THREAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT AND EVEN TOMORROW. >> THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. THIS IS JUST WHAT WE'RE TALK ABOUT LAST NIGHT AT THIS TIME. YOU CAN SEE THIS LARGE AREA STRETCHING FROM OHIO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MISSISSIPPI. WE HAVE TORNADO WATCHES IN EFFECT THAT LASTS INTO LATE TONIGHT. 41 MILLION PEOPLE UNDER FLOOD WATCHES FROM INDIANA ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTHEAST. AND WE'VE GOT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES, 10 MILLION PEOPLE FROM THE GREAT LAKES ALL THE WAY INTO NEW ENGLAND, SOME BLIZZARD WARNINGS POSSIBLE. 53 MILLION PEOPLE AT RISK. WIND GUSTS OF 70 MILES PER HOUR HAIL, AND LOOK AT THIS WIDE AREA OF POSSIBLE EF-2 TORNADOES FROM COLUMBUS DOWN TO DOTHAN. ATLANTA IS IN THERE AS WELL. RAINFALL AMOUNTS 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN THROUGH TOMORROW. BUT LOOK AT THIS SNOW, LESTER, IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA, 1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW PER HOUR. UPWARDS OF A FOOT AND A HALF. >> ALL RIGHT. AL, THANKS VERY MUCH. >>> IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ISRAEL IS CALLING IT AN UNINTENTIONAL TRAGEDY. A SERIES OF AIR STRIKES IN GAZA THAT KILLED AN AMERICAN AND SIX OTHER PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM RUN BY FAMED CHEF JOSE ANDRES.EF JOSE AND. RAF SANCHEZ REPORTS ON THE FALLOUT. >> Reporter: THE CONVOY OF AID VEHICLES HAD JUST LEFT A GAZA WAREHOUSE, CLEARLY MARKED WITH THE LOGO OF THE WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN, WHEN THEY WERE HIT BY A SERIES OF ISRAELI AIR STRIKES. TONIGHT, THE WHITE HOUSE AMONG THOSE SHARPLY CRITICIZING ISRAEL. >> WE WERE OUTRAGED TO LEARN OF AN IDF STRIKE THAT KILLED A NUMBER OF CIVILIAN HUMANITARIAN WORKERS YESTERDAY. THIS INCIDENT IS EMBLEMATIC OF A LARGER PROBLEM. >> Reporter: SEVEN AID WORKERS WERE KILLED, INCLUDING A DUAL U.S.-CANADA CITIZEN. LATE TODAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLING WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN FOUNDER, CELEBRITY CHEF JOSE ANDRES, TO OFFER CONDOLENCES. ANDRES WRITING, "THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STOP THIS INDISCRIMINATE KILLING. IT NEEDS TO STOP RESTRICTING HUMANITARIAN AID, STOP KILLING CIVILIANS AND AID WORKERS, AND STOP USING FOOD AS A WEAPON." ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING ISRAELI FORCES UNINTENTIONALLY HARMED NONCOMBATANTS, AND WRITING, "OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THEIR FAMILIES," SAYING ISRAEL WILL INVESTIGATE AND "WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENSURE THAT SUCH TRAGEDIES DO NOT OCCUR IN THE FUTURE." >> IT WAS A MISTAKE. >> Reporter: ISRAEL'S TOP GENERAL SAYING THE STRIKE WAS A MISTAKE, FOLLOWING A MISIDENTIFICATION. NBC NEWS MAPPED THE LOCATIONS OF THE AID GROUP'S DESTROYED VEHICLES, FINDING AT LEAST THREE STRIKES OVER A MILE AND A HALF LENGTH OF COASTAL ROAD. THE AID GROUP SAYS THEY COORDINATED THEIR MOVEMENTS WITH THE ISRAELI MILITARY AHEAD OF TIME. WE PRESSED AN ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN. ISRAEL TELLS THE WORLD THAT ITS STRIKES ARE BASED ON PRECISE INTELLIGENCE, THAT IT