Charles Stanley 1932-2023

[temporal1]

Obituary:
Dr. Charles Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries and longtime pastor of First Baptist Atlanta
https://christianindex.org/stories/obit ... tist,50046

ATLANTA, Ga. — In Touch Ministries has announced that beloved pastor Dr. Charles Frazier Stanley passed away at 7:30 a.m. this morning at age 90.

Known to audiences around the world through his wide-reaching TV and radio broadcasts, Stanley modeled his 65 years of ministry after the apostle Paul’s message in Acts 20:24: “Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love.”

Born Sept. 25, 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, in Dry Fork, Virginia, Stanley was raised by a single mother after his father died when Stanley was only nine months old.

After receiving a call to ministry at the age of 14, Stanley earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, and a Bachelor of Divinity at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He later went on to earn the distinctions of Master and Doctor of Theology from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta.

It was 1971 when Stanley assumed his longtime role as senior pastor of First Baptist Atlanta. The following year, he launched his foray into broadcast ministry with a 30-minute program, The Chapel Hour, on Atlanta-area TV stations WXIA and WANX (now WGCL).

The Chapel Hour—renamed In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley—went nationwide in 1978 after the Christian Broadcasting Network contacted Stanley, looking for a practical, Bible-teaching program for its new satellite distribution network. At no cost to First Baptist Atlanta, the broadcast grew from 16,000 local viewers to a nationwide audience in just one week. Stanley was the country’s longest-serving pastor with a continuous weekly broadcast program.

By 1982, In Touch Ministries was incorporated and the In Touch radio broadcast entered syndication. During the 1980s, the In Touch program penetrated almost every major market in the United States, reaching more than 1 million households. At the time of his death, Stanley’s messages were heard in more than 127 languages around the world via radio, shortwave, the Messenger Lab project, or TV broadcasts.

Believing, as he often said, that people are to “obey God and leave all the consequences to Him," Stanley focused his preaching on practical, Christ-centered, biblically based principles for everyday life. Many of his messages incorporated the 30 Life Principles that guided his life and helped him grow in his knowledge, service, and love of God. Other messages tackled such topics as parenting, finances, personal crises, emotions and relationships, prayer, and the character of God. Not having sought out the public spotlight, Stanley was a pastor who happened to be on TV, focused on teaching others how to seek and obey God through adversity and personal hardships.

Notable organizations and publishers honored Stanley throughout his long ministry. Stanley served two terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1985 and 1986. In 1988, he was inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame for the consistent excellence of his broadcast, and leadership in the realm of Christian TV and radio. Religious Heritage of America named him Clergyman of the Year in 1989, an award that recognizes pastors who strive to make Judeo-Christian principles part of America’s daily life. In 1993, the NRB honored In Touch with the Television Producer of the Year award, and in 1999, with the Radio Program of the Year award. Most recently, Stanley was recognized for selling more than 10 million copies of his more than 70 books, the latest of which was published in 2023.

He was known, too, for his love of photography. Stanley’s images from his personal travels fill the walls of In Touch Ministries’ Atlanta headquarters and inspire program viewers to explore the beauty of God’s creation.

In September 2020, Stanley transitioned to the role of pastor emeritus of First Baptist Atlanta after serving 50 years as senior pastor.

Stanley is survived by his son Andy Stanley, founding and senior pastor of North Point Ministries; daughter Becky Stanley Broderson; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and half-sister Susie Cox. His former wife, Anna Johnson Stanley, preceded him in death. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to In Touch Ministries.

A memorial site can be found at http://charlesstanley.com.

Died: Charles Stanley, In Touch Preacher Who Led with Stubborn Faith
First Baptist Church Atlanta pastor lived by the motto “Obey God and leave all the consequences to him.”
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/ ... lanta.html

[temporal1]

For a few years, 1990’s, we listened to Charles Stanley on television as we prepared for church.
Often, background noise you wanted to hear. Those are now precious memories.

i appreciated his clarity and common sense, the way he emphasized and repeated points he urged new believers to “not miss.”
“Listen to this!” .. then he would read. He was compelling.

He has been mentioned on MD and MN.

[Sudsy]

I, too, have been blessed by Charles ministry. I think one of the first books I read by Charles is the one he wrote called 'The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life'. I especially enjoy the big choir at their church. I follow his son Andy Stanley on YouTube. Andy gets a considerable amount of challenge to some of his teachings.

A Charles quote - "Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”

More of his quotes - https://www.brainyquote.com/lists/autho ... ley-quotes

[joshuabgood]

https://medium.com/belover/i-try-to-bel ... 64fe5e5cfb

Polemical - but perhaps a necessary counterpoint to a man who wasn't able to keep his family together or children in his church. He promised to step down, and preached a divorced pastor should step down. When his wife divorced him because she was never his priority in her view, God conveniently told him he didn't have to step down after all.

And here on the divorce

https://medium.com/belover/the-divorce- ... 6b01ed2af0

[Sudsy]

https://medium.com/belover/i-try-to-bel ... 64fe5e5cfb

Polemical - but perhaps a necessary counterpoint to a man who wasn't able to keep his family together or children in his church. He promised to step down, and preached a divorced pastor should step down. When his wife divorced him because she was never his priority in her view, God conveniently told him he didn't have to step down after all.

