Charles Frazier Stanley Jr. (September 25, 1932 – April 18, 2023) was an American Southern Baptist pastor and writer. He was senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta for 49 years and took on emeritus status in 2020. He founded and was president of In Touch Ministries which widely broadcasts his sermons through television and radio. He also served two one-year terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, from 1984 to 1986.
Early life and education Stanley was born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in the midst of the Great Depression. His parents were Charles Frazier "Charlie" Stanley Sr. and Rebecca Susan Hall (née Hardy, formerly Stanley). His father died when he was nine months old. When Stanley was nine, his mother remarried John Hall, a truck driver, and had a daughter.1950 US Census entries for John H Hall, Rebecca S Hall, etc.: His paternal grandfather was Reverend George Washington Stanley, who was originally from Chatham County, North Carolina.1920 US Census entries for George W Stanley, Ida Stanley, etc.:
At the age of 12, around 1944, Stanley became a born-again Christian, and at age 14 he began his life's work in Christian ministry.
Stanley graduated in 1956 at the age of 23, from the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He studied at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, earning a Master of Divinity. He also earned a Master of Theology and a Doctor of Theology degree from Luther Rice College & Seminary (at the time located in Jacksonville, Florida).
Ministry Stanley joined the staff of First Baptist Church of Atlanta in 1969 and became senior pastor in 1971.Buck Lanford, Dr. Charles Stanley honored for 50 years of ministry, fox5atlanta.com, US, October 7, 2019Shelia Poole, Atlanta Pastor Charles Stanley's 'Life Principles Bible' hits 1 million mark, ajc.com, US, December 19, 2017
In 1972, Stanley launched a half-hour religious television program called The Chapel Hour. In 1977, he founded In Touch Ministries with the mission to lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church.Emily McFarlan Miller, Influential pastor, Charles Stanley, steps down at First Baptist Church Atlanta after 50 years, religionnews.com, US, September 14, 2020 The Christian Broadcasting Network began televising In Touch in 1978.Mark Ward Sr., The Electronic Church in the Digital Age: Cultural Impacts of Evangelical Mass Media , ABC-CLIO, US, 2015, p. 289 The show has since been translated in 50 languages.Patricia Holbrook, Dr. Charles F. Stanley leads life of unwavering faith, ajc.com, US, September 15, 2017 In the United States, In Touch is broadcast on approximately 500 radio stations, 300 television stations, and several satellite networks including The Inspiration Network (INSP) and Trinity Broadcasting Network. Stanley's sermons, along with other audio and video programming, are available on the In Touch website. The ministry also publishes In Touch magazine. In Touch uses tools like radio, television, magazines and digital media in its effort to advance the Gospel as quickly as possible. Stanley took the ministry name In Touch from a Living Bible he owned.
Stanley's writings and broadcasts address issues such as finances, parenting, personal crises, emotional matters, relationships, and Protestantism. The In Touch website said, "Dr. Stanley fervently believes the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God, a belief strongly reflected in his teaching."
In 1985, Stanley was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
In 2017, Stanley named Anthony George to succeed him as senior pastor of First Baptist Church at some point in the future.Shelia Poole, Who is Anthony George, the successor for Atlanta megachurch pastor Charles Stanley?, ajc.com, US, December 13, 2017 On September 13, 2020, Stanley announced his retirement as senior pastor and transition to pastor emeritus, but noted that he would continue to work at In Touch Ministries.
Influences on his theology With regard to Christian theology, Stanley was a conservative evangelical, and his eschatology was dispensationalist. Over the course of his ministry, Stanley developed "30 Life Principles" that he felt were essential. He credited his Pentecostal grandfather, George Washington Stanley, with inspiring one of the most referenced principles of the thirty: “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him." In his book Courageous Faith: My Story from a Life of Obedience, Stanley said: "Granddad told me, 'Charles, if God tells you to run your head through a brick wall, you head for the wall, and when you get there, God will make a hole for it.'"
In 2009, Stanley also addressed the influences on his philosophy when he wrote that he "began to apply the principles of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich to my endeavors as a pastor, and I discovered they worked!... For years, I read [it] every year to remind myself that the truth of God is not just for one career field. It is for all manner of work and ministry."Charles Stanley, 2009, How to Reach Your Full Potential for God, p. 224, Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Personal life Stanley had a daughter and a son, Andy Stanley, who is the pastor of North Point Community Church in nearby Alpharetta. In addition to his work in Christian ministry, Stanley was an avid photographer, with a particular interest in nature and wildlife . Much of his photographic work is featured in the In Touch magazine, as well as in other materials which are printed by the ministry, including the In Touch wall and desk calendars.Many of his photographs from Alaska are featured in:
Anna J. Stanley was married to Stanley for more than 40 years; she filed for divorce on June 22, 1993, after they separated in the spring of 1992. The two of them agreed that Anna would amend the lawsuit to seek a legal separation instead ("separate maintenance"), while they were seeking reconciliation. On March 20, 1995, she filed for divorce again. The Moody Radio Network station in Atlanta (then-WAFS) took Stanley's daily broadcast off the air during the broadcasting time, because managers concluded that there was no sign of reconciliation. The Stanleys were legally separated at the time that divorce papers were filed for the last time on February 16, 2000. A judge signed the final divorce decree on May 11, 2000.
