Dear Pro-Family Friends,

You’ll be happy to hear that The Illinois Family Institute has achieved our goal to raise $50,000 late yesterday — one day earlier than expected!  The response to this challenge match has been fantastic and encouraging.  THANK YOU to all who contributed!

But we don’t have to stop there!  Any donation given or mailed by December 31st will benefit IFI’s critical work and ministry in 2014.  

IFI has been your voice for traditional family values for more than 20 years. We have never been afraid to stand up and speak out in the public square for the Judeo-Christian values upon which our country is based, no matter how “politically incorrect.” Though the year is ending, the battle will surely continue into 2014 and beyond. Will you continue to serve with us in this battle?

Please consider giving online by clicking HERE.  We need you more than ever.  We simply cannot do it without you.

If you have been reading our emails and website, I don’t have to tell you how emboldened our adversaries have become.  Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen them ramp up their attacks on the values we hold dear.  They have absolutely no tolerance for Christian businessmen and women who own and operate bakeries, bed & breakfasts, photography studios, and floral shops.  They must be punished.  So they are sued for refusing to participate in same-sex ceremonies, which they consider immoral.

Counseling students are expelled from state universities for choosing not to counsel unmarried couples on how to engage in sinful relationships.

Personal modesty and the safety of children are being tossed overboard as public bathrooms are being opened to gender-confused people. All this because elected officials are more concerned about pandering to a radical lobby than they are about defending common sense.

Christian ministries and employers are being told that they must underwrite the costs of drugs and devices that destroy human life in their own health insurance plans. All this because of government officials who are unwilling to protect the religious liberties and conscience rights of American citizens.

While prayer and bible reading are outlawed in our government schools, evolution, naturalism and humanism is taught as “science.”   Instead, students are being politically indoctrinated to tolerate and even celebrate what the Bible calls sin. 

Many neighborhood libraries defend having unfettered access to Internet pornography, even though perverts surf graphic sites in full view of children and families. 

Media firestorms erupt when high profile Christians express an opinion in favor of natural marriage.  Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy and Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson were targeted for boycotts and smear campaigns by multi-million dollar organizations devoted to advancing the LGBTQ agenda.  

Maybe I missed something during the Robertson brouhaha, but not once did I hear or read a political pundit in the media address the glaring double standard that, in my opinion, was the elephant in the room.  Why is it that A&E had the right to suspend Phil Robertson because they don’t agree with his religious views, but Christian bakery owners/photographers/florists cannot do the same for same-sex ceremonies they don’t agree with?

And why is it that when Robertson paraphrases 1 Corinthians 6: 9 & 10 and addresses sexual morality, liberals indignantly claim that homosexuals shouldn’t be compared to drunkards, prostitutes and bestiality.  Well, why aren’t they equally concerned that the greedy and slanderers are being compared to adulterers and fornicators?  

I can think of two reasons.

First, the greedy, drunkards, prostitutes and slanderers do not have a multi-million dollar lobby, so there is no one to issue a press release and feign outrage.

Secondly, they need to manufacture an emotional response in hopes of gaining the sympathy of the public.  Robertson wasn’t comparing homosexuality with bestiality any  more than he was comparing homosexuality with slander.  He was merely listing a number of sins — which included heterosexual and homosexual sins. 

The fact is we are all sinners in need of God’s grace and we all need to ask for His forgiveness.  We all need the Savior.  But if we as a society start calling evil good, how will the world know about sexual morality?  How will our culture know that sex outside of marriage — one man, one woman, offends God?  

If we call evil good, or stand silently by as the rest of the world calls evil good, healthy and normal, how will they know how they have offended a Holy God?  How can they turn and sin no more?  

If we are not willing to clearly declare the truth about sin we are guilty of affirming it.

Illinois Family Institute will not remain silent.  We are proud to be pro-family.  That is what we are here to do.  We will continue to boldly speak out about the truth of the sanctity of life, the importance of marriage and the role of the natural family regardless of cultural trends and political agendas. Thankfully, there are many who are partnering with us. I hope you will continue to stand with IFI in 2014 as we strive to challenge the Goliaths of our day.

Please consider a generous contribution to IFI right now, as we depend heavily on year-end donations. Once the General Assembly returns to Springfield, they will get back to work wanting to fulfill promises to the liberal special interest groups. Your financial support in 2013 was crucial, and your dedication to our common mission is critical to our continued success.

Please consider giving online by clicking HERE. 

With your help, we will continue our efforts to uphold marriage, family, life and liberty in the Land of Lincoln.

Your support will take us above and beyond our year end goal, and will be added to the promised $25,000 match that a few donors are sending in now.  Yesterday’s donations put us over the top.  Thanks be to God.

Here are some ways you can give your tax-deductible donation:

• Contribute online HERE. 
• Give a gift of stock or appreciated assets. Contact Deb Schloemer, IFI’s Financial Administrator, at (708) 781-9328 or email her HERE.
• Mail your year-end gift. Send to: Illinois Family Institute, P.O. Box 88848, Carol Stream, IL, 60188
• We also accept credit card donations over the phone at (708) 781-9328.

Please join with us in praying that God would provide the resources we need to move boldly into next year! 

Thank you, God bless you and 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.