TAKES MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NOT CIVILIANS IN THE AREA. HOW CAN THAT POSSIBLY BE TRUE, GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED HERE? >> THERE'S A WAR GOING ON. IT'S A WAR ZONE. AND IN EVERY WAR, SADLY, TRAGICALLY, MISTAKES HAPPEN. AND WE DO OUR VERY UTMOST TO AVOID THOSE MISTAKES. >> Reporter: AMONG THOSE KILLED YESTERDAY, AUSTRALIAN ZOMI FRANCOM. NBC'S RICHARD ENGEL MET HER LAST MONTH AS SHE HELPED ORGANIZE AN AID TRUCK. >> THE SITUATION IN GAZA IS, AS WE ALL KNOW, INCREDIBLY BAD. IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, HER HEARTBROKEN COLLEAGUES CARRYING THE BODIES TO THE EGYPTIAN BORDER, PREPARING TO LEAVE GAZA WITH THE PRAYERS OF THOSE THEY CAME TO HELP. AND WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN IS NOW PAUSING AID DELIVERIES. MEANWHILE, THE U.N. SAID THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. AROUND 200 AID WORKERS, MOST PALESTINIAN, HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GAZA SINCE THE START OF THE WAR. LESTER? >> RAF SANCHEZ IN TEL >> RAF SANCHEZ IN TEL AVIV TONIGHT, THANK YOU. >>> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES IN THE MIDWEST HIGHLIGHTING THE BORDER CRISIS AS HE IS DEALING WITH NEW FALLOUT FROM HIS LEGAL CASES, INCLUDING AN EXPANDED GAG ORDER FROM A JUDGE. GABE GUTIERREZ REPORTS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ON A BATTLEGROUND BLITZ WITH THIS RALLY IN GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN. >> DO I HAVE YOUR WORD YOU'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND VOTE? >> AND THIS STOP IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. BOTH STATES PRESIDENT BIDEN NARROWLY WON FOUR YEARS AGO. MR. TRUMP ZEROING IN ON THE BORDER CRISIS, HIGHLIGHTING THE MURDER OF 25-YEAR-OLD RUBY GARCIA HERE LAST MONTH. AUTHORITIES SAY THE SUSPECT, HER ROMANTIC PARTNER, AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DEPORTED DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. >> NOT ONE MORE INNOCENT LIFE SHOULD BE LOST TO BIDEN MIGRANT CRIME. >> Reporter: MR. TRUMP SLAMMING PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR ROLLING BACK RESTRICTIVE TRUMP BORDER POLICIES. >> UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE HAD A TOUGH POLICY OF GETTING THE BAD PEOPLE OUT. >> Reporter: A NEW SURVEY SHOWS 64% OF AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HANDLING OF THE BORDER, INCLUDING THREE IN TEN DEMOCRATS. >> YOU DON'T HAVE A BORDER, YOU'VE GOT PROBLEMS. AND THEY'RE IMPORTING THEM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. >> Reporter: BUT STUDIES SUGGEST MIGRANTS DON'T COMMIT CRIMES AT HIGHER RATES THAN AMERICAN CITIZENS, AND DEMOCRATS ARGUE MR. TRUMP IS TRYING TO EXPLOIT GARCIA'S DEATH. THEY BLAME THE FORMER PRESIDENT FOR KILLING A BIPARTISAN BORDER SECURITY BILL IN CONGRESS. THESE BILLBOARDS ARE NOW GOING UP IN THE CRUCIAL SWING STATES. >> DONALD TRUMP HAS NOT WASTED ANY TIME IN GRANDSTANDING AND CLAMORING FOR THE CAMERA TO COME HERE. >> Reporter: THE FORMER PRESIDENT FIGHTING LEGAL BATTLES ON MULTIPLE FRONTS. THE JUDGE IN HIS HUSH MONEY TRIAL JUST EXPANDED THE GAG ORDER AGAINST MR. TRUMP TO INCLUDE THE RELATIVES OF COURT STAFF AFTER MR. TRUMP ON SOCIAL MEDIA ATTACKED