2 of 2

Today she appreciates their commitment to that activity, one she credits with giving her the strength to continue to resist the myriad pressures of living in a postmodern culture. In the talks she gives to parents and grandparents—she also has a speaking ministry to adult women—she emphasizes the value of family devotions, of reading the Bible and other books, praying together, and talking things out.

Danae, who is thirtysomething and single, lives in southern California but travels extensively as part of her ministry. Last June, she journeyed to Kenya, where she worked on a video project for World Gospel Mission and spoke to the students at a Christian girls school. At the end of the presentation, Danae gave the students an opportunity to accept Christ, and out of the 250 girls in the room, 50 hands went up. "It was an amazing experience," she says. "When that happened, I knew that was the main reason why I was there."

Whatever else the Dobsons did as a family, it all worked together to bear healthy fruit in their offspring. For the daughter of such a well-known and at times controversial father, Danae lists few drawbacks to living in the limelight. Her Sunday school teachers may have scrutinized her a bit more, a few college classmates may have whispered her father's name as she walked by, and a couple of potential boyfriends may have acted somewhat guarded the first time they met her dad, but the advantages of "growing up Dobson"—which, coincidentally, is the title of a book she and Ryan are co-writing—have far outweighed the disadvantages.

"My father is the most down-to-earth person," she says. "Whenever I've introduced a guy to my dad, he always makes them feel comfortable. There's no interrogation, no 20 questions."

Lest anyone think her parents were perfect, though, Danae quickly points out that Jim and Shirley Dobson are the first to admit that they are not. "The important thing is that they prayed themselves through the task that God had given them and always tried to do what was in our best interest," she says. "I think they did a remarkable job."

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

first page |  2 of 2

	What did you think of this story?
	Please to give us your feedback.

Home  |  People of Faith  |  Stories of Hope  |  Today's Culture
Build Your Faith  |  Laughing Matters  |  Archives  |  Contact Us

				Try 3 Issues of Christianity Today Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless. Give Christianity Today as a gift Order a gift subscription!