Our Mission
Life Issues Institute is dedicated to changing the hearts and minds of millions of people through pro-life education. We are committed to providing the latest information and research tools to organizations and individuals around the world in order to protect innocent human life. We advance the cause of life from conception through to natural death.
About Us
Life Issues Institute was founded in 1991 by Dr. J.C. Willke and Bradley Mattes as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to building a culture of life in our local communities and across the United States. Since then, Life Issues Institute has worked to change the hearts and minds of millions of reasonable, persuadable Americans through impact research, pro-life education, and radio and TV broadcasting.
Life Issues Institute is committed to sharing pro-life research and insights through radio broadcasting. Despite new media, radio reaches 92 percent of Americans every week. Our daily radio commentary, Life Issues, broadcasts from over 1,300 radio outlets to all 50 states, reaching 18 million listeners a week and over 900 million listeners a year.
Our investigative research brings the truth into the light for millions. Our research demonstrated that 79 percent of Planned Parenthood abortion facilities are located within Black and Latino communities, preying on vulnerable, low-income women.
Pro-life research and education have never been more important than in post-Roe v. Wade America.
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Dr. Jack Willke and his wife Barbara, a nurse, are considered the parents of the pro-life movement. Before Roe, they developed educational tools such as slide sets, brochures, billboards, fair booth displays, videos, etc. used around the world to change hearts and minds on abortion. These materials have been translated into over 30 different languages. Tens of thousands of Americans have become pro-life due to the Wilkes’ tireless efforts to save the babies.
Our History
1973
After the 1973 Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, the pioneers of the pro-life movement advanced a strategy—demonstrate the humanity of the unborn child and show how abortion dismembers unborn babies who feel pain. Surely, America would then reject abortion.
Thus began the long and laborious undertaking of educating Americans about the beauty of all babies and the horrors of abortion.
1980
Life Issues co-founder, Dr. Jack Willke, meets with then vice-presidential candidate George H.W. Bush, comprehensively briefing him on the abortion issue and convincing the future president to become pro-life and an upholder of the pro-life movement.
1991
Life Issues Institute is founded by medical doctor Dr. Jack Willke and current president Brad Mattes. Life Issues Institute has gone on to be the premier provider of pro-life education and research for millions of Americans.
1992
In response to abortionists’ claims that the pro-life movement was only concerned about the unborn baby, Life Issues Institute co-developed the “Love them both” campaign messaging to demonstrate our full support and love for all expectant mothers. The campaign has since been revived and is in use by pro-life groups internationally.
2012
Life Issues Institute’s Facing Life TV wins one of three regional Emmy awards for “Facing Life Head On: Teens Making Healthy Choices” informational/instructional program.
2022
In June 2022 the United States Supreme Court delivers a long-awaited decision and overturns Roe v. Wade, because it was “egregiously wrong,” and declares that the constitutional right to abortion, upheld since 1973, no longer exists.
About our president
Bradley Mattes (Mat-tis) is president of Life Issues Institute, a grassroots organization dedicated to pro-life education and founded by pro-life pioneer Dr. John C. Willke and Brad in 1991. Its primary objective is to globally develop and disseminate effective pro-life educational materials.
For eight seasons, Brad was host and executive producer of Facing Life Head-On, a weekly pro-life TV program that was available to more than 100 million homes in the US and Canada. The program earned three Regional Emmy® awards and several other industry accolades before production ceased in 2015.
Brad also hosts Life Issues, a daily radio commentary on abortion and other life issues. Carried on over 1,300 radio outlets across the US, the program was recognized by National Religious Broadcasters with the 2016 Radio Impact Award.
Brad also hosts various half-hour radio programs on such topics as the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, adoption, men and abortion and US Supreme Court vacancies.
Brad is president of the International Right to Life Federation and a frequent international speaker and lecturer on abortion and related life issues. He works with other countries to establish a pro-life educational and counseling presence. He also is chairman of the board of directors of the Terri Schiavo Life and Hope Network, working to protect vulnerable individuals and educate others on end-of-life issues.
Brad has done considerable anecdotal research on the effects of abortion on men, and his writings on this topic have been printed in US and international publications. He has a master’s degree in biblical studies and biblical counseling from Master’s International University of Divinity and has written undergraduate and post-graduate courses on men and abortion.
A veteran of the pro-life cause, Brad has more than 46 years of educational, political, and humanitarian experience, and would be pleased to speak at your church, event, or campus.
Book Bradley to speak at your eventPRIVACY POLICY
We appreciate your trust in Life Issues Institute. Your privacy is critically important to us.
We will not sell, share, or trade our donors’ names or personal information with any other entity, nor send mailings to our donors on behalf of other organizations.
This policy applies to all information received by Life Issues Institute, both online and offline, on any platform (including the Institute’s websites and mobile applications), as well as any electronic, written, or oral communications.
To the extent any donations are processed through a third-party service provider, our donors’ information will only be used for transactional purposes.
Thank you for your commitment to advancing life in our communities.
