Blog

What Can Indiana Learn From King Saul?

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and in nearly two months, 2025 will come to a close? This year has flown by. We are incredibly proud of IFI’s many accomplishments over the course of this year, and we’re even prouder of how our nation and the conservative movement have responded to the difficult challenges that America faced in 2025. 

As this year wraps up, the IFI team is diligently preparing for 2026 by setting goals, meeting with elected officials, and shaping our legislative agenda for the upcoming session. In order to accomplish everything God has laid on our hearts for next year, we need to raise a total of $1,000,000 by the end of this year.

This is an ambitious goal, but we know God can do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 4:20).

Do you remember the story of King Saul and Jonathan after the nation of Israel scored a great victory against the Philistines? The Israelites were primed to wipe out the Philistine armies in the following battle, but King Saul made what scripture calls a “foolish vow.” 1 Samuel 14:24 explains the following:

But the men of Israel were hard-pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under a curse, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people ate any food.

Unfortunately, Saul’s son Jonathan did not hear his father’s vow and unknowingly violated it. Verse 29 continues:

Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land [with his foolish curse]. See how my energy is restored because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better [it would have been] if only the people had eaten freely today from the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”

Why am I telling you this story?

King Saul’s foolish vow prohibited Israel from realizing a far larger victory that day.

I believe this biblical principle is applicable to Indiana’s present situation. 

We currently have a massive opportunity in our state. We have statewide leaders, including a governor and lieutenant governor, who share our values. We have friendly leaders in the Indiana House and Senate. We have a federal government ready to defend religious freedom and Christian values. 

The wind is at our backs – nothing is stopping us from pushing ahead to secure incredible victories for the conservative movement and the Kingdom of God. 

But it won’t always be this way.

We will certainly face obstacles and opposition, perhaps greater than we’ve ever seen, in the future. Now is the time to secure larger victories and protect ourselves for when the pendulum inevitably swings back the other way.

God has given us a moment of great victory, similar to the Israelites in their first defeat of the Philistines. Let’s not become complacent, failing to fuel our movement as King Saul failed to fuel his army, which prevented Israel from realizing a far greater victory.

The Indiana Family Institute is not willing to squander this opportunity. Satan is not gone; he is surely devising a counterattack.

We need you in our corner. 

Will you commit to a one-time or recurring donation of $25, $50, $100, or more so we can capitalize on the victory God has given us and push the conservative movement forward? Do you remember the story of King Saul and Jonathan after the nation of Israel scored a great victory against the Philistines? The Israelites were primed to wipe out the Philistine armies in the following battle, but King Saul made what scripture calls a “foolish vow.” 1 Samuel 14:24 explains the following:

But the men of Israel were hard-pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under a curse, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people ate any food.

Unfortunately, Saul’s son Jonathan did not hear his father’s vow and unknowingly violated it. Verse 29 continues:

Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land [with his foolish curse]. See how my energy is restored because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better [it would have been] if only the people had eaten freely today from the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”

Why am I telling you this story?

King Saul’s foolish vow prohibited Israel from realizing a far larger victory that day.

I believe this biblical principle is applicable to Indiana’s present situation. 

We currently have a massive opportunity in our state. We have statewide leaders, including a governor and lieutenant governor, who share our values. We have friendly leaders in the Indiana House and Senate. We have a federal government ready to defend religious freedom and Christian values. 

The wind is at our backs – nothing is stopping us from pushing ahead to secure incredible victories for the conservative movement and the Kingdom of God. 

But it won’t always be this way.

We will certainly face obstacles and opposition, perhaps greater than we’ve ever seen, in the future. Now is the time to secure larger victories and protect ourselves for when the pendulum inevitably swings back the other way.

God has given us a moment of great victory, similar to the Israelites in their first defeat of the Philistines. Let’s not become complacent, failing to fuel our movement as King Saul failed to fuel his army, which prevented Israel from realizing a far greater victory.

The Indiana Family Institute is not willing to squander this opportunity. Satan is not gone; he is surely devising a counterattack.

We need you in our corner. 

Will you commit to a one-time or recurring donation of $25, $50, $100, or more so we can capitalize on the victory God has given us and push the conservative movement forward? 

Click here to donate.

  Back

Blog

A D.C. Trip Unlike Any Other!

10/13/25

Last month, participants in the Hoosier Leadership series traveled to Washington, D.C., for two full days to meet with Indiana’s congressional delegation and learn about important legislative issues impacting our state and nation. The action-packed trip included opportunities for HLS members to interact with top state and national voices and hear from leading conservative organizations – and even sit in our representatives’ seats on the House floor!

This year, we had the unique opportunity for a private evening tour of the Capitol with Rep. Rudy Yakym. We sat on the House floor (in the representatives’ seats!) learning about the building’s history and the rules and procedures of voting and debate. We were also able to observe a debate between Rep. Chip Roy and Rep. Brian Mast from the gallery earlier in the day. 

This was the first time in a long time that we met in the Members’ Room at the Library of Congress for our meetings on Thursday. This wonderful opportunity was made possible through Rep. Marlin Stutzman’s office. As a result, our leadership group was able to attend Live at the Library and spend the evening exploring the Library of Congress. 

Rep. Victoria Spartz sponsored our dinner at the Capitol Hill Club and spoke to us on a variety of issues we are facing as a nation, but most of all, she inspired us to fight for this country and to continue to protect it. 

Finally, while our prayer walk around the Capitol grounds is always reverent and impactful, this year it took on a more somber and significant tone as our group began to mourn the loss of Charlie Kirk, who had been killed only about an hour before. This reinforced the importance of praying for our country’s leaders, its people, and the protection of our freedoms, especially our religious freedom.

We also had the opportunity to hear from key speakers at the Family Research Council and the Heritage Foundation. It was an action-packed two days, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who made it possible! 

The purpose of the Hoosier Leadership Series is to create a movement of high-caliber, committed leaders from across the professional spectrum who are grounded in a principled conservative philosophy and oriented toward thoughtful cultural engagement and service to the people of Indiana and beyond. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, please email HLS Director Valerie Swack at valerie@hoosierfamily.org to learn more about next year’s class!

Apply Here

We’d like to extend a special thanks to our Hoosier Leadership Series sponsors, who helped make the D.C. trip possible: Indiana Wesleyan University, Adler Law Firm, The Heritage Foundation, LifeWise Academy, B23 Strategies, Americans for Prosperity, Ash and Oak, and Samaritan Ministries.

  Back