Focus on the Family Losing Its Influence?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, January 29, 2008
- Viewed 57
- (14) comments so far
Fading Influence?
In 1994 Dobson’s monthly newsletter had a circulation of 2.4 million copies. Today, that circulation is about 1.1 million.
In the 1990s, Dobson was drawing audiences of 15,000 or more to his speeches; but in the lead-up to the 2006 mid-term election, only about 1,000 people heard his anti-abortion speech at the 2,500-seat Mt. Rushmore National Monument amphitheatre. (Focus says that the event was a last-minute invitation and that Dobson rarely accepts speaking engagements.)
According to news accounts and audited financial reports posted online for potential donors, the organization’s staffing is down (30 layoffs last September).
Dobson’s book and recording purchases have declined from $678,000 in 2004 to $269,000 in 2006. His last book was published in 2001; another is not anticipated until 2009. The whole Dobson family, including wife Shirley, daughter Danae and son Ryan, produce books and tapes, but revenue from all Dobson-family materials are down, from $781,000 in 2004 to $307,000 in 2006.
Any thoughts? Why is the message fading from Focus? I have my ideas, but I’d love to hear yours…
As Focus on the Family weighs in on the presidential race, a Time Magazine examination of the group's records shows that its influence may not be all that it once was, and that its actual base may have become smaller. According to Time, the ministry apparently has been "flat" for some time...
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Peter Hamm on Tue, January 29, 2008
To everything there is a season…
Mark Triplett on Tue, January 29, 2008
Not only is there a season, but there are also several organizations that duplicate, maybe not the right word, the efforts of Focus.
With many other ways to obtain information about issues affecting the family and the like the one big spot just doesn’t have the same impact as it used to.
Derek on Tue, January 29, 2008
The times they are a-changin’ ...
All of us who are pastors and parents have Dobson books on our shelves…or at least we should! Bringing Up Boys has solid stuff in it. All of his books on discipline and marriage are good. I think the church has certainly benefited from Dr. D’s guidance on issues related to the family…then he got all political on us.
I don’t listen to his show or read his newsletter, so this is more of my impression than hardcore observation of the facts. But it seems that Dobson became really involved in making political statements, political endorsements, and write-your-congressman campaigns over the last twenty years or so…
This has always turned me off. I never paid much attention to his political endorsements, but apparently much of the evangelical community has in the past.
But now the times they are a-changin’ ...
I find that a growing number of evangelicals are less interested in partisan politics and are much more interested church life, community, theology, etc. And so, we listen to Dobson on matters of family and child-rearing, but we turn a deaf ear to his political leanings.
Maybe this is why his influence is slipping.
g&p;,
Derek
bishopdave on Tue, January 29, 2008
I agree with Derek. For me, any ministry that believes change will come through the political process if flawed. Change comes through the gospel. Not to start a fire, but we had the pro-evangelical congress and president for enough time, and yet no real change on the landscape of the issues that put them in office. While abortions, teen pregnancies, etc. may be down they haven’t experienced major change in view of the $$ spent on educating the public and putting people in favor of evangelical beliefs into office. Hence, we know the political route doesn’t work. Too much compromise to get things done.
FOF books and other stuff wrought change on the grassroots level, which is the only place true change in the culture will come from. This isn’t hiding our heads in the sand, it’s directing our efforts to what’s really effective.
Adam McLane on Tue, January 29, 2008
As much as I have loved Dobson’s books, the more politically involved he has gotten the less credibility he has had with me.
The fact that he endorses or doesn’t endorse a candidate is irrelevant to me.
I hope that Dobson and Focus go back to what they are good at… encouraging families.
Tyler on Tue, January 29, 2008
They aren’t relevant. I’m a 23 year old and I have never ever wanted to read a Dobson book or really anything by Focus because it just isn’t authentic for me. It seems to be stuck in this Christendom world with no reality to daily living.
deaubry on Tue, January 29, 2008
tyler, what kind of daily living are you talking about, there is some books that you might read on day to day living. the # one is the bible, but there are bible based books you can read. i do not hum drum either.give me somthing that will whit my spirit…
ck on Tue, January 29, 2008
I am a HUGE Focus on the Family Fan. Listen to their daily broadcast… but some of the things listed aren’t related to its relevance.
