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Charles Stanley

Charles Frazier Stanley (1932–2023). Born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Virginia, Charles Stanley was an American Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and author who led First Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 50 years. Raised by his widowed mother, Rebecca, after his father’s death at nine months, he felt called to preach at 14 and joined a Baptist church at 16. Stanley earned a BA from the University of Richmond (1956), a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1958), and a ThM and ThD from Luther Rice Seminary. Ordained in 1956, he pastored churches in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina before joining First Baptist Atlanta in 1969, becoming senior pastor in 1971. In 1977, he founded In Touch Ministries, broadcasting his sermons globally via radio, TV, and online, reaching millions. A pioneer in Christian media, he authored over 60 books, including The Source of My Strength (1994), How to Listen to God (1985), and Success God’s Way (2000), emphasizing practical faith. President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1984–1986), he faced personal challenges, including a 2000 divorce from Anna Johnson after 44 years; they had two children, Andy and Becky. Stanley died on April 18, 2023, in Atlanta, saying, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”
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Charles Stanley preaches about the common human instinct to want to escape stressful situations by walking away, but God's truth teaches us to find rest and peace in Him instead of fighting against our circumstances. By being still and knowing God, absorbing His truths, and growing in trust of His sovereignty, goodness, and love, we can navigate through challenges with inner quietness and confidence as His children.
Confidence in the Midst of Distress
PSALM 46:1-11 "I'm outta here!" Most of us will feel this way at some point in our lives. When stress in daily living becomes unbearable, we want to escape. We may want out of jobs, relationships, or some other difficult situation. We think we can't handle things the way they are because they are much too stressful. So we decide we are walking out. Moving on. Heading for anywhere but where we are. God has a powerful truth for us to hear. The way to handle stressful situations is to cease fighting against them and instead to be at rest. To the psalmist, this rest meant being still and knowing God. (Psalm 46:10 NIV) Jesus described it as a peacefulness that we will both find and receive as we spend time learning from Him. (Matthew 11:28-30) Our human instinct clamors for us to escape but God calls us to draw near and absorb the truths of Scripture. Most of all, He wants us to know who He is. As we believe the truth of His sovereignty (1 Chronicles 29:11) and accept both the absolute goodness of His plans (Jeremiah 29:11) and His deep, abiding love for us (Ephesians 3:17-19), we will grow in trust. Then we will find it easier to "be still" and not to respond like the world, which says, "I'm outta here." Our stress need not become distress. With an accurate understanding of our heavenly Father, we will be able to walk through circumstances with an inner quietness (Galatians 5:22) and genuine confidence. (Hebrews 13:6) This is our privilege as God's children.
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Charles Frazier Stanley (1932–2023). Born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Virginia, Charles Stanley was an American Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and author who led First Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 50 years. Raised by his widowed mother, Rebecca, after his father’s death at nine months, he felt called to preach at 14 and joined a Baptist church at 16. Stanley earned a BA from the University of Richmond (1956), a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1958), and a ThM and ThD from Luther Rice Seminary. Ordained in 1956, he pastored churches in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina before joining First Baptist Atlanta in 1969, becoming senior pastor in 1971. In 1977, he founded In Touch Ministries, broadcasting his sermons globally via radio, TV, and online, reaching millions. A pioneer in Christian media, he authored over 60 books, including The Source of My Strength (1994), How to Listen to God (1985), and Success God’s Way (2000), emphasizing practical faith. President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1984–1986), he faced personal challenges, including a 2000 divorce from Anna Johnson after 44 years; they had two children, Andy and Becky. Stanley died on April 18, 2023, in Atlanta, saying, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”