A Season of Change

March 2003

Dear Friends,

Though I promised to complete an excerpt from Bringing Up Boys which I began quoting last month, a more pressing matter has arisen that should be given priority. It concerns some important developments within Focus on the Family.

You may have read in the Associated Press, The Washington Post or elsewhere that this ministry had to reduce its 2003 budget by more than $5 million in February.1 This follows a substantial reduction in October. The reason is because our income has been virtually static for more than four years, while costs of health insurance and other expenses have been steadily rising. We were able to cope with these inflationary pressures until this year by being even more frugal, by cutting ministry related travel, by eliminating contingencies, etc. But now, we have run out of "wiggle room."

Thus, for the first time in 26 years, we have experienced a general "layoff," or what the business community terms a "reduction in force." With the concurrence of our Board, we reluctantly said goodbye to 36 employees, some of whom had been part of our "family" for as long as ten years. In addition, we eliminated 60 "open" positions that we had been seeking to fill. It was a very sad day for all of us, as staff members gathered on a Friday afternoon to offer best wishes and prayers to departing friends and co-workers. There were many hugs and tears on that day.

Every person released last month could accurately be called a "hardship case," first because the severance pay is modest, and second, because none has the financial resources to survive for more than a few weeks without an income. That is our greatest concern. We fear that the depressed job market will make it difficult for the majority of these fine people to secure employment quickly. Several are single mothers, and most are the sole supporters of their families. I never realized just how painful a "cut back" of this nature could be — not only for those affected, but also for those of us who had to make the decision. It reminds me of a military general who wrote after a battle, "I did what I didn't want to do, to those who didn't want it done." I understand the feeling

The amazing thing has been the attitudes of those who were released. Rather than being angry or vindictive, many promised to pray for the ministry, and were almost apologetic for our having been placed in a difficult situation. One of them is Mark Rader, who worked in our Focus on the Family Institute. Mark has given me permission to share a note he sent to me the day he was released. This is what he wrote:

Dear Dr. Dobson,

As you may know, I have been selected as one of the 36 Focus employees to be released. As you can imagine, this has been a time of shock, sadness and some bewilderment at being ushered out from a ministry with students that I deeply believe in and have invested in for five and a half years. However, "When God doesn't make sense" is often when we learn to trust Him the most, and that truly is my testimony.

I wanted to say thank you for the times I've had the privilege of interacting with you, and for your support for the Institute. I also want to say how grateful my family and I are for your extremely generous spirit towards all your employees, including us. I love the mission of Focus on the Family and will continue to pray for you and give when we can. Isaiah 42:16* is a tremendous promise to me during these times and I trust it will bless you. In His love, M.R.

* Isaiah 42:16 reads “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them” (NIV).

Mark then made some comments the following Sunday morning to his entire church body, and asked for prayer and support for Focus on the Family. This is the quality of people whom God has assembled here in Colorado Springs, and I can hardly bear to lose a one of them.

Not only have we reduced our staff size, but we have also eliminated numerous programs and activities that have been successful and effective for years. For example, LifeWise, one of the finest magazines available for those over 50 years of age, will no longer be published. We've also cancelled the "Renewing the Heart" call-in program, carried on 162 radio stations. It featured the outstanding communicator, Janet Parshall, who has done a wonderful job. Furthermore, we've had to reduce our flagship magazine, Focus on the Family, from 12 to 8 issues per year, and eliminate the inserts within them that were designed specifically for pastors. The acclaimed weekend seminars for parents and teens called Life on the Edge, (LOTE,) have been cancelled. Numerous other internal services have also been eliminated. As a result, you may notice when visiting Focus on the Family that the campus might not look as spiffy as in the past — that the snow might not be removed as quickly — and that the grass may be less beautifully manicured next summer. As difficult as it has been to make these and other changes, more cuts will be forthcoming if the shortfall continues.

That raises an important philosophical issue. Our senior staff implemented these budgetary cuts not because the ministry is "on the rocks," but because we do not want to find ourselves "on the rocks." These decisions reflect a 26-year-old policy that states, "We will never borrow money for operational purposes." Focus will spend what God's people send to us, and not a penny more. I never intend to find myself in the uncomfortable position of coming to our friends with a panicky message, warning that we will close the doors to the ministry if a certain amount of money is not received immediately. That would not be honoring to God. Thus, I am simply letting you know today where we stand and why the decisions have been made.

As you are undoubtedly aware, Focus on the Family is not the only ministry to experience financial stresses at this time. Nor have we been hurt as badly as some other very worthy organizations. Your own church may be among those in difficulty. It is just a sign of the times. The struggling economy has many casualties, not the least of which are ordinary people who are themselves going through personal crises. I'm sure some of you are in that uncomfortable position, having either been laid off or having suffered business reverses. Nevertheless, many have continued to support this ministry even when it was very inconvenient to do so. I want you to know how much we appreciate your faithfulness. Without question, our circumstances would be much worse if it were not for the consistent support of so many wonderful friends. In fact, I am not asking you for a donation today because many of you gave sacrificially at Christmastime, and because the needs of other Christian ministries are more urgent.

So, where do we go from here? Are we discouraged? Perhaps a bit. I would be less than honest if I didn't admit to being somewhat perplexed at this time. We have worked hard — perhaps too hard — to accomplish the tasks that lie before us. Yet, as Jesus said, ". . . open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest" (John 4:35, NIV). Indeed, doors are wide open to us. People in countries all around the world are clamoring for our help. Throughout Latin America and Africa, we have been able to teach sexual abstinence and morality to literally hundreds of thousands of young people who often respond by asking about our faith. Providing assistance to families leads almost inexorably to the Creator of families. Invitations to be on national television shows are coming in faster than I am able to accept them, and our influence in Washington is greater than we deserve. We have produced a phenomenally successful "Love Won Out" program through which we reach out to thousands of homosexuals and their families. Our Institute is graduating more than 200 outstanding students every year who are moving into positions of leadership in many professional fields throughout the nation. In these and other arenas, the opportunities before us are nothing short of breathtaking. That's why the present setbacks are frustrating, and yes, in our humanness, they are somewhat curious to us.

On the other hand, we have not forgotten Who is in control of this ministry. He owns it all, and it is our ultimate desire to please Him. If it is His good pleasure for us to narrow our scope and operate with less, we will be grateful for the support He sends and try to be good stewards of it.

We ask only that our friends remember us in prayer. That is the key to everything we have tried to do. We can do nothing in our own strength, and wouldn't presume to try. With an army of prayer warriors out there petitioning on our behalf for divine direction and guidance, we cannot fail. For those of you who would like to join us in this endeavor, let me mention our "Prayerline," which regularly informs our friends by e-mail of our specific needs and petitions. If you want to be among those we contact each week, just visit our Web site at www.family.org and click on "Pray for Focus."

Don't forget to be in fervent prayer, as well, for the members of our Armed Forces who are in harm's way. I thank God for these dedicated people who are serving their country at great personal sacrifice. Of course, we must also remember to pray for our President, George W. Bush, who has repeatedly requested prayers that the Lord would give him wisdom and strength to lead this nation.

Blessings to you all. Thank you for caring about this work. This is only the beginning. The best is yet to come.

Sincerely,

James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
President

P.S. The nine-year-old daughter of one of our employees sent me a delightful handwritten note last week, along with several dimes. It made me smile. These are her words:

Dear Dr. Dodson,

I want to give this to you because my Dad told me that you had to move people. So this is all the money I have. Well, I have a few dimes. Well, you know. Well I hope it helps.

Love, Heather

Sorry about the writting.