Their divorce caused a minor controversy within the Southern Baptist Convention. The matter was complicated by reports which stated that Stanley had said that he would resign as pastor if he got divorced. At the time of their separation, he said that he did not believe that it would result in divorce; however after he was divorced, the members of his church overwhelmingly voted to keep him as their pastor. According to First Baptist Atlanta's bylaws, Stanley was allowed to remain as pastor as long as he did not remarry. Anna Stanley died on November 10, 2014.
A close friend of the Moral Majority's founder Jerry Falwell, Stanley served on the organization's board.
Death Stanley died at his home in Atlanta on April 18, 2023, at the age of 90. No cause of death was revealed.
Bibliography 1980: Making The Bible Clear with Fred L. Lowery 1982: Handle With Prayer 1985: How to Listen to God 1985: Confronting Casual Christianity 1986: How to Keep Your Kids on Your Team 1989: How to Handle Adversity 1990: Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure? 1991: The Gift of Forgiveness 1992: The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life 1995: The Love of God 1995: The Source of My Strength 1999: A Touch of His Power: Meditations on God's Awesome Power 2000: Success God's Way 2000: Into His Presence: An In Touch Devotional 2001: The Gift of Love 2001: Our Unmet Needs 2002: Walking Wisely 2002: Winning the War Within 2003: Finding Peace 2003: God Is in Control 2004: When the Enemy Strikes 2005: Charles Stanley's Life Principles Bible 2005: Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit 2005: Living the Extraordinary Life: 9 Principles to Discover It 2006: Discover Your Destiny 2006: Pathways to His Presence: A Daily Devotional 2007: Landmines in the Path of the Believer: Avoiding the Hidden Dangers 2008: In Step with God 2008: Stuck in Reverse 2008: The Power of God's Love: A 31 Day Devotional to Encounter the Father's Greatest Gift 2008: When Your Children Hurt 2010: How to Reach Your Full Potential for God 2011: Turning the Tide: Real Hope Real Change 2012: Prayer: The Ultimate Conversation 2013: Man of God: Leading Your Family by Allowing God to Lead You 2013: Emotions: Confront the Lies. Conquer with Truth. 2013: Walking with God: Thoughts on His Indwelling Spirit, Volume 2 2014: Walking with God: Knowing God Through Prayer, Volume 3 2015: Waiting on God: Strength for Today and Hope for Tomorrow 2015: Christmas: The Gift for Every Heart 2016: Courageous Faith: My Story from a Life of Obedience 2017: Finding God's Blessings in Brokenness: How Pain Reveals His Deepest Love 2017: Standing Strong: How to Storm-Proof Your Life with God's Timeless Truths 2022: The Gift of the Cross Embracing the Promise of the Resurrection 2022: The Gift of Jesus: Meditations for Christmas
Television Year Title Notes1972 The Chapel Hour Host1983–1985 The Breakfast ClubHost1978–2023 In Touch with Dr. Charles StanleyHost2002?–2024 TBN's Praise the LordRecent episodes of Trinity Broadcasting Network's Praise: "You're Being Prepared for your Legacy", June 4, 2018, #61 (TBN, TBN+); "Unwavering Faith", October 12, 2020, #349 (TBN, TBN+); "Can You Still Trust God?", March 1, 2021, #379 (TBN, TBN+); "Live with Fewer Regrets", April 27, 2021, #392 (TBN, TBN+); "Trusting in God's Faithfulness", September 16, 2021, #106 (TBN, TBN+); "The Blessings of Obedience to God", April 10, 2024 (TBN, TBN+)Guest2011 19 Kids and CountingEpisode: "Donating Duggars"2012 Monica's CloseupsGuest
Awards and honors 1988: National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame 1989: Named Clergyman of the Year by Religious Heritage of America 1993: National Religious Broadcasters named In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley with Television Producer of the Year 1999: National Religious Broadcasters named In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley Radio Program of the Year 2017: Thomas Nelson recognized Stanley for selling more than 3.5 million copies of his books
See also List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people
References
External links In Touch Ministries – Charles Stanley's Biography Beliefnet – Interview with Charles Stanley First Baptist Atlanta The 30 "Life Principles" developed by Charles F. Stanley to help people live life at its best. Charles Stanley sermons