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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 assurance that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, highlighting the divine plan of predestination for believers to be conformed to the image of His Son. He stresses the importance of aligning our goals with God's will, emphasizing the significance of true love and devotion to the Savior over worldly achievements. Stanley encourages setting goals with God in mind, living by faith, and seeking His guidance through prayer to ensure that our aspirations are in line with His desires for our lives.
God’s Goal for My Life
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 NIV) God reminds us that He has a plan for our lives in Jeremiah 29:11. This is an important word of encouragement. But often we worry what His plan is and how we can achieve it. While goals are very important because they help to set a positive tone for our lives, they should never take the place of true love and devotion to the Savior. Establish your goals with God in mind. In Romans 8:28-30, the Lord underscores the fact that He truly has His eye on our lives. Every detail is woven together so that the outcome will be beautiful. Sorrows, heartaches, and failures play just as important part in our lives as do the times when we achieve great accomplishments. Set your goals and live by faith in God. Trust Him to guide you as you dream of good things for the future. Be sure each goal you set is something He would approve. Prayer is a vital part of goal-setting. When you pray, ask the Lord to make you sensitive to His desires for your future. If you find yourself doing something that is not in keeping with His plan for your life, abandon it immediately. Be encouraged! God will never leave you without direction and hope. Seek Him and He will guide you. Remember, some goals take a long time to achieve. But the Captain of your soul is a God of love, who has wonderful blessings in store for you!
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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.”