I am excited to share some good news with you about the $150,000 matching challenge we wrote about two weeks ago: The response to this challenge has been encouraging, and we are making good progress toward meeting the goal before the end of the year. But we still have a way to go to achieve our lofty goal.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters – moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas of Illinois – we have raised close to 60 percent of our goal thus far.

We still need to raise approximately $64,000 over the next ten days in order to realize the full matching challenge.

Any donation given or mailed by December 31st will go toward this matching challenge.

The stakes in 2022 remain high — especially given the fact that it is a post-census election year in which every state lawmaker and constitutional officer will be on the ballot. And we don’t want to be sitting on the sidelines at a time when we will have a chance to flip one or two Congressional seats here in Illinois in a year that favors the Republicans. The IFI Voter Guide will play a critical part in educating voters on which candidates support our values and which candidate have (or will) go along to get along with the swampy establishment.

We know all too well that the Left doesn’t give up on their godless worldview or walk away from the battle. Despite poor approval ratings for their leaders, they are preparing to redouble their efforts in the 2022 election cycle to push their agenda in the media, through pop culture, in our government schools, and in our legislatures and courts.

If we can learn anything from the Left, it’s to be tenacious, persevering, fearless, and bold.

We must be prepared to counter their message with our message of hope and truth! Will you stand with us in 2022 and double the impact of your donation today?

We cannot compete against this evil with fearful, self-serving silence. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul exhorts the recipients, and us, to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Similarly, the Psalmist reminds us, to “be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Now is the time to toughen up and stop playing it safe. We must speak and act boldly, knowing that we have a righteous cause and that Almighty God stands with us!

With your prayers and support, IFI will continue to speak unashamedly and unequivocally about the fundamental truths concerning life, marriage, faith, freedom, decency and the natural family.

We need your prayer covering and financial support!

As you consider how you can support IFI at this critical time of the year, ask yourself,

What would Illinois look like without the Illinois Family Institute pushing back hard against the ideology and efforts of Leftists?

What would the state look like if IFI were not here to alert, equip, and encourage Illinoisans and their families?

Please help us with a financial gift today in order that we can start next year strong. It is only through your support that we are able to work tirelessly to promote pro-family views.

With your prayers and support, IFI will continue to speak unashamedly and unequivocally about the fundamental truths concerning life, marriage, faith, freedom, decency and the natural family.

Illinois Family Institute is needed now more than ever.

We are your voice in the public square!

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

• Contribute online HERE.
• Give a gift of stock or appreciated assets. Contact Colleen Garcia, 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 876, Tinley Park, IL 60477
• We also accept credit card donations over the phone at (708) 781-9328.

Thank you for your consideration. Your financial support and your prayers are what makes our mission to protect and preserve life, marriage, family and liberty in Illinois possible.  THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US!

Sincerely,

David E. Smith
Executive Director

P.S. Donations must be postmarked by December 31 in order to qualify as 2021 gifts. Now, more than ever, your gift will help us uphold the legacy left by the faithful generations that preceded us.

Don’t delay, please donate today!

I am so grateful for the support given to us by conservative Christian parents and grandparents from across the state and nation.

With a new year just around the corner, our team is ready for new challenges. Illinois Family Institute will remain as always on the front lines defending your values in 2022.

I want to remind you that we have a special opportunity as we prepare for the New Year!

A group of amazing donors have put forth a challenge: every gift given to IFI before December 31, 2021 will be DOUBLED up to $150,000!

This means before December 31, your gift of $75 is worth $150, $250 becomes $500, and $1000 will be $2000. This year-end challenge includes our largest matching campaign ever!

For almost three decades now, IFI has stood alone in boldly defending faith and family in the Land of Lincoln. The world of local conservative politics—political pundits, consultants, establishment members, and activists for other causes—constantly tell us that what matters most are fiscal issues. IFI is the only voice boldly upholding the truth in the public square that what matters most in public policy are the sanctity of life, the traditional family, and religious liberty.

We must stand together against the perversion that is intentionally being forced on our kids, especially on children who are stuck in government schools. Those who are responsible for this propaganda must be exposed and held accountable.

In the meantime, we must be just as tenacious in protecting and discipling our children in the faith as Leftists are in harming and indoctrinating our children. That’s why I am so thankful for you!

During the month of December, we are striving to meet our year-end goal. It is critically important that IFI be prepared to operate at full strength to continue to fight next year. Will you please consider a generous gift right now before we close the books on 2021?

