Articles by David E. Smith
Prayer Requests: January 2024
By David E. Smith   |   01.08.24
Jesus tells us that, "If you love Me, keep My Commandments." ( John 14:15) Obviously, if we are to love God, we must know what He  requires. That compels us to study His Word so that we, like David, can say, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8).
Dr. Wayne Grudem: The Moral Advantages of a Free-Market System
By David E. Smith   |   01.02.24
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.
Happy New Year!
By David E. Smith   |   01.01.24
As we begin 2024, we come to you with an overwhelming heart of appreciation. Building upon the work that was done in 2023, we hope and pray that God will use us to have an even bigger impact on the state - for His glory and honor.
2023 End-of-Year Matching Challenge!
By David E. Smith   |   12.14.23
We are pleased to announce that in an effort to help us raise operating funds for 2024, a number of generous donors have offered to match donations to IFI all the way up to $150,000! So between now and the end of the year, you can double the impact of your giving!
Pastor Doug Wilson: Sanity as Insurrection
By David E. Smith   |   11.30.23
Sanity as Insurrection was 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, —  queries 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.”
UN Report Attacks U.S. Constitution & God-Given Rights
By David E. Smith   |   11.20.23
A United Nations “human rights” committee investigation into the United States concluded that the U.S. Constitution should be changed and the U.S. government should impose additional infringements on free speech and gun rights to comply with UN agreements, explains The New American Senior Editor Alex Newman in this must watch episode of Behind The Deep State.
Rosaria Butterfield: Five Lies of our Anti-Christian Age
By David E. Smith   |   10.07.23
We highly recommend this video for you and your family. Rosaria Butterfield—a former lesbian college professor and apologist for homosexuality—as she delivers a stunning Christian response to transgenderism, feminism, and the homosexual movement at the annual conference of the Association of Classical Christian Schools last July. Her presentation is taken from her new book, "Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age."
IFI Annual Banquet Approaching!
By David E. Smith   |   10.03.23
The largest gathering of Christian conservatives in the Land of Lincoln will take place on Friday, November 3rd at the Bolingbrook Country Club! Join us on this special night to hear from our keynote speaker, the ineffable Eric Metaxas, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Martin Luther, If You Can Keep It, Bonhoeffer, Amazing Grace, and Miracles.
IFI Prayer Team: We Must Turn Back to God
By David E. Smith   |   09.28.23
We invite you and faithful Christians across the state to join us in prayer for our state and nation. Understanding that the problems and challenges that we face as a culture are not political in nature, but primarily spiritual. As such, fervent prayer and fasting is the best way to engage in this spiritual warfare.
Opt Out of Nasty Sex Ed Classes in Government Schools
By David E. Smith   |   09.27.23
When you hear the terms “comprehensive,” "medically accurate" and "age appropriate" as ways to describe the content of what is being taught to your children in government schools, alarm bells should sound in your head. “Comprehensive sex education”  is a one-size-fits-all approach to sex education and is anything but “age- appropriate” curriculum.
IFI Prayer Warriors Needed!
By David E. Smith   |   09.25.23
We know that the many cultural battles we face today are spiritual battles that cannot be won by relying on our own strength and methods. In truth, these battles must first and continually be waged through prayer to our holy, righteous and merciful God. Please consider volunteering to be part of the IFI Prayer Team.
UPDATE: Pro-Life Billboard 2023
By David E. Smith   |   09.16.23
Last week we sent out an email appeal hoping to raise $10,000 for our Pro-Life Billboard fund. Illinois Family Institute is partnering with other pro-life advocates who are offering us deep discounts to post our message in prominent spots in...
You Can Help Children Flourish!
By David E. Smith   |   09.14.23
Teacher union lobbyists and government employees work against every school choice bill and scholarship program they can; they reject the need for parental control over their children’s education. In doing so, they flatly dismiss the ability of parents to educate their own children or even to make viable decisions on their behalf.
On Mission from God
By David E. Smith   |   09.09.23
The 1980 The Blues Brothers movie centered on a quest to raise property tax money to save an orphanage from being closed down. Though targeted by a homicidal mystery woman, Neo-Nazis, and a country western band, and relentlessly pursued by Illinois State Troopers, they repeatedly reminded themselves that they were on “a mission from God.”
IFI Prayer Team: Grow in Grace and Knowledge of Jesus
By David E. Smith   |   08.31.23
Andrew Carnegie said, “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.” But Scripture tells us in Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” And in Colossians 3:2 we are told to “set our minds on the things above, and not on the things of this world.”
David E. Smith
Executive Director
David  E. Smith

Dave Smith is the executive director of Illinois Family Institute (501c3) and Illinois Family Action (501c4).

David has 30 years of experience in public policy and grass-roots activism that includes countless interviews for numerous radio, television, cable programs and newspaper articles on topics such as the sanctity of life, natural marriage, broadcast decency, sex education, marijuana, gambling, abortion, homosexuality, tax policy, drug decriminalization and pornography.

He and his wife of 29 years are blessed to be the parents of eight children. They strongly believe that their first duty before God is to disciple their children in the Christian faith, and impress a love of God on their hearts. There is a plethora of research that suggest that parents are the primary influencers in a child’s life. In an ideal world, that’s a mom and dad. Discipleship includes not only studying God’s Word but living a life of faith and walking in obedience to God. Discipleship is also necessary for sound doctrine, love of God and others. We do this in hopes of raising healthy and productive members of society who live to honor God and love their neighbors.

Dave has also served as a precinct committeeman and served as an ordained minister/elder in his local church.

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