Charles Stanley

This article is about the pastor. For other people with this name, see Charles Stanley (disambiguation).

Dr. Charles Stanley
Born	Charles Frazier Stanley September 25, 1932 (1932-09-25) (age 79) Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States
Occupation	Pastor, televangelist, theologian, author
Years active	1971–present
Religion	Christianity
Denomination	Southern Baptist
Spouse	Anna Stanley, 1958–2000 (divorced)

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Charles Frazier Stanley (born September 25, 1932) is the senior pastor of megachurch First Baptist in northern Atlanta, Georgia. He is the founder and president of In Touch Ministries. Dr. Stanley also served two terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1984 to 1986.

Biography

Stanley was born in Dry Fork, Virginia, just nine months before his father died. Stanley grew up in rural Dry Fork in the outskirts of Danville. At age 12, young Charles became a born-again Christian. At age 14, Stanley answered the call to work in Christian ministry. Charles Stanley received his bachelor's degree from the University of Richmond. He later obtained his Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, Texas. Lastly, he received his Masters and Doctorate, both in theology - Th.M. and Th.D., respectively - from Luther Rice Seminary, in Florida (later relocated to Lilburn GA).

Stanley joined the staff of First Baptist Church of Atlanta in 1969 and became senior pastor in 1971. As a young pastor, he was given the motivational book, Think and Grow Rich. Stanley writes "I began to apply the principles of that book to my endeavors as a pastor, and I discovered they worked!" Stanley also wrote "For years, I read Think and Grow Rich 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." ^[1] In 1972, Stanley launched a half-hour religious television program called The Chapel Hour. The Christian Broadcasting Network began televising this show in 1978. In 1982, Stanley founded In Touch Ministries, and its radio broadcasts began to be syndicated. During the 1980s, the ministry's broadcasts were available in nearly every major American media market, usually on Sundays. In 2006, In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley could be heard in 107 languages. Currently, it airs in more than 50 languages worldwide. 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. Dr. Stanley's sermons are also available on the In Touch Web site and are downloadable in the form of podcasts, along with other video and audio programming. In Touch also produces a free monthly magazine called the In Touch magazine.

Stanley's writings and broadcasts address issues such as finances, parenting, personal crises, emotional matters, relationships and Protestant Christianity. According to the ministry Web site, "Dr. Stanley fervently believes the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God, a belief strongly reflected in his teaching."^[2]

In 2005, Dr. Stanley invited Lisa Ryan to co-host a question-and-answer segment called "Bring It Home," which aired after the sermon and advertisements. The Q&A segment was intended to help the audience better grasp the content of the sermon through the use of questions the average listener might ask. The segment was discontinued in late 2006 and replaced by Dr. Stanley alone. In early 2007, Dr. Stanley began using the final segment of the "In Touch" TV and radio programs to teach on his "30 Life Principles." Related materials and teaching are available online through InTouch.org's "Life Principles Center."^[3]

In addition to his work in Christian ministry, Dr. Stanley is an avid photographer. Much of his photographic work is featured in the In Touch magazine, as well as in other materials printed by the ministry (such as the In Touch wall and desk calendars).^{[2][4][broken citation]}

Family

Dr. Charles Stanley's divorce^[5] from his wife Anna in 2000 after several years of separation caused a minor controversy in the Southern Baptist Convention, a matter which was complicated by reports that Stanley had said he would resign as pastor if he was divorced. At the time, he did not believe his separation would result in divorce; however, when it did, the FBA members overwhelmingly voted to keep him on as pastor. According to church bylaws, Dr. Stanley will remain eligible to be pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta as long as he does not remarry. Dr. Charles Stanley's son Andy Stanley is the pastor of North Point Community Church in nearby Alpharetta, Georgia.

Stanley's wife of more than 40 years, Anna J. Stanley, originally filed for divorce on June 22, 1993, following their separation in the Spring of 1992; but, the two of them agreed Anna would amend the lawsuit to seek a legal separation instead ("separate maintenance"), while seeking reconciliation. She again filed for divorce on March 20, 1995.

