Last week, Dr. James Dobson – the famed Christian psychologist, author, broadcaster, and cultural commentator – went to be with the Lord.
A flood of tributes have been given about his life and legacy. All of these testify to the enduring impact of Dr. Dobson’s biblically-based parenting advice, as well as his sharp insights on culture and politics.
Many know Dr. Dobson as the founder of Focus on the Family. But some of you may not know that Idaho Family Policy Center is also uniquely indebted to Dr. Dobson.
Always an advocate for biblically sound public policy and Christian political engagement, Dr. Dobson helped launch the “family policy council” movement, which today includes Idaho Family Policy Center and nearly forty other Christian policy groups across the country.
We are privileged to carry forward that mission today. Idaho Family Policy Center continues to serve as the state public policy partner of Focus on the Family—and in so doing, we stand on the shoulders of visionaries like Dr. Dobson.
Julie Lynde, who has served as our legislative liaison at Idaho Family Policy Center and also served as executive director of our predecessor ministry, Cornerstone Family Council (later Family Policy Alliance of Idaho), shared this with me about her time working with Dr. Dobson in the family policy council movement:
Dr. Dobson was full of faith, truth, wisdom, encouragement, and love for his Savior, as well as God’s plan for the family. Thankfully, he saw the cultural writing on the wall long before the rest of us—and he encouraged us to get involved by exercising biblical citizenship.
I was one of the many who were inspired by his vision, getting to know him after I became the executive director of the Cornerstone Family Council. I know Doc cared deeply about Idaho and the work of our FPC.
Although the oxygen left the room with the news of his passing, I am so thankful to God for the blessing that Doc was to Idaho, America, and me. There is no doubt that Doc was greeted in Heaven with those words that every Christian person longs to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
While we are grieved by the death of this godly leader who did so much to shape our cultural landscape, we also praise God for giving Dr. Dobson the foresight and fortitude to build many of the institutions that continue to fight the spiritual and cultural battles of our times.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue walking in Dr. Dobson’s legacy—a man who understood the importance of Christian cultural engagement for the sake of the Gospel, especially at the statehouse.
