The Rev. Charles Stanley was an influential pastor known for his TV and radio program, “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley.”
- Died: April 18, 2023 (Who else died on April 18?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Atlanta at the age of 90.
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Charles Stanley’s legacy
A born-again Christian, Stanley became an associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Atlanta in 1969. Within two years, he had been named senior pastor. Under his leadership, First Baptist Church became a megachurch. That growth was helped in part by Stanley’s radio and television ministry, which began in 1972 with “The Chapel Hour.” In 1977, he founded In Touch Ministries, launching his weekly radio and TV series “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley” the following year. The program gained a worldwide reach, translated into dozens of languages. Stanley was considered one of the most influential pastors in the U.S.
Stanley served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1980s. In 1993, his wife filed for divorce, resulting in controversy as divorce is considered a sin by some Southern Baptists. It was initially unclear whether Stanley would stay on as senior pastor at First Baptist Church. However, the church’s members voted for him to remain. He continued as senior pastor until his retirement in 2020. Stanley continued hosting “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley” until his death, and he wrote dozens of books on faith.
Notable quote
“I’m Pentecostal. I learned to pray on my knees.” —from a 2017 interview with Louie Giglio
Tributes to Charles Stanley
Full obituary: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
