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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 emphasizes the importance of seeking God's guidance in decision-making, highlighting that God has a plan for our lives and is interested in every decision we make. He warns against assuming that God will prevent us from making wrong choices if we haven't sought His help. Stanley encourages believers to rely on the Holy Spirit, whom God has given as a guide, teacher, and helper, to navigate through life's decisions and follow the will of the heavenly Father.
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Seeking God’s Guidance
Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Psalm 16:1, 11 NASB) Christians should make decisions based on this premise: God has a plan for our lives, and He is involved and interested in every single decision that we make. Therefore, when we make decisions, we come to our heavenly Father for guidance, knowing He always has our best interest at heart. But sometimes we reason, This is what I want to do. If it is not God's will, then He will stop me. However, the Lord will not necessarily prevent us from doing what is not His will. He won't always come to our rescue, especially if we have not sought His help. We make decisions every day of our lives, and to make wise ones, we have to learn the will of the Father. God has promised, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you" (Psalm 32:8). Our loving Father provides guidance by giving every believer a pilot—the Holy Spirit—on board his or her life. In John 14–16, the Lord Jesus comforted His disciples as He prepared them for the time when He would not be with them physically. He promised that His Spirit would be their helper, teacher, and guide. In a similar way, the Spirit of God will guide us through the treacherous seas of decision-making. Godly people want to do the will of their heavenly Father. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have the Holy Spirit living in you to guide and help with your decisions. Are you paying attention to His instructions?
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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.”