Focus On The Family

Focus on the Family is a nonprofit organization founded in 1977^[1] by psychologist Dr. James Dobson whose focus is to "[defend] the God-ordained institution of the family and [promote] biblical truths worldwide."^[2]

Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the organization manages many different ministries, including periodicals aimed at a variety of audiences, several radio ministries, an educational institute, and community-focused programs.^[3] Dobson chose Jim Daly as president of Focus on the Family in 2005, and stayed on as chairman of the board until 2009.

Focus on the Family, like most nonprofit groups, has been hit by the Recession of 2008. In 2008 it had to eliminate 200 positions, leaving 700 employed, and cut its budget from $154 million to $138 million.

Radio ministries[edit]

Present-day radio ministries of Focus on the Family include a show hosted by Dr. Dobson himself, entitled Focus on the Family with 1.5 million listeners.

In 1987, the organization launched a series of fictional radio dramas aimed at youth. This show, Adventures in Odyssey, has now aired continuously for over twenty years. In March 2008, Adventures in Odyssey set a record for being the longest-running weekly drama with a consistent character cast,^[4] passing the television program Gunsmoke, which ran for 633 episodes.^[5]

Recognitions and awards[edit]

In 2008, Dobson's Focus on the Family program was nominated for induction into the Radio Hall of Fame.^[6] Nominations were made by the 157 members of the Hall of Fame and voting on inductees was handed over to the public using online voting.^[7] The nomination drew the ire of gay rights activists, who launched efforts to have the program removed from the nominee list and to vote for other nominees to prevent Focus on the Family from winning.^[8][9] However, on July 18, 2008, it was announced that the program had won and would be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in a ceremony on November 8, 2008.^[10] TruthWinsOut.org, a gay rights group, has said they will protest the ceremony.^[11]

Further reading[edit]

• Jim Daly, Finding Home: An Imperfect Path to Faith and Family (2007), his autobiography, excerpt and text search
• Michelle Boorstein and Michael D. Shear, "Focus on the Family's Dobson Resigns Post," Washington Post Feb. 28, 2009
• Dan Gilgoff, The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America Are Winning the Culture War (2007) balanced biography by journalist except and text search

References[edit]