When I was 13, the devil told me I was going to die at 20 years old and that I did not need to prepare for any future, such as having a family. Somehow, as a smart but school-failed teenager, I believed it. So, the thought about having a family was negative for me, even though I was attracted to girls. But, to cut the story short, at 20 I did die, but with Christ through the gospel. So, it’s not the way the devil expected. I was an international student from Indonesia in the USA and listened to FOTF daily on WMBI for all the 4 years of my college life. And I continue to listen online (even Family Talk). After I returned to my country, I got married (19 years of marriage now, with 2 kids). Because of listening to Dr. Dobson at the age of 20, I had a positive view about marriage and began preparing for marriage and parenting, even before I got married and became a parent. The last purchase before I returned to my country was a children's Bible, so I could read it to my future son and daughter. And I did read it to my kids before they went to sleep when they were little. My daughter’s middle name is Danae in honor of Dr. Dobson. It’s impossible to fully describe the impact of his ministry on my marital and parenting life. Thank you for your faithfulness and legacy. Let us take the baton and pass it to the next generation that will raise godly families.
PreviousAs immigrants, our family had a rocky time adjusting to life in the US. As a child, the feeling of not fitting in exacerbated the feelings of loneliness, marginalization, and backwardness. In a culture of strong-voiced, charismatic male personas, Dr. Dobson was not that! He was a gentle, wise, kindhearted, and knowledgeable counselor who offered sound discussions about difficult problems in life that gave audiences this feeling: "by God's grace, we can make it through this." When I sat down in quiet evenings to do my homework, I'd turn on the radio and listen to Focus on the Family, and I'd get fatherly wisdom and insight from someone who explained why my life seemed like such a struggle, and he provided biblically sound advice on how to persevere, take heart, be courageous, and aspire for the best that God would bring about in the midst of life circumstances that were meant to train me for my good and His glory. I eventually went to school for a term at his Focus on the Family Institute, which enlarged my mind and provided me a world of mentors and friendships. HQ in CS is a special place. That experience set the vision and trajectory of my urban ministry work today. Focus on the Family is an organizational collaboration of many wonderful believers who shared his vision. We all touch a life, and each person there followed his leadership to do so in the love of Jesus, with wisdom, zeal, and joy. Thank you, Dr. Dobson.
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