Illinois Family Spotlight

The Spotlight is shone on David Smith in this episode, the executive director for Illinois Family Institute. IFI’s annual Faith, Family & Freedom banquet just took place on November 7, 2025, and in his address to 700 attendees, Smith outlined how IFI is helping Christians fight spiritual battles in the lions den of Illinois.    … Continue Reading

In March of this year, IFI hosted our annual worldview conference at Belmont Bible Church in Downers Grove. The theme was restoring a Biblical perspective on marriage and family. This episode of Spotlight features one of our keynote speakers from our worldview conference. Scott Phelps heads up the Abstinence and Marriage Partnership organization, and during his presentation, pointed out that the best way to resotre a culture of marriage and family is to reach a new generation of American youth on the clear, objective benefits of marriage & family.… Continue Reading

Pastor Caesar LeFlore hosts today’s episode, directing the spotlight on pastor Courtney Lewis of Cornerstone Baptist church.… Continue Reading

We’re featuring biblical perspectives on immigration in this episode of Spotlight. Dr. Shando Valdez presented this lecture during a Christian Emergency League townhall meeting at New Hope Community Church in Palatine, IL. Among other comments, Valdez points out the realities surrounding immigration in the U.S. Dr. Valdez is a political consultant, clergy organizer, and senior pastor at New Jerusalem Baptist church in Chicago.… Continue Reading

A special episode of Spotlight today! Pastor Caesar LeFlore hosts Cynthia Morales with Pro-Life Champions to discuss a new video that challenges the pro-abortion narrative that pregnancy care centers are “fake clinics.” She also points out how these centers have evolved over the years.… Continue Reading

Illinois Family Institute recently hosted a forum at Belmont Bible Church in Downers Grove, and this episode of Spotlight features remarks from Jedd Davis at aformentioned event. Jedd Davis is the IL 75th State District Representative, has a civil engineering degree, and served as board president for Yorkville’s Parkview Christian Academy. In this commentary, Davis shares insider stories from his time serving in the Ilinois legislature and what is coming up in the Lame Duck Session, and the troubling concerns he has with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.… Continue Reading

IFI lobbyist David Curtin provides insights on the legislature’s fall Veto session . How will state lawmakers may respond to the murder of Charlie Kirk. He also comments on mental health screening in government schools, home education, and efforts to reduce energy costs in Illinois.… Continue Reading

This episode features highlights from an interview with Dr. Voddie Baucham, which took place during the 2023 Black Conservative Summit in Tinley Park. Dr. Baucham passed away at the age of 56 just this past September, and will be greatly missed by the staff of Illinois Family Institute. He leaves behind a wife and 9 children. Dr. Baucham, an American pastor and renowned author, was dean of the school of divinity at African Christian University in Zambia for 9 years.… Continue Reading

Today’s episode is a presentation given by Dr. Frank Turek during Illinois Family Institute’s 2017 Worldview Conference at the Village Church of Barrington. Dr. Turek is an author of 7 books, the host of the podcast “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist,” & Founder & President of CrossExamined, an Apologetics-based ministry. Dr. Turek was a close friend and mentor of Charlie Kirk, and was with him the day he was assassinated during a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University.… Continue Reading

This episode features a presentation by Anni Cyrus on Islam in America Today. This lecture was given at Christian Emergency League Townhall meeting hosted by New Hope Community church in Palatine. Anni Cyrus is a human rights activist who fled from Iran as a teenager. Her site, Live Up to Freedom, is the source for the truth about Islam. This episode is a Christian’s guide to understanding what muslims believe about the world, about Jesus Christ, and about their goal of taking over the top 18 cities in America.… Continue Reading

Monte Larrick is joined by Darren Bailey, a former state representative, senator, and gubernatorial candidate. Bailey, a long-time farmer from Southern Illinois, recently participated in an Only Citizens Vote protest in Orland Park. He joined the demonstration to advocate for the position that only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote in Illinois. During this episode of Spotlight, Bailey discusses how Illinois is more than ready for a conservative governor: We must make Illinois livable, and I know a lot of people who have moved out of the state who have come back because of their family.… Continue Reading

