Christian Psychologist, Best-Selling Author, And Radio Broadcaster Leaves Behind A Legacy Of Faith
The evangelical Christian leader Dr. James Dobson, who founded Focus on the Family, died on Thursday, August 21, at the age of 89.
An advocate for family values, as understood through the Bible, Dobson was a prominent figure in American Christianity, advising many presidents in matters of faith, including Presidents Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump.
On his memorial website, Dobson is quoted, saying, “I will consider my earthly existence to have been wasted unless I can recall a loving family, a consistent investment in the lives of people, and an earnest attempt to serve the God who made me.”
Watch Dobson speak on his life’s work, here:
About His Life And Ministry
In 1977, Dobson founded Focus on the Family, leaning on his experience in the 1960s as an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at University of Southern California School of Medicine where he saw the counterculture trend brewing.
Focus on the Family sought to help parents navigate with their children through the dangers of the contemporary culture.
With radio as one of its primary areas of ministry, the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute said, “His daily broadcasts were heard on over 4,000 radio stations across North America and translated into 27 languages in more than 160 countries.”
Pro-life messages, as well as advocacy for the “sanctity of marriage,” were staples of Focus on the Family which contributed to its prominence among the conservative political movement in America.
While Dobson was never ordained, his influence as a Christian leader, especially in the 1990s, was very significant. Notably, Dobson’s wife, Shirley, led the National Day of Prayer Task Force from 1991 to 2016.
Dobson left Focus on the Family in 2009, establishing the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute
Dobson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley; as well as their children, Danae and Ryan; daughter-in-law Laura; and two beloved grandchildren.
For more information about Dr. James Dobson, visit the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute website.
Watch Dr. James Dobson and his wife, Shirley, speak on the National Day of Prayer in 2001 on C-SPAN, here: