I hope you are all celebrating a joyous end to 2013 in the company of family and friends. As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, not only do we close the 2013 chapter of our lives but also our financial books here at IFI.
On Saturday I wrote, “In the media and the churches, in the halls of government and in government schools, we will fight for faith and family in the midst of intolerant ‘progressives’ who are deeply hostile to the very existence of traditional faith and beliefs about family. Your partnership in prayer and financial support will enable us to represent your values in the public square on life, sexual morality, and religious freedom.”
Those are not just words. On the day that article was published, I delivered a message to a convention of Chinese Christians in St. Charles, Illinois. I talked to the attendees about the importance of political involvement and about our obligation to shape the culture.
Your donation today makes it possible for this important work to continue through the Illinois Family Institute. Your donation makes us stronger for the work God has for us in 2014.
Please consider giving online by clicking HERE. We simply cannot do it without you.
Ideas matter enormously, and ideas matter most when embodied in action.
Alfred North Whitehead observed that “Ideas won’t keep. Something must be done about them.”
It is my honor and privilege to work with a powerful thinker and writer, Laurie Higgins. On the same day I published the email I mentioned above Laurie wrote:
“It isn’t enough for homosexuals to have their own offensive annual parades every June in every major city dedicated to celebrating deviance. And it wasn’t enough to ruin Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade for families with a live performance from a play that celebrates cross-dressing. No, it seems their goal is to ruin every public event for families by publicly celebrating perversion.
Inquiring minds want to know if Christian leaders would remain similarly (and oddly) silent if the sin being celebrated were consensual incest or the enslavement of other humans? What should Christian leaders do when a biblical truth is dragged into the public square and into the political scene? And what should Christian leaders do when their flocks are being deceived by the pervasive dissemination of lies, including even the dissemination of lies to our littlest ones–lies which are darkening their minds and molding their hearts. If the church does not participate in exposing these lies, which are confusing even adults, who, pray tell, will?”
Your donation right now will make it possible for us to continue to do something with these ideas in 2014.
Take this opportunity to join a growing number of Illinoisans who have made a monthly financial commitment to IFI. Your monthly commitment helps us better plan and evaluate what we can afford to do several months into the future. This is especially important as many of our initiatives must be planned months in advance. It’s easy to set up a recurring contribution by credit card or electronic funds transfer by completing this mail-in form or by calling the office at (708) 781-9328.
On behalf of the entire IFI team, Happy New Year!
David E. Smith
Executive Director
P.S. Help us begin 2014 strong for the upcoming battles–Donate today! To make a credit card donation over the phone, call the IFI office at (708) 781-9328.
You can also send a gift to P.O. Box 88848, Carol Stream, IL 60188. Remember, according to the IRS, year-end gifts must be postmarked by December 31, 2013.
