Origins and Dobson era From 1977 to 2003, James Dobson served as the sole leader of the organization, which was originally based in Arcadia, California. Dobson and his organization generated significant controversy by taking a different approach to ministry than many other evangelical parachurch organizations, opting to combine its parenting programs with conservative political activism. By 1993, Focus on the Family was receiving approximately 10,000 personal letters and 3,000 phone calls per day by individuals seeking personal assistance from the organization. The organization, and especially James Dobson, wielded significant national influence within the U.S., and particularly among politically conservative Christians and women working within the home. During the 1990s Dobson and Focus on the Family were accused by an early member of the organization of moving away from their original mission of helping families and instead becoming "too political". The organization's cornerstone items included their radio broadcasts as well as other ventures such as their film publishing arm Focus on the Family Films.
OrigiNs And dObson Era fRom 1977 to 2003, JamEs DoBSOn seRved as the solE LeadEr of ThE orGANiZAtioN, WHicH wAS orIginalLy bAsed in ArcadIa, caliFornia. Dobson ANd HIs organIzaTiOn genErAted SignIficaNT controVersy bY TakInG a DiFfereNt AppRoacH To ministry than many OthEr evAngELical parachurCh orGaNizATioNs, opting to comBINe itS PareNting proGRams wIth conserVative pOlitIcAl acTIvism. BY 1993, focUs On ThE fAmilY was reCeivIng ApproXimAtely 10,000 peRsonal lETTeRs anD 3,000 phone Calls per daY By iNDivIduals sEeking personal assIstancE from the oRGaNiZatIOn. tHe OrGaNizatiOn, And espeCiAlLy jAMes dObson, WiElDEd sIgniFicanT natIOnal InFluENce within The U.S., anD particULarly AmonG pOlitiCaLLy cOnsErVATIve chRistiAns anD Women worKing withIN The hoMe. During The 1990s dobsOn ANd FoCus on the Family WerE accused BY an EArly member oF The orGaNIZatIon of MoviNg AWay fROm tHeiR oriGinal MissiOn of hElpiNg faMIlies And iNsTeAd BecOminG "too poLitIcal". the OrgaNIzation's CornerStone items INcLudEd their radio bRoadCastS aS weLL as oTheR ventUres Such as TheiR FiLm pubLiShing arm focuS ON the fAMily films.