THE JUDGE'S ADULT DAUGHTER, WHO IS A POLITICAL CONSULTANT FOR DEMOCRATS. MEANWHILE, MR. TRUMP JUST POSTED A REDUCED $175 MILLION BOND IN HIS NEW YORK CITY CIVIL FRAUD CASE, PREVENTING HIS PROPERTIES FROM BEING SEIZED WHILE HE APPEALS THE CASE. >> I HAD TO PUT UP BOND THIS MORNING FOR $175 MILLION. I DID NOTHING WRONG. >> MEANWHILE, GABE, PRESIDENT BIDEN HOLDING A CRITICAL CALL WITH CHINA'S PRESIDENT. TELL US ABOUT IT. >> YES, LESTER. PRESIDENT BIDEN SPOKE WITH CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI JINPING FOR AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES. THE WHITE HOUSE CALLING IT CANDID AND CONSTRUCTIVE. AMONG THE TOPICS, TIKTOK, WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN REITERATING CONCERNS OVER THE APP'S TIES TO CHINA. LESTER? >> GABE, THANK YOU. >>> IN BALTIMORE, WE'RE SEEING THE FIRST UNDERWATER IMAGES OF THE BRIDGE DISASTER THEY'RE HAPPENED A WEEK AGO TODAY, SHOWING HOW DANGEROUS IT WILL BE TO REMOVE THE WRECKAGE. HERE IS SENIOR CORRESPONDENT TOM COSTELLO. >> Reporter: THE U.S. NAVY'S 3D SONAR IMAGES PROVIDE THE FIRST VIEW YET OF THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE NOW RESTING ON THE MUDDY BOTTOM OF THE PATAPSCO RIVER. >> WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE WATER IS THE WRECKAGE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY COLLAPSED. SOME PEOPLE USE THE TERM PANCAKED. >> Reporter: 3D PROVIDES THE BEST DETAILS THE RAZOR-SHARP METAL THE DIVE TEAMS WILL FACE AS THEY START CUTTING THE BRIDGE INTO SMALLER PIECES TO BE LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER. THE WATER ITSELF SO CLOUDY AND DARK, DIVERS CAN ONLY SEE A FOOT OR TWO IN FRONT OF THEM. SHINING AN UNDERWATER LIGHT ONLY REFLECTS BACK LIKE A SNOWSTORM, MAKING PHOTOS OR VIDEO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. >> THAT'S MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO EVEN DETERMINE WHERE TO CUT, HOW TO CUT. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS FOR OUR DIVERS TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THIS AREA. >> Reporter: ABOVE WATER, SALVAGE TEAMS HAVE BEEN USING TORCHES TO CUT AND REMOVE MASSIVE CHUNKS OF THE BRIDGE, SOME WEIGHING 200 TONS. AS THE COAST GUARD HAS NOW OPENED TWO SMALL CHANNELS, MOSTLY FOR TUGS AND BARGES INVOLVED IN SALVAGE OPERATIONS. THE MASSIVE SCALE OF THE CLEANUP COMING INTO CLEAR FOCUS. TWO SBA DISASTER OFFICES NOW OPEN FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES THREATENED BY THE DISASTER, AS THE GOVERNOR PRESSES CORPORATE AMERICA NOT TO GIVE UP ON THIS REGION'S CRITICAL ECONOMIC ARTERY. >> AND SO MAKING SURE THESE BUSINESSES KNOW THAT WE NEED THEM. WE WANT THEM. AND THEY HAVE TO STAY HERE IN THE PORT OF BALTIMORE. >> Reporter: FOUR WORKERS REMAIN MISSING IN THE WATER, AND INCLEMENT WEATHER AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS HAVE MADE IT UNSAFE FOR DIVERS TO RETURN, WITH THOSE FAMILIES IN AN AGONIZING WAIT. