Christianity: Details about 'Focus On The Family'
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Focus on the Family (FOTF or FotF), founded in 1977, is an evangelical Christian 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the United States. The organization describes itself as "dedicated to nurturing and defending families worldwide". The group was founded by James Dobson and is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical para-church organizations whose stated aim is not to start a new church or denomination, but to work interdenominationally to protect and promote their definitions of traditional family and family values. Some of the core promotional activities of the organization include a daily radio broadcast by Dobson and his colleages, providing free counseling and resources for those facing family difficulties, and publishing a variety of magazines, videos and audio recordings. In response to perceived threats to the family from changing world views in society, Dobson and his associates have become more politically active, and are regarded as a major voice in the Christian right, generally promoting socially conservative policies. Recently it began publishing a new political magazine called Citizen which addresses political concerns, especially on issues where current public policies are seen as threatening to conservative families.
International affiliates
Political positions and activitiesThe group supports the teaching of what they characterize as "traditional family values." It advocates school prayer and supports corporal punishment. It strongly opposes abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and pre-marital sexual activity. Focus on the Family broadcasts a national talk radio program of the same name hosted by Dobson or his aides. The program has a range of themes, such as Christian-oriented assistance for victims of rape or child abuse; parenting difficulties; child adoption; husband/wife roles; family history and traditions; struggles with gambling, pornography, alcohol, and drugs; and many other themes. When programs deal with civic issues, listeners often respond to these programs by contacting political leaders. The organization claims that their daily radio broadcast has over 1.5 million listeners daily in the United States. They also have offices worldwide, and claim a worldwide audience of over 200 million for their daily radio broadcast. Focus on the Family also produces ten monthly magazines (with a total of about 2.3 million subscribers) and a wide variety of books and films. Magazines include Focus on the Family, Plugged In, Brio, Clubhouse, Clubhouse Jr., and Citizen. Dobson has also another group Focus Action, a 501(c)(4) social welfare group which has fewer political lobbying restrictions. LeadershipLeadership for the organization was provided by Dobson alone until 2003. In 2003, Donald P. Hodel became president and chief executive officer, tasked with the day-to-day operations. This left Dobson as chairman of the Board of Directors, with chiefly creative and speaking duties. In March, 2005, Hodel retired and Jim Daly, formerly the Vice President in charge of Focus on the Family's International Division, assumed the role of president and chief executive officer. History and facilitiesFocus on the Family began in 1977 out of a small office in Arcadia, California. It soon outgrew that facility and began acquiring space in both Arcadia and in nearby Monrovia as its radio program grew in listenership. By 1990, the group needed even more space, and relocated to a new office complex in Pomona, California, that was supposed to last the organization for many years. Further growth caused by increased listenership of the radio program and readership of its books and magazines caused the organization to look for even more. In September 1993, having relocated to temporary quarters in various locations in Colorado Springs in the previous months, Focus on the Family dedicated its main building on an expansive 49-acre (200,000 m²) site. Currently its three office buildings have a combined space of over 526,000 square feet (49,000 m²) housing over 1300 employees. One of the buildings is largely used for receiving telephone calls from listeners and providing requested assistance; this activity engages the largest segment of its employees. The organization's facilities are open for tours by the public Monday through Saturdays, excepting certain holidays. A bookstore and cafeteria are onsite, as is the child-oriented Whit's End Soda Shoppe which serves ice cream and "Wodfamchocsod" (chocolate soda) made famous by the Adventures in Odyssey children's radio theatre show produced by Focus on the Family. Radio TheatreFocus on The Family Radio Theatre is a subsidiary company of Focus on the Family. It adapts classic literature, mystery mini-series' and biographical productions, and has extended its reach to the mainstream as well as the Christian audience. The weekly broadcasts now air on 240 stations nationwide, reaching audiences in excess of 350,000. Radio Theatre began with historical biographies of Squanto ("The Legend of Squanto"), Jesus ("The Luke Reports") and Dietrich Bonhoeffer ("Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom"), and in 1996, a 90-minute radio drama based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was produced and aired as a broadcast special. More recently they have adapted the Narnia stories, with David Suchet providing the voice of Aslan. Radio Theatre was awarded the Peabody Award for Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom. See also
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