This is part two of our two part series with Dr. Brad Wilcox from Illinois Family Institute’s 2025 worldview conference. Dr. Wilcox serves as director of the National Marriage Project & professor of sociology at the University of Virginia. He’s the author of several books including “Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Form Strong Families, & Save Civilization.” In Part One of this Two Part series, Dr. Wilcox discusses the closing of the American heart.… Continue Reading

Today we’re highlighting remarks from Dr. Brad Wilcox during the Illinois Family Institute’s 2025 Marriage & Family worldview conference, hosted by Belmont Bible Church in Downer’s Grove. Dr. Wilcox serves as director of the National Marriage Project & professor of sociology at the University of Virginia. He’s the author of several books including “Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Form Strong Families, & Save Civilization.” In Part One of this Two Part series, Dr.… Continue Reading

It’s the gay. . .movement that lies to the American public. They will accept if your child identifies as bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, gender queer, polyamory — but they won’t accept if a gay kid decides, ‘hey, I’m gonna leave this lifestyle.’ Peter LaBarbara is President of the Center for Morality & Americans for Truth, a national group dedicated to exposing the homosexual, bisexual, transgender activist agendas. Labarbara discusses with Monte how Trump’s Administration has affected their cause.… Continue Reading

Anni Cyrus is a human rights activist and survivor of the Islamic regime in Iran living under Sharia. She was forced into a marriage by her father at the age of 13 & beaten & imprisoned several times before escaping to Turkey. Cyrus found her way to the United States and now, as a fully fledged American citizen, Anni is exposing the threat of Sharia through her organization, Live Up To Freedom. She is an advocate for truth, liberty, the U.S.… Continue Reading

In this two for one podcast, you’ll hear remarks from Evangela Pringles, director of Pregnancy Aid Illinois during a 40 Days for Life Celebration, and from pastor Caesar LeFlore during the 2020 Rally for Jesus held on the campus of Cavlary Church in Orland Park. These two leaders touch on why advocating for life is so important, and how you can gain real peace to anchor you throughout any storm in life.… Continue Reading

Life activists are hoping President Trump’s signature on the Federal budget bill will lead to the downfall of Planned Parenthood. The Republican led spending blueprint denies access to Medicaid funding to organizations that commit abortions. While the legislation doesn’t mention Planned Parenthood by name, the abortion mill is facing deep cuts for at least a year in its $800 million in annual taxpayer provided subsidies. Eric Schiedler, the Executive Director for Pro Life Action League is applauding the legislative effort.… Continue Reading

Recorded live from the 2025 Illinois Christian Homeschool Convention (ICHE), Monte Larrick converses with Abraham Hamilton III. Hamilton is a husband, Bible teacher, a national radio host & TV host, a lawyer & homeschool father who was a keynote speaker for ICHE’s 2025 Conference, themed “This We Believe.” Hamilton encourages listeners to prioritize homeschooling, because: “For far too long, people have failed to recognize that mind cultivation is essential to disciple making. So if we would export and cede the authority to cultivate our childrens’ hearts and minds to people whose positions really are hostile to Scripture, then we could very well be ceding our children to a context against what we ultimately want to see, which is that 3 John 4:4 phenomenon.… Continue Reading

When we abandon the most basic of truths–man & woman–what do we have to stand on? Today we’re featuring a Spotlight interview conducted in 2023 with conservative icon and activist, Riley Gaines Barker. Riley is a 12x all-American collegiate swimmer, praised by President Trump for leading the fight for fairness, safetey & the protection of women in women’s sports. Riley will be our keyenote speaker at our annual Faith, Family & Freedom banquet on November 7th of this year.… Continue Reading

“If Americans are going to reject abortion, they need to know what happens in an abortion. Who are the victims of abortion? What impact does it have on those mothers and fathers who choose abortion and on society as a whole.” – Anne Scheidler Standing on the side of a busy highway, Monte Larrick talks with Anne Scheidler, vice president of the pro-life action league during the organization’s Face the Truth tour. Volunteers have been lining Chicago streets with signs and photos calling attention to abortion and its victims: unborn babies and their mothers.… Continue Reading