Among our political and cultural adversaries are progressive groups that are well funded by billionaires who are deeply committed to maintaining the status quo—”the Chicago Way.” But Virginia voters recently shown us that we can win, when parents and other community members unite to oppose the false and divisive “woke” agenda.

We cannot do this without you! And there’s only two weeks left in 2021! When you make your gift today, and join us in this vital work, you can also add it to your tax deductions on your 2021 tax return!

Every child, every family, is worth it. Please, we hope to hear from you soon. No amount is too small. To make a credit card donation over the phone, call the IFI office at (708) 781-9328. You can also send a gift to:

Illinois Family Institute
P.O. Box 876
Tinley Park, IL  60477

We would like to Give Thanks and Praise to God for all that he has done and CELEBRATE LIFE!

Please join us as we sing praises to God for the hearts and lives He has saved and more! On Thursday, October 28 we are gathering at the Waterleaf Women’s Center across the street from the Aurora Planned Parenthood from 5:30 – 6:30 PM to give God thanks.

God has blessed us in so many ways during this most recent campaign.  Here are some of the ways just to name a few:

• 462 babies have been saved from abortion Vigil wide, this is a record number of saves!!
• 2 Babies that we are aware of have been spared from abortion in Aurora, Illinois!!
• There have been two turnarounds!
• The ecumenical community of prayer warriors that have come out to pray for the unborn in good weather and bad has been phenomenal this Fall.
• The Texas Heartbeat Law has saved 90- 124 lives per week in Texas!!  This law has been confronted with numerous legal challenges, and in each case the judicial system has found in favor of life.
• Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on December 1st.
• Fox News dedicated a One Hour primetime show to Pro Life on Friday Night, October 8th.

We look forward to Praising God with you about these events and more on Thursday!

This weekend, we remember the Islamic terrorist attacks on America 20 years ago. For many of us, it has left an indelible mark on our memories and changed the way we live forever. The lives lost in the attacks, and the bravery of the First Responders that day must never be forgotten, and we pray for a return to an honest fear of God, sense of unity, and love of country embraced by our nation in the days that followed.

Dear Pro-Family Warriors,

Once all the mail was opened after the Labor Day Weekend, I am excited to report that we met our summertime matching challenge! The full $80,000 match has been reached and will be added specifically to our ongoing work to educate, encourage and exhort church leaders, parents and grandparents about exiting the government schools.

THANK YOU for your tremendous support!

I am so grateful for the generous donors who made this matching challenge possible. It is comforting to know that many of our supporters share this “Rescuing Our Children” vision and are willing to back this vital project. We must work toward what is good and true—for this generation and the generations that will follow. That, in turn, will lead to a better Illinois—spiritually, culturally and politically.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to see Illinois become a place where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and human life is cherished? It begins with us, our children and our grandchildren. There are simply no quick fixes to this cultural morass that the Left has fostered over decades. A better tomorrow requires our investments today. With God going before us, I am confident that we could transform the culture.

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them,
for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
~I John 4:4~

Thank you for your support, prayers, words of encouragement, and for the confidence you place in us.

To God be the glory!

David E. Smith, Executive Director
Illinois Family Institute
P.O. Box 876
Tinley Park, IL  60477

Follow Dave on Twitter – @ProFamilyIL
Please “like” the IFI Facebook Page – Pro-Family Illinois
List to the weekly Spotlight Podcast

Illinois Family Institute is pleased to welcome Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer to our Fall Banquet as keynote speaker to share his wisdom, faith, and biblical and cultural insights, much of which he has written about in his two most recent books: “The Church in Babylon” and “We Will Not Be Silenced.” His message to serious Christians living in a deep blue state is sure to be timely and compelling.

As Pastor Emeritus of Chicago’s Moody Church where he served as senior pastor for 36 years, he has gained much wisdom and knowledge. He understands the times in which we live and has written and preached clearly about the challenges we face in the culture today. His leadership, encouragement, and exhortations are perhaps more important now more than ever in our nation’s history.

Dr. Lutzer is an award-winning author of more than 50 books, including: Rescuing the Gospel, He Will Be the Preacher, The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent, One Minute After You Die, When a Nation Forgets God, and Christian Bookseller’s Gold Medallion Award winner, Hitler’s Cross.

Dr. Lutzer and his wife Rebecca live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

You will not want to miss this opportunity to hear directly from a Christian leader who I’ve (audaciously) termed to be “Chicagoland’s favorite pastor.”

Faith, Family and Freedom Fall Banquet
“We Will Not Be Silenced”

with special guest, Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
Friday, October 29, 2021

The early bird special is $60 per ticket. After Sept. 20th, tickets are $75.
Tables of 10 are also discounted before Sept. 20th! 