Less newsletter subscribers = more family.org visitors.
As far as books, FF hasn’t really put out any new stuff that was meant for broad appeal.
Wonder if the 30 people laid off is related to seasonal work.
I am a very political person, but will admit they go overboard at times. But the answer to that is not 100% removing themselves from it.
I think FF’s relevance is just equal to the churches relevance. Declining http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/hmm.gif People are rejecting truth, FF preaches absolute truth.
Stretch Mark Mama on Tue, January 29, 2008
Well, you pulled me out of lurking for THIS one!
James, our good friend James, is just a bit Too Political, and a bit Too Right (meant both ways). I haven’t tuned in or rec’d the newsletter for a few years now…
Randy Ehle on Tue, January 29, 2008
My comments would echo Derek’s - when Dobson is talking about families, I’m generally willing to listen and read. I turned him off about 10 years ago because I saw him going too much into the political arena.
CK - “Less newsletter subscribers = more family.org visitors”… may be true, but not necessarily. And even if there is a correlation, it may not be a true cause-and-effect relationship. After all, the sheer number of internet users has increased since 1994, so one would expect traffic to increase for that reason alone; it doesn’t necessarily mean that newsletter readers switched to internet.
Jermayn Parker on Tue, January 29, 2008
I like most others have his books on my shelf!
The thing I know about the kingdom is that everyone has their season. FOF has also raised and equipped many others to carry on their work, so while they may not be as frontline as 10-20 years ago, the ministry and call has been handed down and now carried on by others.
This is the way it should be!
Dobson on his own can only reach so many people, his disciples can reach more…
Jan on Sat, February 02, 2008
I was thinking of the transfer of leadership he made after his heart attack would influence his influence. He’s obviously putting less time into it.
And the political angle. I’ve gotten more and more uncomfortable with the direction of their ministry, though I’ve always like the family information and still recieve their magazine and like others, have his books on my shelves.
I hesitate to say it, but I think he’s gotten more shrill has he speaks on politics????
And like someone else said, I am less inclined to be politically active (like I once was) and more inclined to pursue the world for the kingdom of God… more long term results!
Susan Gillespie on Mon, February 11, 2008
We used to be avid fans of Dobson and FOF - We always made donations to the ministry and bought all the books. And in the early years of his more political ministry, I went with him there, too.
But in recent years not only has he become more shrill, in my opinion, but I have come to disagree with him on many issues - particularly about which issues should be the ones Christians would exercise their political power on. He lost me completely when he was part of the effort to keep the TNIV from being published (give me a break - if you don’t like it, don’t read it - but keeping it from being published??) and when he signed a letter urging the NAE to fire Richard Cizik because he advocated that Evangelicals get involved in more social issues than abortion and gay marriage.
I believe he reached the limit of his capacity to keep up with the Spirit on what’s going on a while ago, and this concerns me: is it necessary that we reach such a limit, and if so, how will I know when I’ve reached mine?
Leroy Grey on Mon, February 18, 2008
I’ve been a born again Christian since Nov. 1973. I discovered Dr. Dobson about 1975 when we had our first baby and loved everything he said or did back then.
Then I discovered I could go to the source via the Holy Spirit and didn’t need any man to teach me the things of God. That’s when I began to grow spiritually and realized Focus on the Family along with all other evangelicals were stuck in a fundamentalist time warp.
It seems that we Christians have lost our way. There’s nothing wrong with Christians involved in a ministry telling others about political happening they feel are important and need to be changed. However, it’s important to pick one’s battles and focus on the source of what’s ailing this country. To that end, the only viable candidate for any Christian should be the one that is most principled, who supports a strict interpretation of the Constitution, who understands America is being destroyed by the national bank (the so-called “Federal” Reserve) and the IRS, and who puts America first, above party or corporate gifts. There is only one candidate in either party who fits that description and his name is Ron Paul. The lack of Christian support for him is the strongest possible sign that we’ve lost our way, devolving into petty battles over which version of the bible to support or which globalist candidate we should vote for. All the rest of the candidates are globalists who will make sure America has seen her best days.
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