Dr. James Dobson, a prominent evangelical leader, psychologist, and former Trump adviser, died Thursday at the age of 89. Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson became one of the most influential voices in American Christian life, advocating for faith, marriage, and family values for more than five decades.
He rose to national prominence in the 1970s after founding Focus on the Family, a ministry that quickly became a leading force in evangelical media and public policy. His daily radio broadcasts reached millions of listeners, airing on over 4,000 stations and in more than 160 countries. His bestselling books, including The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense, were widely used by Christian families, churches, and schools.
Dobson is remembered as a steadfast advocate for Christian family values. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, their two children, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. The JDFI called his passing “the close of a remarkable chapter in American Christian life.”
