Focus on the Family is a Christian ministry organization founded in 1977 by Dr. James Dobson and based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The ministry aims to provide biblical advice and counseling to help strengthen marriages and families through radio broadcasts, videos, magazines, books, and other resources grounded in evangelical Christian values.
Some of the core beliefs and values of Focus on the Family include:
- Promoting the centrality of faith in Jesus Christ and upholding the authority of the Bible
- Advocating for the permanence and sacredness of marriage between one man and one woman
- Protecting the sanctity of human life including the unborn
- Supporting parents’ rights to make decisions regarding the raising of their children
- Providing counsel and resources to strengthen marital relationships
- Equipping parents to nurture their children’s faith and character development
The ministry seeks to uphold biblical principles concerning marriage, family, sanctity of life, human sexuality, and other moral issues. Some of Focus on the Family’s core areas of ministry include:
Marriage
Focus on the Family teaches that marriage is a lifelong covenant relationship between one man and one woman established by God. Based on Ephesians 5, husbands are called to sacrificially love their wives, and wives are called to respectfully submit to their husbands with the goal of reflecting Christ’s love for the church.
The ministry aims to provide married couples with biblical advice for strengthening their relationships in areas like conflict resolution, communication, intimacy, and more. Resources include counseling programs, seminars, books, and radio broadcasts.
Parenting
Focus on the Family seeks to equip parents to raise their children in a manner consistent with biblical principles. The ministry teaches that children are gifts from God entrusted to parents (Psalm 127:3). Resources aim to help parents instill Christian values and nurture their children’s faith.
Topics include discipline, teaching right and wrong, sex education, technology use, and more. Parents can access advice through counseling, books, broadcasts, and other materials to gain wisdom and encouragement for parenting.
Sanctity of Life
Focus on the Family strongly advocates for the protection of all human life from conception to natural death. Based on verses like Psalm 139:13-16, the ministry upholds the biblically-grounded belief that life begins at fertilization. As such, Focus on the Family opposes abortion and provides support to help women choose life for their unborn babies.
The Sanctity of Life department provides financial, educational and practical assistance to pregnant women. They aim to present biblical truth about the innate value of unborn life in a compassionate manner and support adoption services as well.
Human Sexuality
Focus on the Family maintains a biblical view of human sexuality, including heterosexual monogamous marriage as God’s intended design. Based on Matthew 19:4-6 and other verses, the ministry teaches that sexual intimacy is a gift reserved for a husband and wife within marriage.
The organization offers a Love Won Out ministry aimed at individuals struggling with same-sex attractions and their families. The goal is to provide grace-filled support that affirms God’s design for sexuality.
Focus also advocates against the normalization of non-biblical views of gender and identity in the culture and media. The goal is to uphold sexuality as defined and instituted by Scripture.
Social Issues and Policy
Focus on the Family aims to shape public policy consistent with biblical values on issues like marriage, sexuality, sanctity of life and religious liberty. This includes supporting pro-life legislation, advocating for defining marriage as between a man and woman, and defending religious freedom and parental rights.
The ministry’s public policy arm, called Focus on the Family Action, educates Christians about pertinent issues and legislation. It aims to motivate believers to contact their representatives and engage the culture for the nurturing of biblical morality and families.
Media Outreach
Focus on the Family produces radio programs, magazines, films, and other multimedia resources to advance its mission. Broadcasts like Adventures in Odyssey tell value-focused stories for children, while the long-running Focus on the Family program provides biblical teaching for families.
Various websites offer articles, blogs and videos with advice grounded in Scripture. Films and videos such as Irreplaceable share Christian perspectives on topics like fatherhood and religious freedom. Books and resources are distributed through the Focus on the Family online and mail-order store.
Counseling
Focus on the Family offers several free counseling services staffed by licensed Christian counselors and psychologists. Options include:
- Focus on the Family Helpline – Phone counseling for marriage, parenting, and other issues
- Focus on the Family Options Line – Support for unplanned pregnancy and sexual health issues
- Christian Counselor Network – Referrals to counselors near you
Counselors provide biblically-based guidance and support for any struggle or question people are facing in an effort to promote hope, healing, and spiritual wholeness.
Focus on the Family Institute
The Focus Leadership Institute provides worldview and theological education aimed at inspiring the next generation of Christian leaders. Degree programs include Master’s degrees in theology and Christian ministries, along with certificate courses in apologetics, public theology, and more.
The goal is to cultivate graduates grounded in biblical truth who can winsomely engage culture with the heart and mind of Christ. Students receive practical ministry training and spiritual formation as part of their educational experience.
Additional Family-Focused Ministries
Some other aspects of Focus on the Family’s work include:
- WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Program – Encouraging abstinence before marriage
- Option Ultrasound – Providing funding for ultrasounds at pro-life pregnancy centers
- Christian Worldview – Equipping families to think biblically about issues in society and culture
- Focus on the Family Kids – Children’s websites to help build character and faith
- Adventures in Odyssey – Long-running audio dramatizations promoting biblical values
Focus on the Family also provides international ministries tailored for audiences worldwide across 40 languages in over 60 countries globally.
History
Focus on the Family was founded in 1977 by Christian psychologist Dr. James Dobson. Dobson aimed to promote and defend Judeo-Christian values in response to rising divorce rates, the legalization of abortion, and other shifting cultural trends that he saw as contrary to Scripture.
The ministry began producing radio broadcasts offering advice grounded in biblical principles for family living. Dobson served as the organization’s CEO until 2003 when leadership transitioned to Jim Daly. Though no longer affiliated, Dobson continues to advance the causes of evangelical Christianity.
Over the decades, Focus on the Family has expanded into an influential international ministry. While not without controversy, it has provided resources and support for millions of families worldwide.
Criticisms and Controversies
As an organization promoting conservative Christian social views, Focus on the Family has faced its share of criticisms and controversies over the years. These include:
- Opposition to gay rights and same-sex marriage
- Support for conversion therapy for homosexuality
- Advocacy against abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research
- Promotion of creationism and intelligent design
- Arguments against divorce even in cases of domestic violence/abuse
- Views on traditional gender roles
- Use of corporal punishment
Many critics accuse Focus on the Family of being intolerant, regressive, unscientific, and overly partisan on political issues. Supporters feel the ministry promotes biblical truth even when stances are culturally unpopular.
Partnerships and Affiliations
Focus on the Family partners with various individuals and organizations that share its conservative Christian vision. These include:
- The Truth Project – Christian worldview educational ministry
- Alliance Defending Freedom – Christian legal advocacy group
- Summit Ministries – Christian worldview training for youth
- The Family Research Council – Conservative Christian lobbying organization
- Movieguide – Promotes biblically-based and family-friendly films
Focus also has strong connections with evangelical leaders and groups like the Southern Baptist Convention, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Concerned Women for America.
Conclusion
For over four decades, Focus on the Family has aimed to provide biblically-grounded resources and supports to strengthen Christian marriages and families. Though not without controversy, the Colorado-based evangelical ministry continues to expand its international outreach through multimedia tools and counseling services.
Focus on the Family advocates for public policies and moral viewpoints informed by scriptural teachings on marriage, life, sexuality, and social issues. The organization’s mission is to advance faith-filled families as the biblical building blocks of society.