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT, TOM COSTELLO, THANK YOU. >>> IN JUST 60 SECONDS, THE DREAM VACATION THAT TURNED TO A TRAVEL NIGHTMARE. HOW SIX AMERICAN TOURISTS WERE LEFT BEHIND BY THEIR CRUISE SHIP ON AN ISLAND. >>> IT WAS A >>> IT WAS A DREAM VACATION TURNED NIGHTMARE FOR EIGHT CRUISE PASSENGERS, MOST OF THEM AMERICANS WHO SAY THEIR SHIP LEFT THEM STRANDED ON A SMALL ISLAND OFF OF AFRICA. THE COMPANY SAYING THEY CAME BACK TOO LATE. HERE IS ERIN McLAUGHLIN. >> Reporter: A MAD DASH FOR PASSENGERS TO CATCH THEIR CRUISE SHIP TRIGGERING A SEVEN-DAY ORDEAL. >> WE'VE FLOWN TO SEVEN COUNTRIES IN 48 HOURS. >> Reporter: JAY AND JILL CAMPBELL AND SIX OTHER NORWEGIAN CRUISE PASSENGERS WERE ON A 21-DAY VOYAGE UP THE COAST OF AFRICA, BUT LAST WEDNESDAY IT ALL WENT WRONG FOR THE GROUP AFTER THEY LEFT THE SHIP FOR A PRIVATE EXCURSION TO THE AFRICAN ISLAND COUNTRY OF SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE, BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK BY THE 3:00 P.M. DEADLINE, AND THE SHIP LEFT WITHOUT THEM, THEIR PASSPORTS HANDED TO THE LOCAL PORT AGENTS. EVEN THOUGH THE COUPLE SAYS THE PRIVATE TOUR OPERATOR NOTIFIED THE CAPTAIN THEY WERE GOING TO BE LATE, AND DESPITE THE COAST GUARD'S ATTEMPT TO GET THEM ON THE SHIP, WHICH WAS STILL DOCKED. >> WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SET OF RULES OR POLICIES THAT THE SHIP MAY HAVE FOLLOWED, THEY FOLLOW THOSE RULES TOO RIGIDLY. >> Reporter: THE PASSENGERS ARRANGED TO BOARD AGAIN IN GAMBIA, TRAVELING THERE ON THEIR OWN EXPENSE. BUT THE CREW SAYS THE SHIP COULDN'T DOCK DUE TO WEATHER. ONCE THE GUESTS DID NOT MAKE IT BACK TO THE SHIP, WE WORKED WITH THEM AND THE LOCAL PORT AGENT TO ASSIST WITH OBTAINING THE NECESSARY VISAS FOR THEM TO REJOIN AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE PORT, NOTING THE GROUP WAS AN HOUR LATE WHEN THE SHIP INITIALLY LEFT WITHOUT THEM. STILL, THE CAMPBELLS TELLING THE "TODAY" SHOW -- >> I BELIEVE THAT THEY REALLY FORGOT THEY ARE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE CRUISE LINE SAYING THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. ALL EIGHT GUESTS REBOARDING THE SHIP THIS MORNING IN SENEGAL. ERIN McLAUGHLIN, NBC NEWS. >>> WE HAVE MORE TO TELL YOU ABOUT COMING UP. THE PROGRAM THAT'S BRINGING MORE AND MORE BIBLE STUDY INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS' DAY. OUR EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT >>> BACK NOW WITH OUR NBC NEWS EXCLUSIVE. A GROUP IN OHIO HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO BRING BIBLE STUDY TO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, BUT THERE ARE CRITICS WHO FEAR IT'S ERODING THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. HERE IS ANTONIA HYLTON. >> Reporter: AS CLASSMATES HEAD TO THE LIBRARY, THIS GROUP OF WHITEHALL SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OHIO PUT ON MATCHING SHIRTS AND BOARD A BUS AND HEAD HALF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD TO CHURCH. THERE, ELEMENTARY STUDENTS LIKE EMANUEL AND SAVANNAH BRADY PRAY -- >> AMEN. >> -- AND STUDY SCRIPTURE. THIS IS LIFEWISE ACADEMY, A NONPROFIT BRINGING THE BIBLE BACK INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DAY. >> THE LEARNING REALLY HELPS YOU LEARN ABOUT JESUS AND WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST. >> Reporter: HOW POPULAR WOULD YOU SAY IT IS AT SCHOOL? >> MAINLY THE WHOLE CLASS IS OVER AT LIFEWISE. >> Reporter: LIFEWISE STARTED IN 2018 WITH TWO SCHOOLS. TODAY IT PARTNERS WITH MORE THAN 300 SCHOOLS IN A DOZEN