The week of February 22nd was monumental in the life of Dr. James Dobson and the ministry he founded in 1977, Focus on the Family®. Aptly labeled "Good-bye Week", the series of broadcasts emphasized the sovereignty of God, both in the founding and continuation of Focus on the Family, while Dr. Dobson bid his final farewell as the host of the program.

I had the privilege of attending a session on March 1st at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in which he unveiled his future ministry plans. Lord willing, he will begin a new broadcast in May titled Family Talk with Dr. Dobson in which his son Ryan will serve as co-host. He quelled all media rumors about his departure by sharing the platform with Jim Daly, the President and CEO of Focus, who expressed the full support of Focus.

Unlike many ministry leaders of high caliber, Dr. Dobson began praying about his departure several years ago. He fully recognized the ministry belonged to God and was, therefore, concerned about a smooth transition which would allow the ministry to continue with God's favor.

In 2003 he resigned as president and CEO and in February 2009, he announced his plans to step down as chairman of the board. In doing so, he said he wanted to avoid the common errors of founder-presidents by holding onto leadership too long. This gradual departure was solidified when it was announced late last fall that he and the board of directors had jointly agreed to his departure as the host of the nationally syndicated radio program.

When it came to education, Dr. Dobson strongly advocated the biblical position of parents bearing the ultimate responsibility for their children's education. Though a supporter of private schools and home schooling, he also included public school as a viable option for Christian children.

It was in March of 2002 on one of his broadcasts that he made his first major statement against the public school system. "In the state of California, if I had a child there, I wouldn't put the youngster in a public school.... I think it's time to get our kids out. And I'm going to get hit for [saying] that."

He delved further into this issue by titling his June 2006 newsletter Education Turned Perversion, in which he alluded to a "grand strategy" to entrap our children.  The letter included excerpts from the 1990 book Children At Risk which he labeled "prophetic" as he looked back on them nearly twenty years later.

One of the strongest quotes concerned the public school system. "Those who control what young people are taught and what they experience...will determine the future course for the nation. The campaign to isolate children from their parents and to indoctrinate them with humanistic ideas is being waged primarily in the public schools."

The February 22nd broadcast included the speech Dr. Dobson gave at a chapel service in honor of the ministry's 30th anniversary. He reflected on God's leading through the years, but also gravely referred to the rapid moral downturn he witnessed in our nation in the thirty year period.

Those of us who have been around long enough to remember his first broadcasts can share similar feelings. I began my ministry in Christian education in the late 80s and shudder when I compare what was considered morally wrong then in comparison to now. While this downturn cannot solely be blamed on the public educational system, there is no doubt the schools have indeed played a major role in determining the course of our nation as Dr. Dobson predicted.

Ironically, Alpha Omega Publications® and Focus on the Family were founded in the same year. While we don't claim to be on the same level of notoriety as Focus, we do share the same passion for the preservation of the biblical understanding of the family. We believe Christian education is a vital component in this regard.

Like multitudes of other listeners, I will miss the voice of Dr. Dobson on Focus. May God allow him to continue to use his voice to enlighten parents to the necessity of Christian education in the perpetration of Christianity in our nation.