Do not be anxious about anything, 
but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
~Philippians 4:6 

This week the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on two critical cases on the institution of marriage: the California Proposition 8 case and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). 

Pray for the Supreme Court Justices.

• Pray that God would give them clear understanding of the purpose of natural marriage and the consequences of destroying it. Pray that He would work in their hearts.

“In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.” Proverbs 21:1

Pray for those arguing on our side in support of Biblical marriage.

• Pray for God’s wisdom for them.  

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without         finding fault, and it will be given to you”  James 1:5

• Pray that they would speak with boldness.   

^“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” Acts 4:29 “ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”  2 Timothy 1:7

• Pray that God would give them favor in the Justices’ eyes.

 “Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion…” Daniel 1:9

• Pray for God’s peace to be on them.

 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Pray that same-sex “marriage” in Illinois would be defeated. 

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4

Background

The federal Defense of Marriage Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996.  The U.S. House of Represenatives approved DOMA by a vote of 342 to 67, while the U.S. Senate approved it by a vote of 85 to 14.  DOMA is the federal law that defines one-man, one-woman marriage for federal purposes.

California’s Proposition 8 was passed in 2008 by 52 percent of the voters.  This state constitutional amendment defines marriage as one man and one woman.

Dear Friends,

I have an urgent request. 

The effort to defend marriage has been very expensive for IFI.  Over the past two and half months, we have been quickly depleting our resources in an effort to stop the “fast track” of same-sex marriage.  If we expect to keep up this pace, we need to raise funds now.

The homosexual lobby is very well-funded, and they are out-spending us by substantial margins.  While we don’t expect to match their spending, we hope to be able to raise enough money to mount an vigorous defense of natural marriage.

This is a David versus Goliath battle.  No, we don’t need expensive armor, shield and sword.  We do, however, need a slingshot and five smooth stones.

Will you help us raise the funds we need to stand up to the Goliath of our day? 

Any gift you can send will be a huge help as we work to beat back the unrelenting forces that have coalesced to destroy marriage and family and ultimately diminish religious liberty, speech rights and parental rights.

The homosexual lobby wants to make Illinois the tenth state to redefine marriage.  They’ve got the money and an extremely powerful organization behind them – the Human Rights Campaign – an organization with a $40 million annual budget. The staff and I at IFI are doing the all-important grassroots work to motivate pastors and churches in key swing districts. 

The homosexual lobby will not relent.  We must match their tenacity.  (Click HERE to donate now!)

Through Illinois’ civil union law, homosexuals have gained all the rights and privileges to which heterosexual couples have access through marriage.  Homosexual activists and their ideological allies are using marriage to transform culture.  Homosexual activists are using marriage as a means to gain approval of homosexuality.  They know that the law teaches.  They further understand that once the government recognizes homosexual unions as “marriages,” they have carte blanche access to elementary schools.

But we can stop them!  So please click HERE to send in your contribution right away!

Thank you again for your support, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,

David E. Smith
Executive Director

P.S.  If you would like to become a monthly supporter, it is 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.

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.

The contentious debate about legalizing same-sex “marriage” in Illinois is now front and center.  Tune-in to the Total Living Network tonight, Friday, February 15th, at 9:00 P.M. for the premiere of cable TV’s Total Living Network’s (TLN) Special Report: Illinois Vote – Same Sex Marriage to learn more. A panel of leaders in the movement to defend marriage investigates the potential effects of this proposed legislation on religious freedom in Illinois. 

As you know, the Illinois Senate voted yesterday to pass the so-called “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.” The bill will now move to the Illinois House for consideration.  This bill would treat same-sex marriage as a civil right, but is it a civil right?  How would same sex marriage affect the church?  How would this bill alter the lives of Christians, Orthodox Jews and Muslims?  What actions need to be taken? 

Join moderator Greg Bogdan, Executive Director, TLN, and his guests Linda Jernigan, Rescuing Ministries; David E. Smith, Executive Director, Illinois Family Institute; and Dan Haas, Director of Ministries, TLN, as they tackle these difficult questions. 

