Illinois Family Institute

Professor Anthony Esolen is one of America’s cultural treasures. He writes about moral decline in America with insight, boldness, and eloquence—no timid, hesitant, evasive speech from Professor Esolen. Many people—though not nearly enough—know Professor Esolen through his writing for LifeSiteNews, and Touchstone and Crisis Magazines. Bold, wise, and eloquent, IFI Banquet speaker Anthony Esolen indicts the madness that is sucking the life out of America in this 2015 speech. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

This video is the question and answer session from IFI's 2020 Worldview Conference in February of the same year. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

FLASHBACK: In this keynote for Illinois Family Institute's 2011 banquet, Michael Medved, a radio host and author, delivers his remarks on the state of the American economy and the steps we as a nation can take to promote economic prosperity once again. For Medved, economic recovery is possible when the nation returns to three things: family, morality and confidence. Without these, we lose our moral center and our ability to move forward, but all three of these values can be restored with faith in God and in the value and possibility inherent in every human being. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Anni Cyrus of the Glazof Gang. A child bride in her home country of Iran, abused and imprisoned as a teen, she escaped to America and now advocates for women and girls, suffering under Sharia. Her mission is to bring hope and healing to women and girls who have been unfortunate enough to be exposed to the plague of Islamic ideology. She experienced, first hand, the horrors of living under Islamic theocracy in Iran. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Pastor Derek Buikema interviews Dr. Michael Brown. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

The Reverend Ceasar LeFlore says Christians don't have the option of silence in the face of evil as he accepts Henry Life Life Leadership Award at the 2020 SpeakOut Illinois pro-life action conference. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, spoke at the IFI fall banquet in 2019. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

This video is part two of the BFM rally in Flossmoor, IL. The speakers for this half included Dr. Eric Wallace, Pastor Latasha Fields, IFI's David E. Smith, IL 38th House District Candidate Max Solomon, Freedom's Journal Institute's Jennifer Wallace, and Rev. Dr. Robert Foster. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Facts, Stats and Biblical Truth with Dr. Brian Ray Dr. Brian Ray is a leading international expert in research on homeschooling and president of the National Home Education Research Institute. You can check out his website at nheri.org. Brian and his wife Betsy have raised 7 daughters and 1 son, all home educated all the way through -- so he has a lot of practical experience and wisdom. Brian’s also been interviewed by major media around the world, taught undergraduate and graduate university courses, and he has taught children of all ages in public school, private school, and homeschool settings. Dr. Ray has a lot of fun challenging norms, and you might even find that he makes statistics and facts pretty fun! He holds a Ph.D. (science education, Oregon State University), a M.S. (zoology, Ohio University), and a B.S. (biology, University of Puget Sound). The supplemental information (Home Schooling Fast Facts) mentioned in the webinar can be found at: https://illinoisfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/facts-2020-03-23-for-online.pdf You can also find Dr. Ray’s one of a kind review of peer-reviewed research at https://www.nheri.org/a-systematic-review-of-the-empirical-research-on-selected-aspects-of-homeschooling-as-a-school-choice/ then click on “PDF and html” Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

At the Illinois Family Institute’s 2016 Worldview Conference, theologian Dr. Wayne Grudem discussed the book he co-wrote with economist Dr. Barry Asmus titled The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution, which examines the reasons for poverty and the reasons for prosperity. Dr. Grudem shared that “Wealth and poverty are primarily determined by policies and factors that affect whole nations.” In order to reduce poverty and increase prosperity, gross national product and per capita income must be raised. The question is how to achieve those goals. Dr. Grudem critiqued the commonly recommended solutions for eliminating poverty, including foreign aid, debt forgiveness, discovering natural resources, transferring goods from one person to another, printing money, attributing poverty to outside factors, and purchasing Fair Trade products. Dr. Grudem also looks to the Bible for guidance on how countries can reduce levels of poverty, and how Christians should respond to urgent needs in impoverished countries. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Many changes have occurred in the past four years, but Dr. Wayne Grudem’s remarks at the 2016 IFI Worldview Conference are as informative and valuable now as they were then. In his presentation, The Moral Advantages of a Free-Market System, Dr. Grudem defines a free-market system, lists the factors that determine the degree of freedom, details sixteen moral advantages of a free-market system, and addresses the flawed objections to free-market economics. The video concludes with a brief Q&A session. Note: According to the 2020 Index of Economic Freedom, the United States’ economic freedom score ranks 17th in the world, a decline from the rank of 11th Dr. Grudem references in this presentation. Dr. Wayne Grudem is Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Arizona. He is the author of twenty-two books and previously was a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Additionally, Dr. Grudem was the General Editor for the ESV Study Bible. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Lt. Gen Jerry Boykin is a former delta force commander led elite warriors in combat operations, and he later commanded the army's Green Berets. His career in the army spanned 36 years. General Boykin is now an ordained minister and Executive Vice President of the Family Research Council. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Contributors to this panel include Philip Haney, DHS Whistleblower and counterterrorism expert, author of "See Something, Say Nothing." Also, Anni Cyrus of the Glazof Gang. A child bride in her home country of Iran, abused and imprisoned as a teen, she escaped to America and now advocates for women and girls, suffering under Sharia. Rounding out the panel is expert on Islam, Usama Dakdok. Born and raised in Egypt, Usama's first language is Arabic. His English translation of the Qur'an has helped thousands learn the truth about what Islam really teaches and what it means for America. This is an extremely rare opportunity to hear the answers from an expert panel with this much knowledge and experience. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Usama Dakdok, an Egyptian-born Christian who learned about Islam in school because it was, and still is, a mandatory subject. To further his knowledge of Islam, he studied Islamic law in college. Usama is now working to warn American Christians about the dangers of Islam and the rise of Sharia law in America. Usama worked for four years to translate the Koran into perfect English. Usama’s English translation reveals the accurate and dangerous worldview of Islam. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

