The Last of the Founders

A Call for us to Remember Their “Open Hands” and to Constantly Innovate

By Alan Sears

Recently I was privileged to speak at the memorial service in Colorado for Dr. James Dobson—whose life and work were gifts to millions as the founder of Focus on the Family and the James Dobson Family Institute.

Pastor Jim Garlow, who delivered the final message, reminded us that as Dr. Dobson’s mortal life ended, he “lost his faith”—for in eternity, he now lives not by faith, but by sight: the sight of the Host of Heaven.

Dr. Dobson’s homegoing marked the sixth such memorial I have participated in for national ministry leaders who were close friends and early partners in launching what is now known as Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).

Preceding him in exchanging their earthly shells for heavenly ones were:

• Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru)
• Larry Burkett, founder of Christian Financial Concepts
• Dr. D. James Kennedy, founder of Coral Ridge Ministries
• Marlin Maddoux, host of Point of View and founder of USA Radio  
• William Pew, philanthropist and founder of the Maranatha Foundation

I began my remarks with Luke 8:20–21, where the Lord declared:
“My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

By that definition, James Dobson and the other faith leaders God assembled to launch ADF were true brothers of Christ—each one both hearing the Word and acting upon it.

Many leaders hear God’s call but fail to follow through. Others act without first seeking His direction. But these founders did both. They heard, they acted, and they left their unmistakable DNA within ADF’s foundation.

Though diverse in denomination, style, and focus, they were united in their love for the Lord and their nation, all firmly rooted in the unchanging truth of the Gospel.

They were innovators—constantly seeking “the new,” and finding “the old in new ways” to advance God’s work. Their courage to innovate, and their willingness to learn from both failure and success, profoundly shaped me as I worked to build a new kind of legal ministry.

Each was also marked by humility and generosity. They staked their names and reputations to lift others up—constantly using their platforms to make others shine. They lived with what Larry Burkett called an “open hand.”

As Larry said so memorably:
“When you try to hold onto what God has given you for yourself, the tighter you grip, the more likely you are to lose it. But when you open your hand to give it away—to share your blessings—the Lord can refill it with more than you ever dreamed.”

Each of ADF’s founders opened their hands to me and to the fledgling ministry God ordained to be an alliance—a servant ministry, not to be served, to build a worldwide movement that would “keep the [legal] door open for the Gospel.”

As we look toward the bright future God has prepared for us, let us pause to remember those whose obedience and open hands made all of this possible.

Pastor Garlow reminded us that we too often dismiss God’s unique anointing on particular individuals—assuming that if they hadn’t answered His call, someone else would have. But that is not what happened here. These were the ones God chose.

They were the ones who heard His Word, acted decisively, and said yes—graciously, generously, and gratefully—with open hands. Through them, ADF was empowered to serve the cause of Christ and to stand for freedom now on five continents.

As we who are called to serve continue to build a future marked by ever-greater “capacity to respond to opportunity,” may we never lose the founding DNA that defined these leaders: a spirit of innovation, a commitment to elevating and “making stars” of others, and a heart of open-handed support to allies near and far.

Consistent with this philosophy, when we recognized that there was a need for an entity to research, assemble, and provide legal information for non-profit organizations that was beyond the scope of the mission of ADF, ADF leadership empowered me and other team members to assist Tim Busch and John Peiffer in forming, launching, and developing Napa Legal. Napa Legal’s work—the All Access resource database, the award-winning Faith and Freedom Index, the Good Counselor Project Fellowship for faithful attorneys, and so much more—fills a unique niche greatly needed in our nation.  

Now, as the last of the founders of ADF, and a founding member of the Napa Legal Board of Directors, my prayer is that until my final breath, I might pass along to as many as possible what these servant leaders taught me about serving the Lord and His people—the need to hear and to act.

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Alan Sears served as the founding President, CEO, and General Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom and is a Board Member Emeritus of Napa Legal.

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