Who was Charles Stanley?

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Dr. Charles Frazier Stanley (1932—2023) was an American pastor, Bible teacher, best-selling author, and founder of In Touch Ministries, a television and radio broadcast ministry with the mission “to lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church” (source, accessed 6/8/23). He served as senior pastor of the Southern Baptist megachurch First Baptist Atlanta (FBA) for nearly 50 years. On April 18, 2023, Charles Stanley passed away at age 90.

The hallmark of Dr. Stanley’s ministry was his Christ-centered, practical teaching style. He was uniquely gifted at unpacking challenging theological concepts into straightforward, Bible-based principles for daily living. Stanley credits his stubborn faith in large part to his grandfather, who taught him to “obey God and leave the consequences to Him” (source, accessed 6/7/23).

Born in the small town of Dry Fork, Virginia, amid the Great Depression, Charles lost his father (“Charley”) when he was less than a year old. His hardworking single mother, Rebecca (“Becca”), raised him to read the Bible, pray, and attend a Pentecostal church. At age 12, Charles received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Before long, he began following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, pursuing a call “to preach the gospel to whomever would listen” (source, accessed 6/7/23).

While studying at the University of Richmond and earning his Bachelor of Arts, Stanley met and married Anna (“Annie”) Margaret Johnson in August 1955. Together they raised two children, Andy and Becky.

Stanley was ordained in 1956 and then pursued his Bachelor of Divinity degree at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Texas. Later, he completed his master’s and

Doctorate degrees in theology from Luther Rice Seminary.

Dr. Stanley obtained his pastoral ministry at Fruitland Baptist Church in North Carolina in 1957. During this period, he also worked as a professor at the Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, teaching homiletics, preaching, and evangelism. Between 1959 and 1969, he led three distinct Baptist churches, one in Ohio and two in Florida. Additionally, he established the George Mueller Christian School in Miami, Florida, in 1966.

In 1969, Stanley assumed an associate position at First Baptist Atlanta, then a church with approximately 5,000 members. On October 1, 1971, Dr. Charles Stanley was chosen as senior pastor, and, as per the FBA website, the church experienced significant growth under his guidance. Stanley continued as the senior pastor until 2020, by which time the church membership had expanded to over 15,000.

During the early 1970s, Stanley initiated a radio and television program named “The Chapel Hour.” The program was rebranded as “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley” in 1978 when the Christian Broadcasting Network convinced Stanley to join the network and present his practical Bible teaching program. According to In Touch Ministries, “that broadcast grew from 16,000 local Atlanta viewers to a nationwide audience in one week” (ibid., accessed 6/8/23). By 1982, In Touch Ministries was established, and In Touch radio began syndication.

From 1984 to 1986, amid a contentious period between conservative and moderate Baptists, Dr. Stanley served two consecutive terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was a founding member of the Moral Majority (1979) and the Christian Coalition (1987), and in 1988, he was inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame.

The public scandal that jeopardized Charles Stanley’s ministry and upheaved his personal life commenced in 1993 when his wife Anna filed for divorce. The church urged Stanley to step down, at least temporarily, and pursue reconciliation. A divorced pastor had never been permitted to serve as the senior.

Pastorate at FBA, and the Southern Baptist denomination had long held that divorce disqualified a person from serving in leadership. However, no accusations of infidelity or immorality ever surfaced, and the church eventually voted to retain Dr. Stanley as senior pastor.

The fallout continued for several years—a period Stanley described as the hardest and loneliest of his life. Charles became estranged from his son, Andy Stanley, who left First Baptist Atlanta in 1995 to found North Point Community Church, a seeker-sensitive congregation in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta. Charles Stanley’s marriage ended in 2000; however, father and son eventually reconciled their relationship through joint counseling. Anna Stanley passed away in 2014.

To this day, Stanley’s teachings can be heard on radio, television, satellite, and online outlets around the globe and in more than 100 languages. He authored more than 60 books in his lifetime, many on prayer and practical principles for Christian living. In 2020, Stanley transitioned to pastor emeritus of FBA at age 87.

Dr. Charles Stanley once told the Baptist Press that the trials of his life helped him relate to hurting people and become more credible in their eyes. “None of us have it all together,” he said. Through the struggles, Stanley returned to his grandfather’s words, letting God fight his battles: “If we learn to operate out of weakness, we don’t have to defend our image,” said Stanley. “We don’t have to try to impress anybody. We don’t have to do any of that. All we have to do is do what God tells us to do” (source, accessed 6/8/23).

Here are some quotes from Charles Stanley:

“You always have God’s undivided attention.”

“You may go through difficulty, hardship, or trial—but as long as you are anchored to Him, you will have hope” (In Touch with God, Thomas Nelson, 1997).

“We are either in t

The process of resisting God’s truth or being shaped and molded by His truth” (How to Listen to God, Thomas Nelson, 2002).

“Thank the Lord for using each person as a tool in your life to deepen your insight into His grace and conform you to the image of His Son” (The Gift of Forgiveness, Thomas Nelson, 2002).

“God is looking for imperfect men and women who have learned to walk in moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit. Christians who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears, and failures. Believers who have become discontent with ‘surviving’ and have taken the time to investigate everything God has to offer in this life” (The Spirit-Filled Life: Discover the Joy of Surrendering to the Holy Spirit, Thomas Nelson, 2014).