Charles Stanley (evangelist)

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Charles Frazier Stanley (born September 25, 1932) is the senior pastor of megachurch First Baptist Church Atlanta 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 1984-1986.

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[edit] Biography

Charles Frazier Stanley was born in Richmond, Virginia to a single mother whose husband had died several months before Charles' birth. He grew up in rural Dry Fork in the outskirts of Danville. At the age of fourteen and after the Godly upbringing of his mother and grandfather, Charles Stanley was called to work in Christian ministry. Later, he graduated from the University of Richmond. He received a divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Finally, he received his master's and doctoral degrees, both in theology, from Luther Rice Seminary in Florida (later relocated to Atlanta).

Stanley became Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta in 1971, and launched a half-hour religious television program, The Chapel Hour, the next year. 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, this ministry's broadcasts were available in nearly every major American media market, usually on Sundays. In 2005, the "In Touch" program could be heard worldwide through shortwave radio.[citation needed] In the United States, In Touch is broadcast by 500 radio stations (most of which are AM), over 300 television stations, and several satellite networks including The Inspiration Network (INSP) and Trinity Broadcasting Network. It is broadcast on 458 radio stations and short-wave stations and has been translated into more than 100 languages. Dr. Stanley's sermons are also available on the In Touch Web site in the form of Podcasts along with other video and audio programming. In Touch also produces a free monthly magazine called In Touch magazine.

Stanley's writings and broadcasts address issues such as finances, parenting, personal crises, emotional matters, and relationships, and conservative Protestant Christianity. According to his Web site, "Dr. Stanley fervently believes the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God, a belief strongly reflected in his teaching." [1]

In 2005, Dr. Stanley invited Lisa Ryan to help co-host a question-and-answer segment, which aired as a segment called "Bring It Home" 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 Ryan-posed 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."[2]

In addition to his work in Christian ministry, Dr. Stanley is an avid photographer. Much of his photographic work is featured in In Touch magazine as well as other materials printed by the ministry (such as the In Touch calendar). Stanley's photography is also sold at the In-Touch bookstore at his church, First Baptist Atlanta.[3] Many of his current photographs from Alaska are featured here

[edit] Family

Dr. Charles Stanley's divorce[1] from his wife Anna in 2000 after several years of separation caused a minor scandal 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 he changed his mind and decided to stay 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 pastor at another megachurch, North Point Community Church, in nearby Alpharetta, Georgia.

Stanley's wife of over 40 years, Anna J. Stanley, originally filed for divorce on 6/22/93 following their separation in the spring of 1992, but his attorney got her to amend the lawsuit to seek a legal separation instead ("separate maintenance"), while seeking reconciliation. She again filed for divorce on 3/20/95. Anna Stanley's divorce filing asked for a jury trial (originally to begin in the first half of 1996) and sought alimony division of assets and possession of their home. Stanley claimed his "childhood difficulties" caused the problems in his marriage.

[edit] Books (Incomplete list)

[edit] External links

Charles Stanley has developed the 30 Life Principals for individuals to live by for a life of goodness in Gods Will.

Test

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Baptist Press (2000-05-31). [http://www.layman.org/layman/news/news-around-church/charles-stanley-wife-divorce.htm Charles Stanley, wife divorce; Atlanta church affirms pastor]. The Layman Online. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
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