Secure your tickets or table now – click here or call (708) 781-9328.

Program advertisements & banquet sponsorships available.

Don’t Delay – Early Bird Specials Expire on Sept. 20th!

Your attendance and support is essential to our success!

->Click HERE for an event flyer<-

Illinois Family Institute is working diligently on our “Rescuing Our Children” initiative, which we began this year. Late last year, the board of directors and staff met to discuss the culture, Illinois politics, our faith, and the opportunities to “boldly bring a biblical perspective to public policy.” The opinion was unanimous. Government schools are (and have been) undermining Judeo-Christian values, principles and standards and teaching students ideologies and philosophies that run counter to the Word of God. From mandating “LGBTQIAP” indoctrination in government schools to forcing teachers to accept and promote controversial “progressive” theories on race and sex in the classroom.

We cannot ignore this situation any longer, as it grows increasingly hostile to our faith with each passing year. Our children are at risk.

Therefore, our “Rescuing our Children” initiative is focusing on getting pastors, church leaders, parents, and grandparents to understand the urgency of getting children out of the government school system. We believe that the godless ideologies our children are being indoctrinated with is a crisis.

We must go on the offense. We must be pro-active. We must expose those places where children are being harmed and speak out on their behalf. We must reveal the truth about what is happening in far too many of our government schools. We must confront the harsh reality of both academic failure and anti-Christian, anti-American brainwashing.

Partnering with the national group Public School Exit, we hope to educate, equip, and exhort the body of Christ to get out of government schools and into Christ-centered education. There are many great options! (Learn more HERE and HERE.)

To this end, we are excited to announce an amazing summertime matching challenge made possible through the generosity of faithful supporters. These donors are working with us to offer a $40,000 dollar-for-dollar matching challenge to help us raise $80,000 for “Rescuing the Children” initiative here in Illinois!

Between now and Labor Day, you can double the impact of your tax deductible donation while helping us fund this critical battle!

Dear Parents, Grandparents, Pastors and Church Leaders,

I’m sure that you would agree that our children are part of a massive mission field – a mission field that has been neglected. They demand our utmost attention and our highest priority. Too many children in our families, in our churches and in our communities are being discipled in ways that are contrary to what the Bible teaches. This cannot continue.

Our Lord and Savior gave us clear instructions in Matthew 28:19-20 to “make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” While international missionary support is necessary, we simply cannot ignore the growing great need here at home with our own children. (Mark 8:36; Prov. 17:24)

It is bad enough that children are failing to meet proficiency standards in English Language Arts, Math and Science, but now the focus of school time is on social engineering, humanistic training, sexual immorality, revisionist history and other godless subject matters. Right here in Illinois, a shocking number of kids hear messages about choosing their gender or embracing an LGBTQ lifestyle … and our state lawmakers just mandated “comprehensive sex ed” for kids as young as kindergarten.

Not only are these issues occurring in Illinois and other states, but the federal Equality Act – which the LGBTQ lobby badly wants passed – will use the full power of the federal government to enshrine many of these practices across the nation while eliminating all protections from churches, private schools and religious organizations.

We believe that the godless indoctrination that is already well underway in our public schools (not by every teacher), is one of the reasons we see so many of our children leaving the faith when they are out of high school.

An article titled U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time paints a very bleak picture of the health of the Church. Using data from Gallup polls, the article states that only 47% of Americans now say they belong to a church, synagogue, or mosque, which is down from 50% in 2018, and 70% in 1999. According to the article,

“U.S. church membership was 73% when Gallup first measured it in 1937 and remained near 70% for the next six decades, before beginning a steady decline around the turn of the 21st century.”

There are many variables, but the one that has had the greatest obvious impact on this decline is public education, which has aggressively nurtured our cultural drift away from God. The good news is that we live in a state and nation with amazing individual and religious liberties. There are many good educational choices that would enable parents/grandparents, and church leaders to pass on their faith to their children by teaching them biblical truth and to train them up in the instruction of the Lord.

Sincerely,

Video Presentations:

Alex Newman: Reasons Why to Exit Public Schools

Rev. Ceasar LeFlore: Resources To Get Our Children Out

More information:

Reasons to Exit Illinois Government Schools

Illinois School Proficiency FAILURE

Did You Know?

How to Rescue Our Children

“Comprehensive” Sex Education

For Parents, Grandparents and Church Leaders

Overcoming Objections

Today we remember and honor the lives of the courageous men and women of our armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom.