Dr. Stanley's mission is to lead people globally to connect with Jesus Christ while strengthening their local church. He is renowned for his thorough knowledge of the Bible, keen awareness and care for people, and his ability to share biblical truth through his pragmatic teachings applicable to daily life.

Background

Charles Frazier Stanley was born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. When Stanley was only nine months old, he lost his father and was raised by his mother, Rebecca Stanley. He grew up in the rural part of Dry Fork County, on the fringes of Danville, Virginia. Both Stanley's mother and his religious grandmother instilled in him the desire to obey and trust God's word from a very early age. He became a respectful student of the Bible and devoted himself to the teachings of Christ when he was twelve years old. Two years later, he heeded a call to follow God full-time in a Christian ministry at the age of fourteen. Stanley attended the University of Richmond, Virginia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He also obtained a Master of Divinity degree from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas, as well as a Master of Theology and Doctor of Theology degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Georgia.

When Stanley became interested in spreading the word of God at a young age, a particular book left an impression on him. That book was titled "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. Stanley said of the book, "I applied the principles written in the book and discovered that they work." He went on to say how the book inspired him because it made him realize that the truths about God are not centralized in a particular field or career.

Relationships

Dr. Charles Stanley married Anna Johnson in 1958 and they had two children, Andy, and Becky Stanley. The couple was married for 44 years until Anna filed for divorce on June 22, 1993. Stanley had had several relationships outside of his marriage, and the couple had separated and returned several times in the year leading up to the divorce. They attempted to reconcile but eventually filed for divorce again on March 20, 1995. The Moody Radio Network then stopped Stanley's daily broadcast due to his marriage troubles. The station manager said he did not think the two could ever get back together.

Despite being legally separated, Stanley and Anna remained married until 2000, when they filed the final divorce papers on February 16. On May 11, the divorce decree was made official by a judge. Anna Johnson Stanley died on November 10, 2011. At the time of the divorce, Stanley's son and other prominent ministers advised him to step down and take some time off to focus on personal repentance and healing. Stanley, however, chose to remain the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, with the support of the majority of the church.

Career

Stanley's devotion to his education bore fruit, and he went on to become the President of In Touch Ministries and the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in northern Atlanta, Georgia. Stanley's ministry took off in 1969 when he joined the church staff at First Baptist Church of Atlanta, and two years later he became a senior pastor. In 1972, Stanley expanded his ministry with a religious television program called "The Chapel Hour," which ran until 1982, when he created In Touch Ministries with its radio broadcast. By the mid-'80s, the show was on major American media and aired every Sunday. His program "In Touch" was translated into 107 languages and aired on 300 television stations, 500 radio stations, and several satellite networks in the United States. The show dealt with various issues ranging from emotional problems, finance, personal crisis, parenting, and relationships.