Jim Daly (born July 22, 1961) is the head of Focus on the Family, an international Christian communications ministry based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He succeeded founder James Dobson in 2005.

Daly is the main host of the Focus on the Family radio program.

Early life, influence, education and career Daly grew up in Southern California. He was abandoned by his alcoholic father at age five, and orphaned by his mother's death from cancer when he was nine. He was then placed in a foster home, initially in Morongo Valley, California. By the time that Daly was a senior in high school, he was living on his own.Finding Home by Jim Daly with Bob DeMoss 2007, Cook Communications

Daly experienced a Christian conversion at age 15 while attending a camp run by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He went on to study at California State University, San Bernardino, and eventually earned his Master of Business Administration from Regis University.Electa Draper, "Denver Post", June 13, 2009, "Source 5", July 29, 2011

Daly worked in the paper industry until he was recruited to join Focus on the Family, at one-third of his six-figure private-sector pay.

Focus on the Family

In 2009, the Denver Post reported that Daly shared Dobson's views in the public-policy arena, but had taken a different approach from that of his predecessor. Daly referred to himself as more of an evangelist than a prophet. He believed that the Christian community should demonstrate the values it wishes to promote, and maintain civil discourse.Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn, "The Washington Post", June 27, 2009, "Source 3", July 29, 2011Marvin Olasky, "The Kings College Podcast", March 30, 2011, "Source 11 ", July 29, 2011.

While Dobson's approach was often political, Daly and his colleagues have said that he is trying to make it less so.David A. Graham, "Newsweek", December 9, 2010 "Source 15", July 29, 2011Karen Tumulty and Nia-Malika-Henderson (June 2, 2011) "Republicans hope to spark political revival among evangelicals for 2012 race". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2011.

According to reports from 2009 and 2010, Daly and his colleagues, similarly to Dobson, opposed abortion and same-sex marriage, but also wished to address issues other than these typical evangelical hot-button issues; they "want[ed] to frame political work as an inspirational call to do good—not just to oppose what they view[ed] as sinful behavior."Stephanie Simon, "The Wall Street Journal", February 5, 2010 "Source 14", July 29, 2011

In a 2009 interview with the Washington Post, Daly stated,I am pro-life, I am pro-traditional marriage. At the same time, I'm also a person who looks for the conversation. ... The question I have is, Where can we meet on common ground?

Daly also told the Post, "We will definitely be rigorous in the policy debate. We're not going to back out of that or back off expressing a biblical worldview in the public square."

Daly said that he wished to make abortion much rarer as a step toward eliminating it.John Aloysius Farrell, "US News and World Report", July 1, 2009 "Source 16", July 29, 2011J. Adrian Stanley, "Colorado Springs Independent", June 9–15, 2011, "Source 17", July 29, 2011

In addition to meeting with abortion rights groups at the state and local levels, Daly met with organizational leaders who were traditionally at odds with conservative Protestants, including the Colorado-based gay rights organization the Gill Foundation.Adelle M. Banks, "Religion News Service", December 15, 2009. "Source 19", July 29, 2011 Daly also participated in the White House's Fatherhood Initiative. With the Colorado Springs Independent the two organizations co-sponsored an event supporting foster families.John Weiss, "Colorado Springs Independent", June 9–15, 2011, "Source 21 ", July 29, 2011

Daly's childhood experience possibly influenced him to start Wait No More, an organization that encourages Christians to adopt children. Wait No More possibly led to a drop in the number of children in foster care in Colorado from 900 to 365.Andrea Stone, "aolnews", April 24, 2010, "Source 28 ", July 29, 2011 Daly wants Colorado to become the first state to "wipe out the waiting list for foster care."

In 2012, it was reported that Daly reached out to the younger generation through writing for Catalyst, a ministry that develops Christian leaders, and through various speaking engagements at venues such as Kings College in NYC, as well as "The Civil Conversations Project" from On Being with Krista Tippett, featuring conversation between Daly and Q Ideas leader Gabe Lyons.Krista Tippett, "On Being" September 12, 2012 "Source 15 " September 12, 2012

In 2017, an Associated Press story published by the Denver Post reported that under Daly, Focus on the Family "has scaled back involvement in politics ... [Daly] sees himself as part of a younger generation of religious leadership. ... 'Jesus does not go after Caesar much -- he dealt with people at their point of need,' Daly said, touting the ministry's radio show, counseling and efforts promoting foster care and adoption." A similar assessment is made by religious-studies scholar Susan B. Ridgely, writing in 2017 that Daly has "reached out to second-generation evangelicals ... by softening Dobson's stance on homosexuality, matching anti-abortion rhetoric with pro-adoption and foster care discussion, and keeping open dialogue with all regardless of political party."Ridgely, Susan B. (2017). Practicing What the Doctor Preached: At Home with Focus on the Family. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 44

Host of the daily radio broadcast Daly hosts a radio broadcast with John Fuller.Electa Draper, "Denver Post", February 12, 2011 "Source 31", July 29, 2011

Radio and media attention Daly has appeared on national television programs such as Fox and Friends, Larry King Live, America Live with Megyn Kelly, and ABC World News Tonight. In 2010 he was named one of the nation's top new evangelical leaders by Newsweek. He relates the story of his difficult upbringing in the 2021 Kendrick Brothers documentary Show Me the Father.

Selected bibliography Finding Home: An Imperfect Path to Faith and Family, David C. Cook Communications, 2007 Stronger: Trading Brokenness for Unbreakable Strength, David C. Cook Communications, 2010 ReFocus: Living a Life That Reflects God's Heart, Zondervan, 2012 The Best Advice I Ever Got on Parenting, Worthy Publishing, 2012 The Best Advice I Ever Got on Marriage, Worthy Publishing, 2012

Daly is also a regular panelist for The Washington Post/Newsweek blog "On Faith."

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