Bibliography

• 1985: How to Listen to God ISBN 0-8407-9041-4
• 1986: How to Keep Your Kids on Your Team ISBN 0-7852-7351-4
• 1995: The Love of God ISBN 1-5647-6532-6
• 1999: A Touch of His Power: Meditations on God's Awesome Power ISBN 0-3102-1492-0
• 2000: Handle With Prayer ISBN 0-8969-3963-9
• 2000: Success God's Way ISBN 0-7852-6590-2
• 2001: A Gift of Love: Reflections for the Tender Heart ISBN 0-7852-6618-6
• 2002: Eternal Security ISBN 0-7852-6417-5
• 2002: Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure? ISBN 0-7852-6417-5
• 2002: Finding Peace: God's Promise of a Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear ISBN 0-7852-7297-6
• 2002: How to Handle Adversity ISBN 0-7852-6418-3
• 2002: Success God's Way: Achieving True Contentment and Purpose ISBN 0-7852-6590-2
• 2002: The Gift of Forgiveness ISBN 0-7852-6415-9
• 2002: Walking Wisely: Real Guidance for Life's Journey ISBN 0-7852-7298-4
• 2002: Winning the War Within ISBN 0-7852-6416-7
• 2003: God is in Control ISBN 0-8499-5739-7
• 2005: Charles Stanley's Life Principles ISBN 1-4185-0572-2
• 2005: Into His Presence: An In Touch Devotional ISBN 0-7852-8013-8
• 2005: Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit ISBN 0-7852-6512-0
• 2005: Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit ISBN 0-7852-6512-0
• 2005: Living the Extraordinary Life : 9 Principles to Discover It ISBN 0-7852-6611-9
• 2005: Our Unmet Needs ISBN 0-7852-7796-X
• 2005: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible ISBN 0-7852-5677-6
• 2005: The Source of My Strength ISBN 0-7852-0569-1
• 2006: Discover Your Destiny: God Has More Than You Can Ask or Imagine ISBN 0-7852-6369-1
• 2006: Pathways to His Presence: A Daily Devotional ISBN 0-7852-2163-8
• 2006: When the Enemy Strikes : The Keys to Winning Your Spiritual Battles ISBN 0-7852-8788-4
• 2007: Landmines in the Path of the Believer: Avoiding the Hidden Dangers ISBN 1-4002-0090-3
• 2008: In Step with God: Understanding His Ways and Plans for Your Life ISBN 1-4002-0091-1
• 2008: Stuck in Reverse: Break Free From Fear and Disbelief and Enjoy the Good Things God Has for You ISBN 1-4002-0094-6
• 2008: The Power of God's Love: A 31 Day Devotional to Encounter the Father's Greatest Gift ISBN 1-4002-0093-8
• 2008: When Your Children Hurt ISBN 1-4002-0098-9
• 2009: How to Reach Your Full Potential for God ISBN 978-1-4002-0092-4

Television

Year	Title	Notes
1972	The Chapel Hour	Host
1983–1985	The Breakfast Club	Host
1990–pres.	In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley	Host
2002	TBN's Praise the Lord	Guest
2011	19 Kids and Counting	Episode: "Donating Duggars"

See Also

• Southern Baptist Convention
• Southern Baptist Convention Presidents
• List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people

External links

• In Touch Ministries - Dr. Charles Stanleys 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.
• Whatever Happened to America?

Notes

1. ^ Stanley, Charles, 2009, How to Reach Your Full Potential for God, p.224, Thomas Nelson Publishers, ISBN 978-1-4002-0092-4
2. ^ ^{a b} Stanley bio page, In Touch Ministries
3. ^ 30 Life Principles, In Touch Ministries
4. ^ Many of his current photographs from Alaska are featured in the ITM Photo Gallery.
5. ^ Baptist Press (2000-05-31). "Charles Stanley, wife divorce - Atlanta church affirms pastor". The Layman Online. http://bponassignment.org/bpnews.asp?id=5874. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 

Persondata
Name	Stanley, Charles F.(evangelist)
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 25, 1932
Place of birth	Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death