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The Illinois Family Spotlight podcast will highlight a specific cultural or political issue of which our listeners should be aware. Our discussions will be informed by a biblical worldview that will help expose the lies and distortions promulgated within secular culture. We will be interviewing policy experts and scholars whose knowledge and insights will help listeners form a wiser worldview.

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Category: Spotlight

Assisted Death Coming to Illinois (Illinois Family Spotlight #341)

Nancy Valko is a registered nurse, legal consultant and a spokesperson for the National Association of Pro-Life Nurses. Monte Larrick had the opportunity to speak with her at a Lake County Right To Life forum, where she keynoted and spoke on the dangers of saying nothing when it comes to medically assisted suicide.

“The problem is, if doctors themselves don’t take a position on the most important issue they have–the most important covenant they have with their patients, which is they will not kill them–what else is open?”

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Born to Proclaim The Gospel (Illinois Family Spotlight #340)

In this edition of Spotlight, IFI’s David Smith and Public School Exit’s Ceasar Leflore converse with the one and only Juan Elias-Riesco, former owner of the famous Nini’s Deli (which you can learn about through the documentary Paint the Wall Black) and a blazing torch for the kingdom of Christ.

Elias-Riesco’s testimony of how he became a Christian is anything but boring. Growing up on the streets of Chicago, he quickly became hardened to shoplifting and spiraled into a sinful lifestyle that had him in prison and rejecting God’s design for sexuality.… Continue Reading

Addictions & the Illinois Legislature (Illinois Family Spotlight #339)

Monte Larrick is joined by Shane Hartman, the executive director of the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems (ILCAAAP). Springfield has made slaves of so many Illinois citizens, through the legalization of recreational marijuana and betting on anything. ILCAAAP is working to combat the evil coming out of our legislature through educating Illinois youth about the dangers of drugs, gambling and liquor.

“The main thing is to let the kids know you care.” Hartman stated when asked what is the most persuasive argument to reach kids in our age of social media.… Continue Reading

Into the Lions’ Den (Illinois Family Spotlight #338)

In this episode, David Curtain explains his job as IFI’s lobbyist in Springfield, the bills that are threatening to family values, and how we can be active in our state capitol from every part of the state.

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Into the Lions' Den (Illinois Family Spotlight #338)
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BONUS: Pressing Forward in 2023

I recently gave a short New Year exhortation at my church and since we captured the audio, I thought we could post it as a special addition for those who may be interested. In this short message (15 minutes), I emphasis Paul’s statement in vs 12-14 in which he confesses:

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 

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Sanity as Insurrection (Illinois Family Spotlight #337)

This is a throwback episode, where we present a lecture that is still relevant today as it was when it was given–if not more so. Pastor Douglas Wilson of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, spoke at IFI’s 2019 worldview conference regarding trans ideology and the Christian. You can watch this talk here.

Sanity as Insurrection is the title of the final session of the 2019 Illinois Family Institute Worldview Conference on the “trans” ideology. In this presentation, Pastor Doug Wilson stressed the importance of asking sane questions, ones that strike at the heart of the matter, when we engage in debate with our adversaries because “deliberate and premeditated sanity is a challenge to the powers that be.”… Continue Reading

Science Instead of God (Illinois Family Spotlight #336)

In this segment of Spotlight, we’re highlighting remarks made at IFI’s Medical Freedom Forum held earlier this year at Jubilee Bible Church. Doctors Mark Zumhagen and Simon Gold pointed out the wrong occurring in their respective fields and answered questions from the audience.

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Science Instead of God (Illinois Family Spotlight #336)
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Capital Nativity & Hope (Illinois Family Spotlight #335)

In this episode, Monte Larrick is at Illinois’ state capital, at the annual Christmas nativity reveal. Delbra Pratt speaks on the importance of the display in this dark corner of Illinois, and what it means.

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Waterleaf Women’s Center (Illinois Family Spotlight #334)

Monte Larrick interviews Julie Garafalo, executive director of Waterleaf.

Waterleaf is slightly different than your average women’s center in that they provide professional and medical help. An especially important service Waterleaf offers is early pregnancy screenings. That screening includes a medical grade pregnancy test and ultrasound, which helps the patient determine whether she is truly pregnant, and if so, how far along and how healthy the baby is. This gives the mother the facts she needs to make a fully informed decision.Continue Reading

Free Haven: A Forest School (Illinois Family Spotlight #333)

“. . .fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” ~Genesis 1:28

Rachel Mikottis is a homeschooled wonder of a woman who believes that nature is the best classroom in the world. She joins IFI’s David Smith and Self Evident’s Jenna Smith for a conversation about her forest school: Free Haven.

Rachel, in her words, was a free range homeschooler.… Continue Reading