Dr Charles Stanley died on April 18, 2023 and he was 90 years old. 

Few pastors in recent memory have had the reach and impact of Charles F. Stanley (1932-2023).

Like his contemporaries, J. Vernon McGee and Billy Graham, Stanley found great success using radio and television to spread his message. He founded In Touch Ministries, which reports that Stanley’s sermons have been translated into 127 languages, and he was “the country’s longest-serving pastor with a continuous weekly broadcast program.” He was also a bestselling author of over 70 books.

Let’s look deeper at his life and the values that drove him.

10 Important Events in Charles Stanley’s Life
1. Charles Frazier Stanley was born on September 23, 1932, in Dry Fork, Virginia. His father died from Bright’s Disease on June 18, 1933. Stanley would later describe his childhood years—particularly after his mother remarried in 1942 to an abusive alcoholic—as difficult. However, his mother ensured that he attended church weekly, which provided solace.

2. Stanley accepted Jesus as his savior on June 9, 1944, at a service at Pentecostal Holiness Church in Danville, Virginia. Two years later, he felt a call to preach. His grandfather, pastor George Washington Stanley, provided mentoring and advice during these early years.

3. In 1956, Stanley graduated with a bachelor of arts from the University of Richmond, Virginia. During his time there, he met and married Anna Margaret Johnson. The same year he graduated, he was ordained for the ministry at Danville’s Moffett Memorial Baptist Church.

4. In 1969, Stanley became the associate pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta. He became the church’s senior pastor in 1971, a position he would hold for nearly 50 years.

 
 
 
5. In 1973, Stanley began giving sermons on “The Chapel Hour,” a half-hour TV program broadcast on two Atlanta stations.

6. In 1977, Christian Broadcasting Network offered to broadcast “The Chapel Hour” nationwide. Stanley retitled the program “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley,” which expanded to reach a huge audience. In Touch Ministries was incorporated in 1982, and it grew to include many other forms of media. Today, In Touch Ministries’ magazine reaches over 1.5 million readers, and its programs are broadcast in over 50 languages worldwide.

 

 

 

7. In 1984, Stanley served the first of two consecutive terms as President of the Southern Baptist Convention.

8. In 1988, Stanley was inducted into the National Religious Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame.

9. In 2020, Stanley stepped down as senior pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta to focus on In Touch.

10. Stanley passed away on April 18, 2023, at 90 years old.

10 Inspiring Quotes by Charles Stanley
1. “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.’” — Courageous Faith

2. “Are your actions and words strengthening your fellow Christians? Or do you gossip, express negativity, and push your own preferences and opinions? Be careful. God has mandated that our conduct positively impact the church’s unity. This is essential if we are to accomplish His purpose.” — “Togetherness in the Body”

3. “In the midst of our complex and hectic lives, nothing is more urgent, nothing more necessary, nothing more rewarding than hearing what God has to say.” — How to Listen to God

4. “One of the greatest hindrances to the gospel’s effectiveness is Christians who act one way at church and another way elsewhere. The way we live for God should permeate all areas of life.” — “Christians in the Workplace”

5. “He is the only One who knows the plans that He has for us and how they can be fulfilled. They are plans that contain renewed peace and joy.” — God Has a Plan for Your Life: The Discovery that Makes All the Difference

6. “When you feel unsatisfied, try basing your response on your position as a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17) rather than feelings.” — “The Secret Gift of Contentment”

7. “So right now, set your mind on this truth: Our God is a planner. He is not a reactor. He did not set this world in motion to be ruled by chance or wild, unchecked forces. Nor did he create you to live without hope and purpose.” — The Will of God: Understanding and Pursuing His Ultimate Plan for Your Life

 
 
 
8. “The fullness of the Spirit and godly character await those who choose God over self.” — “How Do We Live a Spirit-Filled Life?”

9. “After brokenness our lives can be the most fruitful and have the most purpose. The dawn after a very dark and storm-wreaked night is glorious.” — The Blessings of Brokenness

10. “Obey God and leave all the consequences to him.” — famous advice to others, included on his portrait at In Touch Ministries’ headquarters

What Can We Learn from Charles Stanley?
1. God can use even the most broken for great things. Stanley openly talked about his childhood trauma—moving 17 times