This presentation on commercialized marijuana was delivered by Jo McGuire at a public town hall held by Illinois State Representative Marty Moylan on January 4, 2019. Jo McGuire serves on the board of directors for the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association and co-chairs the Marijuana Education Committee. She is also a DATIA Certified Professional Collector and Trainer (CPCT) and a Certified Designated Employee Representative Trainer (CDERT) who consults and trains professionals overseeing Safety Sensitive Employees in the compliance of federal DOT guidelines for drug and alcohol screening programs. Jo assists educators with classroom and assembly-style presentations aimed at youth drug prevention and parent awareness and education. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Dr. Brown lectures on the biblical character Jezebel and her impact today. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Illinois, and Chicago specifically, is known for its election corruption. Carol Davis, with the Illinois Conservative Union, has spoken on election integrity issues for years. She weighs in on the most recent presidential election and how we can secure future elections. Visit their website here: http://www.ilpac.org/ Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Here is part one of the video of the presenters from the BFM rally. The speakers include the Master of Ceremonies Dr. Eric Wallace, Pastor Arthur Guice, Dr. Richard Mantoan, Pastor Ceasar LeFlore, IL Second Congressional Candidate Theresa Rayborn, and Pastor Greg Morris. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Pastor Jim Nicodem of Christ Community Church in St. Charles tells church leaders his experience of getting church members involved in the 40 Days for Life campaign. Learn more at https://www.40daysforlife.com/about-overview.aspx. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Rev. James Parker of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia tells church leaders how to present the 40 Days for Life campaign to their congregations. Learn more at https://www.40daysforlife.com/about-overview.aspx. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Illinois Family Institute is urging our readers to watch and share this remarkable interview between Pastor Doug Wilson and Pastor Derek Buikema on the science-denying, anti-Christian “trans”-ideology. Doug Wilson is the pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho; theologian; prolific author; and blogger extraordinaire. Derek Buikema is the lead pastor at Orland Park Christian Reformed Church in Orland Park, Illinois who has master’s degrees from Wheaton College, Westminster Seminary, and Calvin Seminary. Their discussion includes the issues of Christian worldview, church discipline, the biblical view of a welcoming church, and the increasing persecution of the church in America. Both pastors are theologically orthodox, wise, winsome, courageous, and whipsmart—a combination of characteristics increasingly rare among Christians—including Christian leaders. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

This video is the recording of Mark Issa's presentation at an event in held by IFI in conjunction with Act for America, that occurred in July 2018 at Stone Church in Orland Park. Mark talks about the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their effects on him, how his study of Islam later in life disillusioned him from Islam, and finally how online Christian apologetic media convinced him of the Truth of Christianity. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Since the time he was a young boy and his grandmother sewed him a purple dress and told him how beautiful he looked, Walt Heyer had struggled with transgenderism. Through elementary school and high school, where he was a successful student and athlete with a beautiful girlfriend, he hid his secret identity as a woman, and continued to do so through college and prestigious careers at both NASA and Honda, until he went through destructive therapy sessions and became an alcoholic, losing his job and nearly all of his respect. But then something changed--while sitting with a friend who was praying for him, he saw Christ, who promised Walt that "you are now safe with Me forever." Walt's story is a story of brokenness and redemption through Christ Jesus, and a witness to the hope we can find through God alone. Walt Heyer shares his story at the 2019 Worldview Conference. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

If you’ve ever wondered how you can (or why you must) be the salt of the earth and a light to the world, you will want to listen to Dr. Michael L. Brown’s presentation, The Role of Christians in the Public Square, from the 2020 IFI Worldview conference. Using biblical principles and real-life examples, Dr. Brown explains the purpose and imperative of living out our faith in the secular world and asks straightforward questions that cut right to the heart of what it means to be a believer and follower of Jesus. Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register

Considering the option of home education? You are not alone. Thanks mainly to the COVID-19 lock-down, hundreds of parents in Illinois are looking into homeschooling. The good news is, making the jump to home education is not difficult. Once you get started, chances are that you will not only love spending quality time with your children, but you will enjoy providing your children with a superior education. Join IFI’s Dave Smith and our special guests Ruth Hoskins, Marci Kristof and Moe Bruns for this panel discussion. Notes from Webinar: https://illinoisfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Homeschool-Webinar-Follow-Up.pdf Illinois Homeschool Law: https://illinoisfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Homeschooling-FAQs-Webinar.png Sample Withdrawal Letter: https://illinoisfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Illinois-Letter-of-Withdrawal.docx Sign up for our Action Alert Email at https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/register