Marriage is an institution created by God and is the foundation of our society.  We need to speak out for marriage as well as the religious freedoms guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Share the news with others and don’t miss the premiere of TLN Special Report: Illinois Vote – Same Sex Marriage on TLN Comcast 138, February 15th, at 9:00pm. The show will re-air (see the times listed below). You can also watch via Sky Angel or streaming live at wwwTLN.com/TLN-Online/ 

TLN Special Report: Illinois Vote – Same Sex Marriage Central Air Times: 

2/15/13 Friday at 9pm

2/15/13 Friday at 9:30pm

2/16/13 Saturday at 8pm

2/16/13 Saturday at 8:30pm

2/17/13 Sunday at 9:30am

2/17/13 Sunday at 1pm

2/17/13 Sunday at 6pm

2/18/13 Monday at 8pm

2/19/13 Tuesday at 12pm 

TAKE ACTION:  There are three very important things you can do to protect marriage and family in Illinois: 

1. Click HERE to contact your representative to voice your opinion on this same-sex “marriage” bill. Your opinion matters and can make a difference.  

2. Join IFI and many others at the IFI Defend Marriage Lobby Day: 

Defend Marriage Lobby Day
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
10:30 AM — 1:30 PM
Illinois State Capitol Rotunda
401 South 2nd Street, Springfield, Illinois  62701 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION 

3. Pray.  This issue needs our prayers.  We need to prayerfully consider what we can do individually to protect marriage and family; and also pray for God’s sovereign hand of protection and guidance on this country.  Pray, and continue to pray, for our country and leadership.

SpeakOut Illinois will hold its 22nd annual conference and memorial to the victims of legalized abortion on Saturday, February 2nd, at the Crowne Plaza O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont.

This year’s featured speakers are Ryan Bomberger, founder of the Radiance Foundation, Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Pro-Life Action League, and Star Parker, president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education.

The Speak Out Illinois committee will present the Henry Hyde Life Leadership Award to Star Parker for her tireless commitment to promoting the sanctity of life. In addition, the special Illinois Life Award will be presented to longtime pro-life advocate Dick Walsh for his undaunted dedication to the values of life and family.

The Pro-Life Action League and its youth outreach division, Generations for Life, will also host a concurrent conference designed especially for teens. TeenSpeak 2013 will feature special guest speakers Ryan Bomberger of the Radiance Foundation and Eric Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League.

There will be great opportunities for teenagers to learn how to stand up for life.

For reservations, please click HERE or call the Pro-Life Action League at  773-777-2900.

40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Marks New Beginning

2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the tragic Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, which removed legal protection from unborn babies throughout the entire United States.  Since January 22, 1973, over 50 million lives have been lost to abortion and countless millions of women and men have suffered the consequences of the abortion choice.

Join your fellow Illinois pro-lifers to recommit yourself to the battle for life at Speak Out Illinois 2013 on Saturday, February 2nd.

– IFI is a proud co-sponsor –

The push to redefine marriage in the lame duck session of the General Assembly stalled due to the lack of votes in the Illinois Senate after the Executive Committee approved it on Friday.  With only a few days before the new General Assembly begins (January 9th), liberal activists do not have enough votes or time to push it through both chambers.

Instead, proponents are looking ahead to working with the next General Assembly. Reports suggest that State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) will reintroduce the bill as soon as the next General Assembly begins.

With a new General Assembly in mind, we have decided to cancel next week’s Lobby Day. We will reschedule it for another date in early February when the legislative process will be in full swing.  The date has yet to be determined.

Thank you for speaking out in defense of natural marriage.  Your calls, emails, and visits have really had an influence.  That said, as we move into the next session, we must step up the momentum and demonstrate that Illinois is not as liberal as some may think.  We need to continue to pressure our legislators, especially new lawmakers.  

Please stay tuned for more details. 

Did you know that you can help IFI raise funds by shopping online with no additional cost to you? Well, you can!

GoodShop.com is an online shopping mall which donates a percentage of each purchase to a registered cause like IFI!

Goodshop has over 2,400 stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, and Macy’s. If you shop at all online, it is quite likely that the merchant you are patronizing is a GoodShop online store and therefore, a potential donor to IFI. At no cost to the purchaser, merchants donate a percentage of purchases made when websites are accessed through GoodShop.

If you’re like me, you will be doing some online shopping for Christmas this week — the fact that my purchases will benefit IFI is just one more incentive to avoid crowds, traffic and last minute shopping insanity.

