About

American Family Association (AFA), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1977 by Donald E. Wildmon, who was the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Southaven, Mississippi, at the time. Since 1977, AFA has been on the front lines of America’s culture war. The original name of the ministry was National Federation for Decency but was changed to American Family Association in 1988.

Today, AFA is led by president Tim Wildmon, and it continues as one of the largest and most effective pro-family organizations in the country with hundreds of thousands of supporters.

The impact of AFA on pro-family issues is recognized nationwide. AFA spokespersons have appeared on programs such as ABC's Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and Nightline; Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Hannity & Colmes, and Fox News Live; NBC's Today Show and Meet the Press; MSNBC's Deborah Norville Tonight and Countdown with Keith Olbermann; CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight, Anderson Cooper 360, Wolf Blitzer Reports, Talk Back Live, American Morning, and Crossfire; CBN's The 700 Club; TBN's Praise the Lord; INSP's Inspiration Today; and the BBC.

AFA spokespersons have been quoted in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Washington Times, Chicago Tribune, Mediaweek, Advertising Age, TIME, Newsweek, WORLD, Christianity Today, and numerous other media outlets. They also are frequent guests on national and international radio programs including the BBC, National Public Radio (NPR), and Voice of America.

Advertising Age listed Donald Wildmon in its December 2004 "Book of Tens" as one of the top "10 Who Made a Mark on Marketing." He was named among other high-profile figures such as Karl Rove, Mel Gibson, and Mark Burnett. Advertising Age, Crain's international newspaper of marketing, serves as a widely recognized source for the latest information to over 198,000 advertising, marketing, and media professionals.

American Family Association believes that God has communicated absolute truth to mankind and that all people are subject to the authority of God’s Word at all times. Therefore, AFA believes that a culture based on biblical truth best serves the well-being of our nation and our families, in accordance with the vision of our founding documents. AFA believes personal transformation through the gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest agent of biblical change in any culture.

AFA believes the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:16-21
AFA believes that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Luke 3:22; John 1:1-5
AFA believes in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. Matthew 1:23, 16:27, 24:27-31, 25:31-46, 28:1-20; Luke 1:26-38, 24:39; Acts 1:9, 11, 2:22-33, 10:38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3, 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; Revelation 1:7
AFA believes that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. John 3:1-21; Titus 3:5
AFA believes in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. John 14:15-26; Acts 1:8
AFA believes in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost – they who are saved unto the resurrection of life and they who are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. Matthew 25:46; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8
AFA believes in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:1-6; Galatians 3:26; Romans 8:15-16
AFA believes God created mankind, both male and female, in His image and likeness. Every human being bears the imago Dei. Therefore, AFA believes in the sanctity of human life, which must be protected from conception through natural expiration. Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-16
AFA believes marriage is the exclusive and committed lifelong union of one man and one woman. It is the foundational construct of society at-large, and it is a fundamental and indispensable component of God’s church. Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6
AFA believes God ordained the marital covenant as the exclusive context for sexual contact to be enjoyed between a husband (one man) and his wife (one woman). As such, any extramarital sexual contact is decried by God as sinful conduct, and it is defined by God’s Word as fornication and/or adultery. Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Exodus 20:14, 17; Matthew 5:27-30; Acts 15:20, 29, 21:25; Romans 1:16-32; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:9-20, 7:2, 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 5:1-5; Colossians 3:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5; Jude 1:7

Mission

The mission of American Family Association is to inform, equip, and activate individuals and families to transform American culture and to give aid to the church, here and abroad, in its calling to fulfill the Great Commission.

Vision

The vision of American Family Association is to be a leading organization in biblical worldview training for cultural transformation.

Core values

The following presents the core values of American Family Association. AFA desires that these values define and drive this ministry to transform culture by fulfilling the Great Commission.

Evangelism and discipleship – AFA aims to evangelize the lost and disciple the believer.
Marriage and family – AFA aims to strengthen biblical marriages and equip parents to raise godly children.
Morality – AFA believes true morality flows from biblical principles and directs people to the manner in which God intends them to live.
Sanctity of human life – AFA upholds the truth that all human beings, including the unborn, are created in the image of God and are worthy of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Stewardship – AFA believes that its ministry, as well as everything in the heavens and on earth, belongs to God, and AFA’s role in it all is that of a trusted manager.
Religious liberty – AFA believes that all men and women, whether in private or public, should be free to exercise their faith without hindrance from the government.