“My heart is definitely with Sammy,” said Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, as he spoke at Taylor University’s chapel on Wednesday, April 2.
Daly, a self-identified prankster, said he would fit right in with the shenanigan-loving Sammy crowd, prompting uproarious applause from Samuel Morris residents in Rediger Chapel’s balconies.
After the cheers died down, Daly launched into his testimony. Rediger transitioned from laughter to silence as he described his childhood in foster care and being in a broken home.
Through his circumstances, Daly said God stuck with him. He committed his life to Christ at the age of 22 and went on to work for Focus on the Family, eventually taking over for the organization’s founder, James Dobson.
Despite his difficult background, Daly emphasized the goodness and faithfulness of God.
“The mountaintops are fun. Comfort is fun,” he said. “But I’ll tell you what: you want to learn about who you are and who God is? Go to the valley. Go where your backside is going to get kicked, where you don’t know who to trust — who’s real —- and the Lord shows up and says: ‘I am real.’”
Reverend Greg Dyson, the vice president for spiritual life and intercultural leadership, appreciated Daly’s vulnerability. He felt that Daly’s story exemplified the redemption of Christ who delights in saving people of every background.
Dyson expressed his excitement about Focus on the Family’s mission and about Taylor’s involvement with the organization.
“I've seen the impact of Focus on the Family on lives,” Dyson said. “And I think it's intriguing and powerful to know there is an organization out there that cares about families and that thinks we should care about families.”
Focus on the Family is a worldwide Chrisian organization, established in 1977. They are committed to supporting families through multiple ministries, including parenting, marriage, evangelism and pro-life outreach.
Ken Windebank, the chief operating officer of Focus on the Family, voiced his excitement over Taylor’s students’ connection with the organization.
“Throughout our time at Taylor, it was humbling to hear stories from students who were impacted by a variety of different products and programs we have produced, from Brio magazine to the daily broadcast,” he said. “We were so blessed to be here (at Taylor), and I'm looking forward to carrying these messages back to our staff.”
During his visit, Daly trekked around Taylor’s campus, attending events and interacting with students.
Before chapel, he ate breakfast with the Presidential Fellows and four Taylor seniors temporarily employed at Focus on the Family. He also spoke with President Lindsay at President Lindsay Live in the afternoon and presented a case study on leadership transition to a strategic management class.
Though located across the country, Focus on the Family and Taylor have forged a connection.
Skip Trudeau, the vice president of student development and intercollegiate athletics, said the organizations’ shared faith and values link them together.
Senior Jessi Barnes, a marketing and management double major, has been working for Focus on the Family throughout the spring semester.
When Jeff Aupperlee, the dean of student success, emailed her about remote job openings with the organization in the spring, she decided to apply.
After multiple interviews, Focus on the Family offered her a temporary position as social media specialist for Boundless, the organization’s young adult ministry. She accepted the offer and began working at the start of the semester.
During her week of job training at the Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado Springs, Barnes learned the size and scope of their ministry.
Barnes said she left orientation excited to work for a ministry that was making an impact.
“Everyone felt so empowered,” Barnes said. “...Even in our small jobs, we're contributing to this bigger mission.”
Barnes’ favorite part of the experience has been contributing to the organization’s Christ-centered mission. She has loved working for a company with aligning values and fighting for causes she believes in.
To learn more about interning with Focus on the Family, Windebank suggested reaching out to Jeff Aupperlee at Taylor’s Calling and Career Office.
“Over the years, many Taylor graduates have worked for Focus, which we love, because Focus and Taylor share a common cause — advancing the name of Christ,” he said.
As Barnes said, that’s one reason to get “fired up” about Focus.