And here on the divorce

https://medium.com/belover/the-divorce- ... 6b01ed2af0

Yes, God uses imperfect people, such as we, to further His Kingdom if we are willing to be used. Where some believers just 'write others off', I'm thankful that God is much more merciful and uses 'His Truth' when preached to save others. Charles, as do all of us, will give an account to God some day and His judgment is what really matters and not mans.

[temporal1]

In the 90’s, i knew nothing of his personal sins+tragedies.
Learning so much later, i’m not sure what knowing would have done to my thinking at the time.

i did not know backgrounds of JFK or MLK Jr., either, until years later. It certainly helps avoid idol worship.
i don’t expect national holidays or highways will be dedicated to CS.

[Sudsy]

When it comes to personal sins, yet being leaders and teachers, John Howard Yoder is quite an example that hits closer to home for Mennonites. John was highly regarded in Anabaptist circles in his writings especially 'The Politics of Jesus'. Yet he, too, had quite a history where this article says it included - 'More than 100 women experienced unwanted sexual violations by Yoder'.

https://anabaptistworld.org/failure-bin ... ual-abuse/

So, how do we respond to these leaders in so many denominations when we discover their sinning ? Do we disregard all their writings and preaching ? Or do we remember that anyone can be living in some form of sinning and so what we need is discernment through the Holy Spirit for when they are not speaking God's Truth ? Myself, I believe the Church today needs discernment through the Spirit. In ourselves we can be pursaded by personalities and clear explanations of issues that may not be at all as God views things.

I have my apprehensions regarding what any group of church leaders discern as truths. Strong and persuasive personalities can direct any church that puts little emphasis on seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance. Some believe because we have the Holy Spirit living within us, what we come up with collectively must be God. If that is true, why so many different conclusions even within Anabaptism ?

At this point, I lean toward the view that most, perhaps all, local churches have little to no regard for Holy Spirit guidance. Perhaps others here can share if they have similar concern or what they think on the subject.

Myself, I am currently believing we all now 'only know in part'. We all 'see through a glass darkly'. No church group has perfect truth and it's leaders are above reproach. So, I can listen to sermons from all kinds of Christian resources and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance into what is truth and what is not. I will never get it all perfectly understood but focusing on listening to the Spirit is the way that I should go. Now, to do that. That is a fight with the flesh. I lose too many of these fights or just don't bother engaging with the Spirit's guidance.

[Szdfan]

When it comes to personal sins, yet being leaders and teachers, John Howard Yoder is quite an example that hits closer to home for Mennonites. John was highly regarded in Anabaptist circles in his writings especially 'The Politics of Jesus'. Yet he, too, had quite a history where this article says it included - 'More than 100 women experienced unwanted sexual violations by Yoder'.

https://anabaptistworld.org/failure-bin ... ual-abuse/

So, how do we respond to these leaders in so many denominations when we discover their sinning ? Do we disregard all their writings and preaching ? Or do we remember that anyone can be living in some form of sinning and so what we need is discernment through the Holy Spirit for when they are not speaking God's Truth ? Myself, I believe the Church today needs discernment through the Spirit. In ourselves we can be pursaded by personalities and clear explanations of issues that may not be at all as God views things.

I have my apprehensions regarding what any group of church leaders discern as truths. Strong and persuasive personalities can direct any church that puts little emphasis on seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance. Some believe because we have the Holy Spirit living within us, what we come up with collectively must be God. If that is true, why so many different conclusions even within Anabaptism ?

At this point, I lean toward the view that most, perhaps all, local churches have little to no regard for Holy Spirit guidance. Perhaps others here can share if they have similar concern or what they think on the subject.

Myself, I am currently believing we all now 'only know in part'. We all 'see through a glass darkly'. No church group has perfect truth and it's leaders are above reproach. So, I can listen to sermons from all kinds of Christian resources and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance into what is truth and what is not. I will never get it all perfectly understood but focusing on listening to the Spirit is the way that I should go. Now, to do that. That is a fight with the flesh. I lose too many of these fights or just don't bother engaging with the Spirit's guidance.

I think there's a huge difference between Charles Stanley's divorce and John Howard Yoder's sexual abuse. Part of the problem with Yoder is that there are indications in his theology that he attempted to justify his abuse. Most of progressive Mennonites have left Yoder behind.

[temporal1]

i was kinda hoping this would be more of a conventional obituary topic (or even ignored) at least for awhile.
i don’t expect anyone to rave about a Baptist television minister. he wasn’t a big influence in my life, he was the only tv minister i viewed. i appreciated his sermons - as a nice addition to the busy real life church we had in those years.

i don’t like bringing up negatives about JFK or MLK, Jr., but, they’d both been gone for many years before i learned of these facts.
It’s unpleasant, but it’s important not to lie or be deceived.

i’m pretty sure CS repented and lived in obedience .. the others were killed suddenly before they repented (as far as is known).
Most of the men in scriptures were sinners, some were persistent in sin, before heart conversion/conviction.

i witnessed my father live for many years without forgiving himself (not divorce or sexual sin). that’s the other end of the spectrum.
It can be hard to forgive yourself. i’m not sure what the answer is. i have some sorrows i can’t quite shake, either.

God knows. we don’t always know.

[Ernie]

Polemical - but perhaps a necessary counterpoint to a man who wasn't able to keep his family together or children in his church. He promised to step down, and preached a divorced pastor should step down. When his wife divorced him because she was never his priority in her view, God conveniently told him he didn't have to step down after all.

Yes. Romans 1 tells us that God will judge some based on the yardstick they use to judge others.