17 Facts About Charles Stanley

Charles Frazier Stanley was an American Southern Baptist pastor and writer.

Charles Stanley was senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta for 49 years and took on emeritus status in 2020.

Charles Stanley founded and was president of In Touch Ministries, which widely broadcasts his sermons through television and radio.

Charles Stanley served two one-year terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, from 1984 to 1986.

Charles Stanley studied at University of Richmond and earned a Bachelor of Arts, then he studied at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and earned a Master of Divinity.

Charles Stanley has earned a Master of Theology and a Doctorate of Theology degree from Luther Rice Seminary.

Charles Stanley joined the staff of First Baptist Church of Atlanta in 1969 and became senior pastor in 1971.

In 1972, Charles Stanley launched a half-hour religious television program called The Chapel Hour.

In 1977, Charles Stanley founded In Touch Ministries with the mission to lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church.

Charles Stanley took the ministry name In Touch from a Living Bible he owned.

In 1985, Charles Stanley was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

In 2017, Charles Stanley named Anthony George to succeed him as senior pastor of First Baptist Church at some point in the future.

On September 13,2020, Charles Stanley announced his retirement as senior pastor and transition to pastor emeritus, but noted that he would continue to work at In Touch Ministries.

Charles Stanley again filed for divorce on March 20,1995.

The matter was complicated by reports that Charles Stanley had said he would resign as pastor if he got divorced.

Charles Stanley served on the board of the Moral Majority political organization, and he was a close friend of that entity's founder, Jerry Falwell.

Charles F Stanley died at his home in Atlanta on April 18,2023, at age 90.