Here is what you have to do:

• Go to www.Goodshop.com.
• Complete a one-time entry designating Illinois Family Institute as the non-profit you wish to receive the GoodShop benefit.
• Choose a store and simply click the link! You’ll then be taken to that store’s website. Whatever you buy at that store during that particular shopping session will help benefit IFI’s work and ministry.
• Make a purchase, and a percentage of your total will be donated to IFI! Some stores are contributing as much as 15% of the total purchase during the holidays.

Thereafter, whenever you shop online, start at www.Goodshop.com (bookmark it) and click through to your chosen merchant’s site. The rest is money in the bank — for IFI!

So, the next time you buy books, jeans, music, gifts, airline tickets, software or other items online think of GoodShop and support IFI at the same time.

There are no strings attached, so please, do some GoodShopping this Christmas season. Please spread the word about this special fundraiser as well. If you’re going to spend money, why not maximize every cent possible for IFI’s work? Help both yourself and us to be better, wiser stewards.

Thank you in advance!

David E. Smith
Executive Director

P.S. To help even more, consider making GoodSearch your primary search engine. IFI receives one cent for every search conducted. This could really add up!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012, will mark the launch of the fifth annual Christmas Nativity display in the Rotunda of the Illinois State Capitol. The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will unveil the Nativity exhibit at a public “opening day” celebration to be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, at South 2nd Street and East Capital Ave. in Springfield.

Event Details

• What: The Fifth Annual State Capitol Christmas Nativity Display
• When: Tuesday, November 27, 2012, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, 301 South 2nd Street (at Capital Avenue) in Springfield

The Thomas More Society, a Chicago-based public interest law firm, has played an instrumental role in securing permits for this privately sponsored and constitutionally protected expression of religious faith in Illinois’ central public forum, the classic “public square” and “marketplace of ideas” at the heart of our statewide political community. Tom Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel, noted that the Thomas More Society has been honored to represent SNSC for the last five years, going back to its founding by the late Daniel T. Zanoza, of Lincoln, IL. The Society also has been underwriting SNSC’s Christmas displays during each of the ensuing five years. “So long as these Christmas religious displays and ceremonies are privately sponsored, funded, and held in traditional public forums, they are constitutionally protected,” said Brejcha. “Even the ACLU concedes that our Capitol Rotunda Nativity Scene is fully protected by the First Amendment. Christians have as much right to proclaim the joyful message of Jesus Christ’s birth as political candidates have to get up on soap boxes to spout their own messages in our public squares.”

The privately sponsored and funded Nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus will begin its seasonal reign in the Rotunda alongside the Governor’s “holiday tree.” The crèche will be welcomed by a concert of Christmas carols led by Bill Lewis, worship leader of Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln, IL. The celebration will also feature an invocation by the Rev. Bernie Luchtman, President of Business Men In Christ (Springfield), an SNSC member. Other speakers include Rev. Peter C. Harman, Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, of Springfield’s Roman Catholic Diocese, IFI Board member Pastor Rick Giovannetti from Morris-based Standing in the Word Ministries, and Pastor Charlie Carver of South Tower Community Church in Dawson.

Springfield Nativity Scene Committee chairperson Julie Zanoza will speak and dedicate the event to her late husband, Dan Zanoza, founder and first chairman of SNSC, whose crèche display features marble-like figures of the Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. SNSC’s Beth Rogers is also slated to speak.

Church choirs or other groups interested in singing Christmas carols during the weekday noon hour on other days throughout the Christmas season may contact Salli Chernis at the Secretary of State’s Department of Special Events, at 217-782-8996, to request permission for selected time slots. The Thomas More Society is offering free legal help to any individuals or citizen groups interested in putting up similar Nativity Scenes — privately sponsored and funded — in any traditional public forum in their own towns, villages, or hamlets in Illinois or elsewhere. The Society can be reached at 312-782-1680.

About the Thomas More Society The Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit public interest law firm that exists to restore respect in law for life, marriage, and religious liberty. For more information or to support the work of the Thomas More Society, please visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.

There’s very little we at IFI can do to repay our many supporters for your prayers, financial gifts, political action, and encouraging words. After a recent theater outing in Chicago, I realized there is something small I can do to thank you for everything you’ve given to us. I can tell you about a wonderful theater company whose productions are inspiring, edifying, fun, and smart: the Provision Theater Company

If you’ve never attended a production at the Provision Theater,  you’re in for a special treat. Provision Theater is “devoted to producing works of hope, reconciliation and redemption; works that challenge us to explore a life of meaning and purpose.” And right now there’s a Christmas production perfect for the entire family: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, based on one of the rare Christmas picture books that actually remembers the birth of Jesus.

