Radio Giants James Dobson and Chuck Smith Make News

James Dobson on the Family 

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson says he will host a new daily radio show with his son Ryan in 2010. Dobson announced the new show, to be called "James Dobson on the Family," on his Facebook page. Dobson said he will launch a nonprofit group and host the new radio show in March.

Dobson earlier said he planned to leave Focus on the Family and its flagship radio broadcast at the end of February. He says his new show will cover many of the same topics, including marriage, child-rearing and national issues.

Dobson says he wanted to leave Focus on the Family so the ministry could be passed on to the next generation of leaders. However, he says he feels compelled to continue at a time when the nation is in a "moral decline of shocking dimensions."

"The institution of the family continues to be in deplorable condition," Dobson writes, "and children are growing up in a culture that often twists and warps their young minds."

Focus spokesman Gary Schneeberger was quoted as saying the ministries will not compete against one another. "This is a natural progression that Dr. Dobson initiated. We have never been the only family group on the block," he said.

Since 2003, Ryan Dobson has written inspirational books, such as “Be Intolerant” and “2 Die 4,” and he has spoken regularly at Christian youth events.

The Colorado Springs Gazette is reporting that Ryan Dobson has never expressed interest in following in his father’s footsteps. In a 2005 biography of James Dobson, Dale Buss writes that Ryan “doesn’t feel called to succeed his father as head of Focus on the Family and doubts he ever will.”

Ryan Dobson leads KOR World Ministries, designed “to build passion and identity in Christ’s followers,” according to its Web site. On the site, he hosts a daily podcast similar to his father’s radio show in that both discuss current events and religion.

The Gazette story points out that some experts believe James Dobson may be launching the new ministry to raise the profile of his son.

“The motivation may be he wants to set up his son in a parallel organization (to Focus),” said Randall Balmer, professor of American religious history at Barnard College in New York. “He wants to pass the mantle on to his son.”

John Green, who tracks American evangelical religious trends, said there is a long history of religious leaders, such as Oral Roberts and Billy Graham, wanting to pass their ministry on to their sons. “Ryan and Dobson working together may be a way to establish Ryan in his own right,” Green said.

Jim Daly, whom James Dobson handpicked as his Focus successor seven years ago, said Focus wishes Dobson well in his venture.

“He has a chance to share his life’s work and passion with his only son,” said Daly, Focus president and CEO. “What man wouldn’t choose to do that?”

Chuck Smith Recovering from Two 'Mini-strokes'

Assist News is reporting that Pastor Chuck Smith, 82, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California, and the father of the "Jesus People" phenomenon in Southern California, is continuing to recover in a local hospital after suffering two "mini-strokes" at his home recently.

A message posted on the church's website says, "Dear praying friends, Pastor Chuck has now moved into the rehabilitation stage of his recovery. He is doing very well and appreciates your prayers. Doctors are still advocating lots of rest as he moves into this stage. The family thanks you for the outpouring of love, concern, and respect for their privacy during this time.

Brian Brodersen, who serves as associate pastor to Chuck Smith at the church, told the Sunday morning congregation that "Pastor Chuck is doing very well" and added that he is "hoping to return home sometime later this week."

In 1965, Chuck Smith began his ministry at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California. Only twenty-five people attended at the time. What began as a small chapel has now grown into a church that seats over 2,000 and is filled almost nightly.

Dan Wooding of ANS explains that from the beginning, Pastor Chuck welcomed all, young and old, without judgment, placing his emphasis on the teaching of the Word of God. His simple, yet sound, biblical approach draws 25,000 people weekly to the church and also millions of radio listeners who hear his sermons. With a sincere concern for the lost, Pastor Chuck made room in his heart and his home for a generation of hippies and surfers; generating a movement of the Holy Spirit that spread from the West Coast to the East Coast, bringing thousands of young people to Jesus Christ.

Included among this generation of new believers were Greg Laurie, Mike MacIntosh, Raul Ries, and Skip Heitzig, as well an estimated 1,500 leaders who have gone on to establish their ministries around the world.

James Dobson's Facebook page

More from Focus on the Family

More from Ryan Dobson at  KOR World Ministries

Pastor Chuck Smith at The Word for Today

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