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
Victor Nieves serves as President of Life Issues Institute and host of Life Issues as well as our half-hour weekly radio program Straight Talk on Life Issues.
Victor is the author of Conservative Prudence, an Amazon #1 new release. He previously hosted The Victor Nieves Show, a popular weekday radio program airing live from 4–6 p.m. on the Real Talk Radio Network, as well as a successful long-form podcast. In addition, he built an audience of hundreds of thousands of followers on social media where his content has had hundreds of millions of impressions.
Victor’s passion for the pro-life cause began at a young age while working state House and Senate campaigns in Missouri. His extensive grassroots experience led him to serve in multiple leadership roles, where he worked to educate voters and mobilize support for pro-life candidates.
Victor earned his degree in Political Science from the University of Central Missouri, with focus on American government. With unwavering dedication to defending innocent life, Victor remains committed to the fight to end abortion in America.
Book Victor to speak at your eventPresident Emeritus
Brad is President Emeritus of Life Issues Institute. He hosted a daily radio commentary on nearly 1,200 radio outlets, hosted a weekly half-hour radio program, and cohosted a weekly podcast. He was recognized by National Religious Broadcasters with the Radio Impact Award.
Brad also hosted 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 currently 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.
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 50 years of educational, political, and humanitarian experience.
Producer of Straight Talk
Sharon Kon was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is currently the producer of Straight Talk on Life Issues our half-hour radio and podcast program. She is an award-winning, multifaceted filmmaker, director/producer and podcast host/producer whose passion is to produce high quality, thought-provoking, and life-changing content in every media project she is involved in—always working to take a project to the next-level in media content, branding, and distribution. People are drawn to her and her projects and readily join forces and partnerships to excel the adventurous and ambitious projects.
Sharon currently resides in New Jersey. She is the recipient of the Northeast New York Region, Christian Women in Media Association’s Exceptional Service Award, and was named Regional Director of CWIMA’s New York Metro chapter. She holds a degree in Film and Video Production as well as extensive training in her fields of expertise.
Executive Director
Kate McAuliffe joined the staff of Life Issues Institute in 2018. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and History. Prior to coming to Life Issues Institute, Kate had a decade of experience in office administration. She desired to work for an organization who took a strong stance for life and found a good fit with Life Issues Institute.
She currently serves as the Executive Director at Life Issues Institute. She and her husband Larry and six children and currently 10 grandchildren.
PRIVACY 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.