Here’s an excerpt from Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones’ review of last year’s production of The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey:

In the story, penned by Susan Wojciechowski and illustrated by P.J. Lynch, the woodcutter (a kind of Scrooge and Grinch rolled into one) encounters a widow and her lonely son, who ask him to carve a set of wooden Nativity figures, so as to replace a lost set that was created by this sad boy’s late father. He reluctantly agrees.

This shared pain, coupled, of course, with the miracle of Christmas, slowly thaws Jonathan Toomey’s heart and makes for a strikingly emotional new little Christmas musical….At the end of the packed performance I attended last weekend, you could tell from the mood in the audience that the piece had packed for more of an emotional punch than most people expected. That, certainly, was true for moist-eyed me.

…

That formidable emotional wallop comes, in no small part, from Michael Mahler’s gorgeous new folk-and-bluegrass score, an apt match for the rural 19th-century American setting and a remarkable melodic and poignant song-suite that puts one in mind of the “Cotton Patch Gospel.” It is, all by itself, more than enough to make a trip to Roosevelt Road quite rewarding, especially for those who seek out more spiritual, family-friendly entertainment at this time of year.

Some of Provision Theater’s past productions—many of which have garnered critical praise from the Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Tribune as well as multiple Joseph Jefferson award nominations—include The Hiding Place, Shadowlands, C.S. Lewis On Stage, Bonhoeffer’s Cost, Shaw vs. Chesterton: The Debate, A Christmas Memory & The Thanksgiving Visitor, and the Cotton Patch Gospel.

Timothy Gregory, founder and artistic director, also writes and acts in productions in between his hosting job on HGTV’s New Spaces television program. The relatively new theater space for this eight-year-old theater company is on W. Roosevelt Road near UIC and has its own free parking.

Not only will a visit to the Provision Theater provide an uplifting experience for you and your family, but it will also support an aesthetic vision all too rare in the arts today.

~Happy Thanksgiving and Praise Be to God~

Thomas More Society Secures Another Permit for Private Religious Expression in the Public Square

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 20, 2012 — Tuesday, November 27, 2012, will mark the launch of the fifth annual Christmas Nativity display in the Rotunda of the Illinois State Capitol. The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will unveil the Nativity exhibit at a public “opening day” celebration to be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, at South 2nd Street and East Capital Ave. in Springfield.

Event Details

• What: The Fifth Annual State Capitol Christmas Nativity Display
• When: Tuesday, November 27, 2012, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, 301 South 2nd Street (at Capital Avenue) in Springfield

The Thomas More Society, a Chicago-based public interest law firm, has played an instrumental role in securing permits for this privately sponsored and constitutionally protected expression of religious faith in Illinois’ central public forum, the classic “public square” and “marketplace of ideas” at the heart of our statewide political community. Tom Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel, noted that the Thomas More Society has been honored to represent SNSC for the last five years, going back to its founding by the late Daniel T. Zanoza, of Lincoln, IL. The Society also has been underwriting SNSC’s Christmas displays during each of the ensuing five years. “So long as these Christmas religious displays and ceremonies are privately sponsored, funded, and held in traditional public forums, they are constitutionally protected,” said Brejcha. “Even the ACLU concedes that our Capitol Rotunda Nativity Scene is fully protected by the First Amendment. Christians have as much right to proclaim the joyful message of Jesus Christ’s birth as political candidates have to get up on soap boxes to spout their own messages in our public squares.”

The privately sponsored and funded Nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus will begin its seasonal reign in the Rotunda alongside the Governor’s “holiday tree.” The crèche will be welcomed by a concert of Christmas carols led by Bill Lewis, worship leader of Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln, IL. The celebration will also feature an invocation by the Rev. Bernie Luchtman, President of Business Men In Christ (Springfield), an SNSC member. Other speakers include Rev. Peter C. Harman, Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, of Springfield’s Roman Catholic Diocese, Pastor Rick Giovannetti from Springfield-based Standing in the Word Ministries, and Pastor Charlie Carver of South Tower Community Church in Dawson.