STATES. IT'S FUNDED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS, AND IT'S LEGAL, SO LONG AS IT'S OPTIONAL, OFF CAMPUS, AND NOT DURING ESSENTIAL CLASSES LIKE MATH. THOUGH TO SOME IT REPRESENTS AN INCREASINGLY BLURRY LINE BETWEEN THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. DOUG SHOEMAKER, A WHITEHALL ADMINISTRATOR SAYS THE DISTRICT HAS ALLOWED THIS KIND OF PROGRAM FOR DECADES. >> WE NEITHER DISCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OR REWARD OR ENCOURAGE IT. >> Reporter: DAD DARRYL BRADY SAYS LIFEWISE LESSONS POSITIVELY MOTIVE EMANUEL AND SAVANNAH. DO YOU THINK CHURCH HAS A PLACE IN SCHOOL? >> YEAH. I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO BRING CHURCHES BACK INTO SCHOOLS FOR A LONG TIME. >> SOME OF THESE SESSIONS TAKE PLACE WHEN LIBRARY PERIODS WOULD BE HAPPENING IN SCHOOL. >> Reporter: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR KIDS MISSING OUT ON THAT EXPERIENCE? >> NOT AT ALL. THERE IS 39 BOOKS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND 27 BOOKS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. >> Reporter: FOUNDER JOEL PENTON SAID HE SAW A GROWING NEED, INCLUDING THOSE UNABLE TO AFFORD PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS. IN THIS AREA ABOUT 50% OF STUDENTS TAKE PART IN LIFEWISE. WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS FOR THE OTHER 50%? DO I DON'T THINK THEY FEEL LEFT OUT? >> I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE IT THAT WAY. KIDS GO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS ALL THE TIME. ON THE PLAYGROUND, SOME KIDS PLAY KICK BALL. OTHER KIDS WILL GO TO THE MONKEY BARS. >> Reporter: THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE PHYSICALLY BE GONE. >> SURE. HOPEFULLY LIFEWISE IS AN ATTRACTIVE THING THAT PEOPLE WILL WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN, BUT WE CERTAINLY DON'T EVER WANT TO PUT ANY UNDUE PRESSURE. >> Reporter: BUT OHIO MOM SARAH MEYERS SAYS THAT LIFEWISE DOES EXERT PRESSURE. SHE IS A CHRISTIAN WITH A DAUGHTER IN A SCHOOL PARTNERING WITH THEM. SHE WON'T EVER LET HER TAKE PART, THOUGH. >> IT IS ALL ABOVEBOARD UNTIL IT'S NOT. NO SCHOOL STAFF PERSON DOES ANYTHING UNTIL THEY DO. >> Reporter: CHAPTERS PROMISE ICE CREAM OR POPCORN PARTIES IF KIDS GOT THEIR FRIENDS TO SIGN UP. ANOTHER OHIO MOM SENT NBC NEWS THIS NOTE HER CHILD RECEIVED FROM A CLASSMATE ON LIFEWISE LETTERHEAD, PREWRITTEN TO SAY "MY FAVORITE PART OF CLASS IS --" THE CLASSMATE WRITING EVERYTHING AND INVITING THE CHILD TO JOIN LIFEWISE. LIFEWISE TOLD NBC NEWS THAT LIKE MANY GROUPS, THEY OFFER INCENTIVES FOR FAMILIES AND TO LEARN MORE AND ARE NO DIFFICULT FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THEY BELIEVE IN. WHAT DO YOU THINK LIFEWISE IS TRYING TO DO? >> INFLUENCE, SLANT, IF YOU WILL, PUBLIC SCHOOLS. >> Reporter: JOEL SAYS HE PAYS LITTLE ATTENTION TO CRITICS. >> IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE 13,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THERE ARE 50 MILLION PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. >> Reporter: AND HE HOPES TO MAKE BIBLICAL LESSONS AVAILABLE TO EVERY ONE OF THEM. ANTONIA HYLTON, NBC NEWS, COLUMBUS, OHIO. >>> UP NEXT, AS WE CONTINUE, TONIGHT AFTER AN OSCAR WINNING