Freedoms Journal Institute for the Study of Faith and Public Policy (FJI)

Mission: To advance the Kingdom of God through sociopolitical education and engagement rooted in a Biblical Worldview.

Vision: We envision a day when all bible believing Christians, regardless of ethnicity, stand for what we say we believe and to actively engage in the political process that represents us based on a biblical worldview.

Goal: We aim to create a “paradigm shift” in how people, in general, and the African American populace, in particular, view matters of faith, race, and public policy. FJI pledges to vigorously challenge “liberal” ideology with those conservative principles, such as the R.I.S.E Principles, essential to promoting and sustaining a stable and prosperous family and society.

Values: Our work is based on those biblical principles and values that aim to fulfill Christ’s commission faithfully, as articulated in Luke 4:18 and Acts 26:18. We believe that the gospel message has both political and public policy implications, which include long-term ministry goals such as “proclaiming freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and releasing of the oppressed.”

Within our mission, we also seek to improve the current black culture through an intentional focus on biblically-based black conservatism. We believe that black families matter. We're focused on aligning our political actions with our faith to help create a thriving black culture that embraces Christian values and conservative politics.

We also believe that doing this will create more opportunities for the Christian political process to work across all ethnicities together as one body of Christ.

Objectives
1. Clearly articulate and defend our perspective on issues of national and local concern using whatever forums and platforms are available to us. Activities: Publishing Freedom's Journal Magazine, public speaking, media interviews, event attendance, video productions, and documentaries [e.g., Kingdoms In Konflict: A Matter of Faith, Race, and Politics].

2. Identify conservative blacks and other people of color and bring them together regularly so they know they are not alone; build a community of like-minded individuals, organizations, and leaders. Activities: Host an annual Black Conservative Summit with seminars and formal meetings to create a core of committed activists willing to study the issues and recruit others to join the cause.

3. Help educate conservative people of color so they become informed advocates and defenders of this perspective. Activities: Identify pastors and community leaders for training on public policy issues; write for publications directed to blacks, Latinos, and other populations; write white papers, shorter essays, and books elucidating conservative principles and ideas from a biblical perspective; help newcomers to the movement get on the mailing lists of national conservative, faith-based conservative organizations.

4. Motivate conservative people of color to speak out on the day's issues, act in ways that advance conservative ideas, and challenge those around them to recognize and respond to conservative ideas. Activities: This issue calls for implementing conservative ideas articulated in the strategies mentioned earlier. It also means forming partnerships or coalitions of like-minded groups to help effect policy on a local and state level. For example, the Illinois Freedom Project proposes initiatives in three areas: standing for Marriage, protecting life, and promoting school choice.