Springfield Nativity Scene Committee chairperson Julie Zanoza will speak and dedicate the event to her late husband, Dan Zanoza, founder and first chairman of SNSC, whose crèche display features marble-like figures of the Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. SNSC’s Beth Rogers is also slated to speak.

Church choirs or other groups interested in singing Christmas carols during the weekday noon hour on other days throughout the Christmas season may contact Salli Chernis at the Secretary of State’s Department of Special Events, at 217-782-8996, to request permission for selected time slots. The Thomas More Society is offering free legal help to any individuals or citizen groups interested in putting up similar Nativity Scenes — privately sponsored and funded — in any traditional public forum in their own towns, villages, or hamlets in Illinois or elsewhere. The Society can be reached at 312-782-1680. 

 About the Thomas More Society
The Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit public interest law firm that exists to restore respect in law for life, marriage, and religious liberty. For more information or to support the work of the Thomas More Society, please visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.

Dear Pro-Family Friends,

We still have several thousand of the print version of the IFI Voter Guide, but they are going fast. If you haven’t yet placed a bulk order, please give us a call at the IFI office today at (708) 781-9328 or click HERE to send us an email. These non-partisan Voter Guides comply with IRS guidelines and are legal for churches to distribute. Or you may simply want them to pass along to neighbors, co-workers and family.

It’s critical that people be informed voters when they go to the polls for the November 6, 2012 General Election.  All 177 state lawmakers and 18 members of the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election.  And dozens of incumbent state lawmakers are retiring. This is an opportunity that we won’t have again in years. This is an incredible opportunity to elect God-fearing men and women to public office who will decide bills that affect every person in the state.

We are coming down to the wire.  The election is only 11 days away.  So don’t delay. Call us at (708) 781-9328 or email us today.

Thank you!

Kathy Valente, Director of Operations

October 9th is the last day to register to vote for the upcoming November 6th General Election.

God has blessed America with the gift of self-government — a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Voting is a privilege that millions of people in other parts of the world are denied.

As Christians, we have a duty and a moral obligation to be involved in the democratic process. Imagine the IMPACT we could have on our government, its leadership, and our nation if we all simply registered to vote and voted our values!

Registering Voters is Easy!

Just think about how many people you know who have moved and need to re-register. Think of how many teens you know who are turning 18 and can vote for the first time this year. Consider engaging citizens who have not voted in the past to become actively involved in impacting our nation’s future!

Just 2 Simple Steps:

1. Click HERE to download and print an Illinois Voter Registration Application.

2. Mail your completed application(s) to your local election authority. Click HERE to look up the mailing address. 

Voter Registration FAQ’s

Q. I’ve moved. Do I need to register again?
A. Yes. The easiest way to register again is to just follow the 2-step process above.

Q. My name has changed. Do I need to register again?
A. Yes. The easiest way to register again is to just follow the 2-step process above.

Q. I’m not 18 yet, but I will be soon. Can I register?
A. Yes. You may register now for an election as long as you will be 18 by the date of that election. Just follow the 2-step process above.

Q. I sent in my form two weeks ago, but I haven’t heard anything back yet. Did it get lost?
A. You should receive confirmation 4-6 weeks after your original submission. If you do not hear from your County Clerk by then, give them a call.  Click HERE for a list of County Clerk offices.

Q. I am a pastor or a church leader. Can I encourage the members at my church to register to vote and hold a voters registration drive?
A. Yes. Voter registration drives are not considered political activity. Although certain limitations are imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code and campaign laws, churches and pastors are able to engage in nonpartisan activity, particularly voter registration and voter education. There is no legal restriction whatsoever on the ability of churches to register voters or provide them candidate survey information, like the material provided in the IFI Voter Guide.

Address: 
Gougar Road south of Bruce Road
New Lenox, Illinois
60451
Map and Directions

Date: October 6, 2012

A couple of photos from last year’s event are posted below.  Photos were taken by Matthew Medlen Photography:

We are currently taking orders for our 2012 General Election Voter Guide. The non-partisan IFI Voter Guide will help you know more about the positions of the candidates who are seeking your vote on November 6, 2012. Release date for the Voter Guide is scheduled for mid-September but we are now taking bulk pre-orders.

Take ACTION: To pre-order, email the IFI office by clicking HERE. You can also call the office at (708) 781-9328.

Suggested Donation: $25 for every 100 Voter Guides.

