Dear Friends,
I write with the sad news that our beloved founder, Dr. James Dobson, departed this life for his eternal home on August 21, 2025. We rejoice for his race well-run while mourning the great loss experienced by his family, the ministry, and you. Please be reassured that the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute continues its commitment to our founder’s principles and to the ministry he established. The words of this September newsletter, written before his passing, remain true.
————
Many of you met me through our August newsletter. I’m Dr. Bart Brock, and I serve as the vice-chairman and president of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI). Last month, I summarized some of the many treasures available on our website, which is filled with practical biblical advice and tools to improve your family life. That newsletter covered a wide range of topics, from the value of spending our time with loved ones to what we can learn from “processionary caterpillars.”
Dr. Dobson has long been recognized as a stalwart advocate of biblical wisdom, and has worked tirelessly to promote and dispense it. This advocacy often comes with the responsibility of confronting our nation’s public policy and popular culture. The biblical account of Israel’s long history and its eventual diaspora is a stark warning that poor governmental policy and cultural decline inevitably lead to the destruction of faith, family, and freedom.
This month, I’ve asked Gary Bauer, JDFI senior vice president of public policy and culture, to share a few words about Dr. Dobson’s history of recognizing the interconnection of government, culture, and families, as well as some of our recent accomplishments in these areas. I think you will find his thoughts in the following paragraphs both concerning and encouraging.
Children at Risk
It seems so long ago, but the words could be taken directly from our morning headlines. In 1990, my good friend, Dr. James Dobson, asked me to co-author Children at Risk: Winning the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Your Children. This book was different from the many that Dr. Dobson had already written, and it revealed that powerful forces were intent on ripping America out of the rich soil of Christian values. Our description of the resulting conflict was that “[n]othing short of a great Civil War of Values rages of fighting for territory or military conquest, however, the struggle now is for the hearts and minds of people. It is a war over ideas. And someday soon . . . a winner will emerge, and the loser will fade from memory. For now, the outcome is very much in doubt.” [pages 19 & 20]
While this prescient book is no longer readily available in bookstores, you can hear an update from it in two of our recent broadcasts. “Children at Risk: An Update with Gary Bauer.” These discussions and transcripts are available on our website, or you may also order a CD if you wish.
I think you will recognize that our words are as true now as when they were first written. On one side of the battle are millions of Americans, like you and me, whose worldview is deeply rooted in Scripture, starting with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” On the other side is radical secularism and neo-Marxism, which is now permeating our culture, universities, and governmental institutions. These philosophies pose a severe threat to all we hold dear, and their risk is now evident.
The last decade has seen both marriage redefined1 and fewer young Americans getting married.2 Foundational words like “mother” and “father” have been removed in legislation3, transgender ideology has robbed women and girls of rights and opportunities4, and antisemitism has been accepted on our university campuses.5
Dr. Dobson and I recognized this danger long ago by understanding that there is an intricate relationship among our nation’s public policy, our culture, and our families. Each affects and is affected by the others. Almost daily, the news headlines have been filled with examples of cultural decline, and policies established from the local school board all the way to the highest levels of government are now creating a veritable flood of harm to children, families, and religious liberty.
JDFI is in the Fight
At JDFI, we are fighting this flood on behalf of families, and we believe the tide is turning! There are some recent victories that should inspire us all to continue the work of protecting our freedoms and to be effective Christian citizens in these critical days.
Earlier this year, President Trump announced the revitalization of the White House Faith Office. They report directly to him to help avoid bureaucracy and red tape, and JDFI works closely with this office on a broad agenda. It includes religious liberty, strengthening marriage and families, protecting women and children, combating anti-religious bias, promoting foster care and adoption, and reforming education, to name just a few items.
After that announcement, JDFI was back at the White House in May for the National Day of Prayer. Many of you will remember that Shirley Dobson served as chairperson of the National Day of Prayer Task Force for 25 years, and she was greatly encouraged to see the President’s announcement, during a Rose Garden event, of a new Religious Liberty Commission.
