Dawson McAllister

Dawson McAllister (born 1946 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania - died 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee) was an American speaker, radio host, and author. He was the host of the radio program Dawson McAllister Live on Sunday nights from 10:00pm–2:00 am ET, which had an average audience of 500,000 listeners a week. Up until his death, McAllister had developed another version of his call-in show, “Dawson McAllister Live!” and a topic-driven podcast available online.

He died December 17, 2020 at Vanderbilt Medical Center after being treated for heart problems.

Career: Public Speaking, Writing, and Youth Ministry

The following is a timeline of key events in McAllister’s life at the beginning of his career as a youth minister, teacher, and speaker.

  • 1968 — After his graduation from Bethel College in Minnesota, McAllister began studies at Talbot School of Theology. During this time, he accepted a position as a part-time youth pastor at Reseda Baptist Church, where he began speaking to teenagers Soon after, McAllister began to receive local and national speaking invitations
  • 1973 — McAllister creates a 13-episode TV series. Developed for markets in the southwest United States, it was designed to present Biblically-based counsel to teenagers who did not go to church, or who had stopped attending church.
  • 1975 — McAllister writes and publishes the first of 18 youth ministry manuals.
  • 1975 — Based on his Discussion Manual for Student Relationships, the first Dawson McAllister student conference was held. Hundreds of thousands of teenagers would attend these conferences over the years, where they would commit or recommit to Christianity.
  • Young worship leaders like Chris Tomlin, Todd Proctor, Joel Engle and Al Denson got their start at McAllister’s conferences, along with speakers like Mark Matlock.
  • 1988 — McAllister begins his ongoing partnership with crisis counseling organizations and trained counselors, who began attending his conferences to support teenagers in crisis.
  • 1991 — “Dawson McAllister Live!” inaugural broadcast.
  • 1994 — “Dawson McAllister Live!” named Talk Show of the Year by the National Religious Broadcasters.

Top 40 Broadcasting and Online Ministries

In January 2005, the Top 40 version of Dawson McAllister Live! signed on with its first affiliate station; KJYO in Oklahoma City. Eventually more 140 stations would air the show with a weekly audience of over 1 million listeners.

In 2012, McAllister launched Dawson 24/7, his first of two 24/7 streaming internet radio webcasts. He returned to Christian radio in February 2015 with his new show, TheHopeLine® with Dawson McAllister. Launched in partnership with Way Media Network, it was eventually syndicated on 109 stations.

McAllister and his team made the move to a fully web-based ministry in 2017 in an effort to reach as many teenagers and young adults as possible. His website, TheHopeLine.com, includes streaming radio, podcasts, social media, blogs, stories, videos, eBooks, online chat and mentoring, referrals to support groups and counseling organizations, and many other digital resources. ThePrayerZone.com, also a part of McAllister’s ministry, allows people to offer prayer for struggling teens and young adults, and allows people in need of prayer to make prayer requests.

Works
  • "A Walk with Christ to the Cross: The Last Fourteen Hours of His Earthly Mission" (2009)
  • Saving the Millennial Generation: New Ways to Reach the Kids You Care (1999)
  • Como Saber Si Esta Verdaderamente Enamorado/How to Know If You're Really in Love (1996)
  • How to Know If You're Really in Love (1993)
  • Please Don't Tell My Parents (1992)
  • The Great War: God, Satan and You A Spiritual Warfare Discussion (1991)
  • The Search for Significance: Youth Discussion Manual (1990)
  • Self Esteem and Loneliness (1989) ISBN 0-923417-02-8

Dawson McAllister Association

McAllister’s nonprofit, the Dawson McAllister Association, funds the creation and distribution of the resources and media he provides to support teenagers and young adults in difficult life situations. It has been in operation for more than 40 years as a 501(c)3 organization.

Suicide Prevention

One of the issues McAllister is most passionate about is suicide prevention among teenagers and young adults. In August 2016, “Dawson McAllister Live!” intervened in over 1,000 potential suicides in a month, setting a record in the industry.

Personal life

In 1977, Dawson McAllister married Ruth Hill. Together, they had two sons, Fulton and Eugene. His son, Fulton, has significant disabilities due to a traumatic brain injury after a serious car accident. He often wrote about Fulton and shared messages of encouragement about Fulton on his various blogs. He and his wife lived on a farm outside Nashville, Tennessee.

On December 17, 2020, Dawson passed away from cardiac complications at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Education

Dawson attended Bethel College in Minnesota for undergraduate work where he graduated in 1968 and began graduate studies at Talbot School of Theology in California. He also has an honorary doctorate from Biola University.

Areas of Support for Teenagers

Offering emotional support and spiritual encouragement to teenagers has been central to McAllister’s work throughout his career as a writer, minister, radio and podcast host, and public speaker. He offers teenagers support in a variety of areas with the help of counseling organizations and professional counselors, including:

  • Suicide Prevention
  • Cutting and Self-Harm
  • Substance Abuse and Addiction
  • Physical Abuse
  • Emotional Abuse
  • Verbal Abuse
  • Human Trafficking
  • Leaving Sex Work and the Sex Industry
  • Mental Health (including Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Thoughts)
  • Parent Relationships
  • Unplanned Pregnancy and Adoption Support
  • Support for Military Families
  • Friendship and Relationships
  • Dating, Sex, and Marriage
  • Faith and the Bible

References
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