Dr. Dobson Dies

Thann BennettFaith
Written By Thann Bennett

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family and the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI), has died at the age of 89. Dobson was a prolific author, radio show host, and political advisor. A statement by JDFI said Dobson, “dedicated his life to strengthening marriages, guiding parents, and defending biblical values by championing the central role of family in America.” Dobson is survived by his wife, Shirley, two children, two grandchildren, and an ongoing ministry.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Legacy is a tricky thing to analyze, but Dr. Dobson leaves behind a legacy of faithfulness. A child psychologist by training, Dr. Dobson was an innovator in creating ways to reach and support Christian families. If you were following Jesus and raising a family in the 80s, 90s, or 2000s, you very likely encountered Dr. Dobson’s teaching. 

Parenting is a responsibility in which it’s often impossible to conclusively determine the best course of action. It is a challenging task and there are countless competing perspectives eager to give advice. It was into that difficult space that Dr. Dobson spoke and ministered, supporting hundreds of thousands of families along the way.

When I think of legacy, I often recall a lyric from a song by Aaron Jeoffrey that says, “I want to leave a legacy of a servant who believed that the world could still be changed by just one life.”

Dr. Dobson’s life changed the world for many, and it did so through faithful service. It is a legacy worth pursuing.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Pr. 22:6, ESV).

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 Jn. 1:4).

The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.

Thann Bennett

Thann Bennett is the Founder and President of Every Good Work, which exists to equip Jesus followers for a life of impact. His weekly newsletter, The Equipped, helps Jesus followers engage current events through a lens of the True and the beautiful. Thann and his wife, Brooke, are co-Founders of A Fearless Life, which works to find and fund a family for every adoption-eligible foster child in America. Thann has more than two decades of high-level public policy experience, with a particular focus on the U.S. Congress and the United Nations. He is the author of In Search of the King and My Fame His Fame. Thann and Brooke live in southern Maryland with their three children: Jude, Gambrell, and Hope, as well as a host of farm animals. The Bennetts are longtime members of the National Community Church family in Washington, D.C.

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