These events encourage us to know that our work is effective, and it’s not limited to the White House. A recent poll found that 87% of voters agree with this statement: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights . . .”6 This statement is not just an “ideal.” It is an expression of religious truth that the Founding Fathers put in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. It is the main idea of our founding, and it defines who we are as Americans.
With your ongoing prayers and support, JDFI will continue to defend biblical values in the nation’s capital and in our culture as we “fight the good fight” (cf. 1 Tim. 6:12) for faith, family, and freedom.
Another Recent Win at JDFI
[Bart:] I think you can see why we are so glad to have Gary Bauer, Dr. Dobson’s long-time friend, on the JDFI team and representing us directly in the Capitol!
There is some additional good news about one of our recent fights against bad public policy. A federal district court has awarded us a decisive victory against the Department of Health and Human Services and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
JDFI filed this case last year due to the extreme positions the Biden administration had systematized in these agencies to attack religious freedom. They required Christian employers to provide medical coverage for abortions and the inaptly described “gender affirming” care, while also mandating opposite sex access to bathrooms (i.e., men in women’s bathrooms) and the use of false pronouns while restricting any faith-based exemption.
In August 2025, the court permanently barred these agencies from requiring JDFI, or our fellow plaintiffs, to provide insurance coverage for, or to directly fund these unbiblical actions and from restricting our right of free speech to criticize them. The court also provided the broad relief we requested to extend its protection directly to our insurers and other vendors servicing our health plans. 7
This judgment and relief are the first in the nation to address these multiple, immoral federal mandates and to provide broad relief beyond the direct plaintiffs to the many Christian employers who want to support their employees in a biblical way.
Thank You for Your Support
As always, I want to recognize that JDFI cannot exist without your continuing prayers and financial support. We are working diligently to make our resources more accessible to you and your loved ones, and we would appreciate hearing from you about how we’re doing. It’s easy to contact us by calling Constituent Care at 877-732-6825.
We would be remiss if this newsletter ended without reminding you that the results in upcoming local, state, and federal elections will have profound effects on our country for good or for evil. Please carry out your responsibilities as Christian citizens every day. Then register to vote, choose your ballot selections based on practical biblical wisdom, and make it a priority to pray without ceasing for our nation and its families.
Praying God’s greatest blessings on you and yours,
Dr. Bart Brock, Ph.D.
Vice-Chairman and President
Dr. James Dobson Family Institute
1 de Vogue, Ariane & Diamond, Jeremy (June 27, 2015) Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide, CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling
2 De Vise, Daniel (June 5, 2023) Americans are waiting longer and longer to get married, The Hill, https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4032467-americans-are-waiting-longer-and-longer-to-get-married/
3 Baylor, Gregory S. (September 3, 2024) Massachusetts Erasing ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ from Family Law, Alliance Defending Freedom, https://adflegal.org/article/massachusetts-erasing-mother-and-father-family-law/
4 Whitfill Roeloffs, Mary (March 14, 2024) Athletes Sue NCAA For Allowing Transgender Women To Compete, Use Locker Rooms, Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/03/14/athletes-sue-ncaa-for-allowing-transgender-women-to-compete-use-locker-rooms/
5 Norman, Greg (March 3, 2025) 13 American universities slapped with ‘F’ grade on campus antisemitism, Fox News, https://www.foxnews.com/us/13-american-universities-slapped-f-grade-campus-antisemitism
6 Rasmussen, Scott (July 26, 2024) X Post, https://x.com/ScottWRasmussen/status/1949232867361313016
7 Bauer, Gary (August 12, 2025) End of Day Report, Campaign for Working Families, https://www.cwfpac.com/tuesday-august-12-2025-dems-demand-trump-quit-being-mean-criminals-religious-liberty-victories
This letter may be reproduced without change and in its entirety for non-commercial and non-political purposes without prior permission from the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. Copyright, 2025 JDFI. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Printed in the U.S.
