JB Has a Plan. Where’s Ours?

Written by Pastor Calvin Lindstrom

Even before the dust fully settled on the dismal election on Tuesday, November 3, Governor Jay Robert Pritzker released on the next day a 211-point, 75-page document entitled, Fighting for Illinois: The Day One Agenda.

The document contains his marching orders for the 120th United States Congress, which begins January 3, 2027. As far as I can tell, no other governors released such a document. Obviously, Pritzker is thinking of the presidential election in two years.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: What Makes You Say That?

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

In a culture increasingly confused about truth, Christians must be prepared to defend their faith, recognize false ideas, and boldly share the gospel. But are we equipped to do so?

In this episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, Dave Smith and his daughter Jenna sit down with Sheila Krygsheld, a Christian apologist and author of “What Makes You Say That? How to Study What You Believe So You Can Share it With Others.”… Continue Reading

The Invaluable Vote

Written by Mark Elfstrand

The 2026 elections will tell us a lot about the future of our nation. It will likely also tell us whether Donald Trump’s agenda has a lick of hope to survive in the next two years. And, as has been the case, whether unborn babies have a prayer, and whether we will continue to gamble our finances away and drive families into greater debt.

Sound positive? No. Sound real? As a good Minnesotan would say, “You betcha.”… Continue Reading

Voting with Purpose: Pastors Speak on Faith and Elections

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

With the election soon approaching, it is more important than ever for Christians to engage the culture with their vote. Unfortunately, statistics show that less than half of Christians participate in elections.

1. Voting is a Stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30).
2. Voting is the Best Way to Love Your Neighbor (Galatians 5:14).
3. Voting Allows Believers to Be Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16).
4. Voting Allows Believers to Seek the Welfare of the City God Has Place Them in (Jeremiah 29:7).

Crossed Fingers: We All Got in By Lying

Written by Pastor Calvin Lindstrom

Over a hundred years ago, a newly ordained Presbyterian minister was asked by a classmate how he could tell his examining committee that he believed the Westminster Confession of Faith when he clearly did not. He answered:

“I kept my fingers crossed.”

This incident was the reason why Gary North entitled his massive history of the takeover of the Presbyterian denomination, Crossed Fingers.

Also, about 100 years ago, Princeton professor J.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: The Path to Secularism

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

In this week’s edition of Illinois Family Spotlight, you will hear from Dr. Mark Zumhagen and the speech he presented at the 2026 Worldview Conference.

Dr. Zumhagen is a husband, father, Christian, a family medicine physician and a holistic health practitioner. His medical practice, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, is dedicated to finding the root causes of illnesses and working with your body to heal naturally.

In his speech, Dr. Zumhagen takes you down a historical and scientific path to learn how our culture got to the place its in.… Continue Reading

A Firm Foundation in Christ

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

This edition of Illinois Family Spotlight features Pastor Caesar LeFlore and his remarks at the 2026 Worldview Conference.

Pastor LeFlore is the Field Director for Public School Exit, an initiative of Illinois Family Institute that exposes what is taking place within public education and encourages parents, grandparents and church leaders to disciple our children in the faith. Ceasar and his team work hard to highlight the many great educational options and opportunities available to us.… Continue Reading

Turning Churches Into Zoning Loopholes

Written by David Curtin

Governor JB Pritzker is currently “tackling” the housing shortage in Illinois by proposing the BUILD Act. It is basically a state takeover of local housing regulations in order to do what “the state thinks best.”

The Senate Democrats have problems with this proposal – it didn’t go far enough. Sigh. They introduced a package of proposals that made the BUILD Act seem sunny by comparison. All well-meaning, mind you, but seriously doubling down on the state overriding local housing regulations.… Continue Reading

How to Run—and Win—Local Elections

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

In this episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, we talk with former Illinois State Representative Tom Morrison, now Vice President of Recruitment and Training for the Big Tent Coalition, about why local and state elections matter and what it takes to run an effective campaign.

Morrison explains that while presidential and congressional races receive most of the attention, local officials make consequential decisions involving property taxes, schools, zoning, utilities, roads, and other issues that directly affect families and communities.… Continue Reading

Sex, Drugs, and Illiteracy — What He Saw in Public Schools

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

In this episode of Spotlight, IFI’s David Smith sits down with Geno Young to discuss his book, Sex, Drugs and Illiteracy: The Death of Education in America, and to examine why he believes the academic and cultural collapse in government schools is both deliberate and nationwide.

Young shares the firsthand experiences he witnessed while working as a substitute teacher in Illinois public high schools, including Hillcrest, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Thornridge, Thornwood, and Thornton.… Continue Reading