Hopefully all of your friends, neighbors and fellow church congregants are registered to vote (registration deadline is October 9th). Join us in helping educate Illinois voters by distributing IFI’s 2012 Voter Guides. These Voter Guides are non-partisan educational pieces that compare the positions of candidates on important issues such as life, marriage and other issues that directly affect your family. These Guides do not endorse or oppose any candidate or political party and are legal for distribution in churches under IRS guidelines.

The IFI staff will be busy contacting churches to encourage them to engage in the civic process. Many have already committed to distributing the IFI Voter Guides. However, Illinois is a very large state and we have only hit the tip of the iceberg. We need your help in getting the IFI Voter Guides into every church that is concerned about the direction our state and nation are heading. Would you be willing to ask your pastor if your church will take the IFI Voter Guides?

If you are able to help in any way with this effort, click HERE and let us know. Whether you want to take the IFI Voter Guides to your church, set up a distribution point in your area or be the contact person for your city or county, we need your help.

Stand With Us

Your support of our work and ministry is always much needed and greatly appreciated. Your promotion of our emails on Facebook, Twitter, your own email network, and prayer for financial support is a huge part of our success in being a strong voice for the pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-family message here in the Land of Lincoln.  Please consider contributing toward our project to print and distribute the IFI Voter Guide across the state of Illinois.

Click here to support Illinois Family Institute (IFI). 

You can also send a gift to P.O. Box 88848, Carol Stream, IL  60188.

Yesterday morning, WGN radio host Mike McConnell interviewed IFI’s Laurie Higgins about the fallacious “hate” designations given to conservative Christian groups like IFI, Family Research Council (FRC) & American Family Association (AFA) by the extreme leftist Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).  

Laurie did a fantastic job, clearly articulating the hypocrisy,  inconsistency and destructiveness of their “hate” label.

Kudos to the host, Mike McConnell, who provide Laurie the time to discuss important issues surrounding these dubious “hate” groups listings.  If you were not able to listen to it, you can listen to an MP3 recording of the segment HERE.

If you are interested in learning more about the SPLC, please take time to read this comprehensive indictment from the Social Contract Journal, which dedicated its spring 2010 issue to exposing the SPLC.

And if that’s not enough, read the following articles here, here, here, and here.

Stand With Us

Your support of our work and ministry is always much needed and greatly appreciated. Your promotion of our emails on Facebook, Twitter, your own email network, and prayer for financial support is a huge part of our success in being a strong voice for the pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-family message here in the Land of Lincoln.

Please consider standing with us by giving a tax-deductible donation HERE, or by sending a gift to P.O. Box 88848, Carol Stream, IL  60188.

The 2012 IFI Fall Banquet with David Barton is a only month away on Friday, September 7th, and reservations are going fast!

If you have already committed to support IFI through purchasing tickets or a table sponsorship, we thank you! If you haven’t, you may do so by clicking HERE, calling the IFI office at (708) 781-9328 or by emailing us HERE. 

Dinner and private reception tickets are still available, but with September 7th quickly approaching, please don’t delay!  Dinner tickets are available until August 20th for $60 ($75 on August 21st).  Tables of 10 are $500 until August 20th ($600 on August 21st). Private reception tickets are $150 and include delicious hors d’oeuvres, a signed book and a picture with Mr. Barton and, of course, the banquet dinner.

There is limited capacity at the The Stonegate Conference & Banquet Centre, so reserve your seat by ordering your tickets today. 

To place a business or personal ad in our Banquet Program Guide, click HERE.

You won’t want to miss David Barton.  He is a beloved Christian minister, conservative activist, and the Founder and President of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization that presents America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage.

2012 Fall Banquet details:

What:  The 2012 IFI Fall Banquet featuring keynote speaker David Barton

Where:  The Stonegate Conference & Banquet Centre, 2401 W. Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates.

When:  September 7th.  Private reception at 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Register Online:  Click HERE

Register by Phone or Questions:  Please call the IFI office at (708) 781-9328, & speak with Kathy or Mary Ann.

Stand With Us

Even if you are not able to join us for our 20th Anniversary Celebration and Fall Banquet, you can still support our work and ministry.  Your support is always needed and greatly appreciated.  You can also support us by posting our articles and alerts on Facebook, Twitter, and through your own email network.

Please consider standing with us by giving a tax-deductible donation HERE, or by sending a gift to P.O. Box 88848, Carol Stream, IL  60188.