[1] In 2004, Dobbs became executive director of the Barnabas Fund, promoting awareness of the persecution of Christians around the world, particularly in Laos, Malaysia, Syria, Egypt and North Korea.

[2] To continue this and other gospel work, he was elected a bishop for CANA and the Church of Nigeria in spring of 2011, and consecrated by Nicholas Okoh in Lagos on September 25, 2011.

Dobbs has been active in opposing and publicizing the Boko Haram attacks on Christians in northern Nigeria and calling for international prayer and action.

[4] In August 2012, Okoh visited Washington, D.C., and through Dobbs' connections met with policymakers and officials to promote action against the Muslim militants in the north.

[7] Dobbs attended the GAFCON 2 meeting in Nairobi Kenya in 2013 and served at that time as a member of the International Board of Barnabas Fund, an organization that supports suffering Christians.

In 2013 Dobbs wrote an open letter to the President of the United States, Barack Obama, calling for urgent intervention in support of persecuted Christians in Syria.

Dreher wrote, "I’ve been this week at the conference of the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word (ACNA), led by Bishop Julian Dobbs.

"[citation needed] In that address Bishop Dobbs said, "Courage is not something that regularly appears in the conversation and discipline of many North America Christians.

But brothers and sisters, as the clouds around our nation begin to gather and the powers of darkness extend their influence, we the followers of Jesus Christ in this generation must ready ourselves to act, where necessary, with courage.

"[14][citation needed] In 2023 Bishop Julian Dobbs presided over the inaugural case of the Provincial Tribunal of the Anglican Church in North America.

In 2024, Archbishop Steve Wood appointed Bishop Dobbs as Chair of the Global Mission and International Relations Task Force in the Anglican Church in North America.

It was in that capacity that Bishop Julian made a visit to Israel in late September 2024 to hear from family members of hostages from October 7, meet with Palestinians Christians, and others.