Reflecting on the Life of Dr. James Dobson
The Legacy of Dr. James Dobson
As you may have heard, American evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder of Focus on the Family, Dr. James Dobson, has gone to Heaven at the age of 89.
According to Crosswalk, Focus on the Family “became one of the largest faith-based organizations in the world.” After leaving Focus on the Family, he launched the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI) and “continued his broadcasts through Family Talk radio, which is broadcast weekdays on over 1,500 radio outlets and is heard by over half a million people weekly. . . In addition to his work, Dobson served as an advisor to five U.S. presidents. . . His influence also extended into public policy debates on pornography, teen pregnancy, gambling, and pro-life issues. ”
He will be greatly missed. His life and ministry touched millions as he faithfully taught us how to build godly families.
Dr. Dobson’s Impact in My Life
I knew him very well, and I can tell you he was a true man of God who lived a life of integrity. I’ll never forget that after our son Christopher went to Heaven 17 years ago, Dr. Dobson personally called us and spent a great deal of time ministering to our entire family.
We had so many fun times. I remember once he invited me to lunch, and I found myself sitting with him, his wife, and his children. To my surprise, our conversation turned to one of his favorite bands—The Beatles! He leaned over and asked me, “Do you think Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was written about LSD, or was it just a class project John Lennon’s son was working on?” Who would’ve thought I’d be asked a question like that by Dr. James Dobson? But it happened!
And out of respect, I kept calling him “Dr. Dobson,” but he would gently correct me, saying, “Greg, please call me James.” Occasionally I did, but most of the time, “Dr. Dobson” just felt right.
I also had the privilege of interviewing him many times over the years, even at a Harvest Crusade. He also interviewed me on his own radio program.
We also went on a trip to Israel together, and to the White House on more than one occasion. He and his devoted wife, Shirley, shared such a beautiful marriage—one that we would all aspire to.
Dr. Dobson was a legend, a treasure to the Church, and truly a great man of God. He will be deeply missed we celebrate that he is now in the presence of the Lord he so faithfully served.
Something Special
For a deeper look into the life and heart of this remarkable man, I want to share a special interview I had with him. We discussed his upbringing, his career in psychology, and his passion for the family. You can listen to our our conversation here:
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