By Lillie Jaenchen
Dr. James Dobson, influential Christian leader and founder of Focus on the Family, has died at the age of 89.
The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute announced his death Thursday morning. He is survived by his Shirley, his wife of 64 years, their two children and two grandchildren.
“Dr. Dobson was a pioneer—a man of deep conviction whose voice shaped the way generations view faith, family and culture,” said Gary Bauer, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. “His bold leadership, integrity, and compassion helped equip countless families to thrive in a world of shifting values. He was a mentor, a counselor, and a steady voice of truth in turbulent times.”
Dobson was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1939. He founded Focus on the Family in 1977 and reached audiences around the world with his radio broadcasts.
Related: Dr Ted Baehr on FAMILY TALK with Dr. James Dobson
“His daily broadcasts were heard on over 4,000 radio stations across North America and translated into 27 languages in more than 160 countries,” JDFI said.
In 2010, he founded Family Talk, which later became the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI), “an organization devoted to preserving biblical principles in the institutions of marriage and family through broadcasts, training, and advocacy.”
He authored more than 70 books, drawing on his clinical and academic expertise as child development Ph.D., a pediatrics professor at the University of Southern California School of Medicine and a staff member at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles in the Division of Child Development and Medical Genetics, according to The Christian Post.
Christian leaders in all spheres reflected on Dobson’s remarkable legacy.
“Jim Dobson was a close friend since the 1980s,” said Movieguide® founder and publisher Dr. Ted Baehr. “We saw each other frequently. When he had a major crisis, I helped. We did the reviews for him for Focus for many years, until a consultant told Focus to take everything in house. Jim called me a year after and said he preferred our MOVIEGUIDE® reviews. Shirley and Jim prayed for my late wife Lili always. His daughter comes to our frequent Hollywood parties and is also a great friend.”
“James Dobson inspired Christians from every walk of life to pursue excellence in family life and used his influence to highlight some of the most significant cultural issues impacting the family,” said Troy A. Miller, NRB president & CEO. “Most importantly, he equipped countless believers to build godly marriages, strong families, and lasting legacies. His profound vision and the organizations he founded will continue to shape generations to come.”
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) praised Dobson’s fight against pornography.
“Dr. Dobson saw how pornography negatively impacted women, men, children, and families,” NCOSE President and CEO Dr. Marcel Van der Watt said in a statement. “His strong and unequivocal voice played a pivotal role in raising awareness of pornography’s evils and resulted in many significant positive reforms to curb its influence in society while bringing its perpetrators to justice. For that, we will always be indebted to him and his courage.”
Radio host Eric Metaxas called Dobson a “hero.”
“It has been one of the great honors of my life to know Dr. James Dobson,” Metaxas tweeted. “He was not afraid to bring his faith into the public sphere for God’s purposes. He has finished the race — to God’s glory! Hallelujah! May we all follow in his footsteps.”
Please keep Dobson’s family and friends in your prayers as they mourn his death.
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