Dr James Dobson, founder of the conservative Christian ministry ‘Focus on the Family’ and an influential US evangelical leader died on Thursday, at the age of 89. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1936, Dobson was an influential voice in American politics. Trained as a child psychologist, he launched a radio show on parenting that grew into Focus on the Family in 1977. The ministry became one of the largest evangelical organizations in the world, employing more than 1,000 people. The radio show was broadcasted in 27 languages across 160 countries.His influence extended deep into politics. Dobson advised or counseled five US presidents — Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Donald Trump. He was part of Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board in 2016 and later praised him for appointing conservative Supreme Court justices who overturned federal abortion rights in 2022. Dobson authored more than 70 books, including the controversial The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense, and was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. His daily broadcast once aired on more than 4,000 stations, making him one of the most widely heard Christian voices globally. A staunch opponent of abortion, pornography and same-sex marriage, Dobson was a leading figure in shaping evangelical activism around issues of family and morality. In 1985, he interviewed President Reagan in the Oval Office, and by 1989, televangelist Jerry Falwell had described him as a “rising star.” Focus on the Family, headquartered in Colorado Springs since 1991, became a platform for Dobson to campaign on social policy and mobilize evangelical voters. His work, the James Dobson Family Institute noted, was dedicated to “strengthening marriages, guiding parents and defending biblical values.” Dobson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, their children Danae and Ryan, daughter-in-law Laura and two grandchildren.
