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Tributes To Dr Charles Stanley

by | Wed, Apr 19 2023

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Christians around the world are mourning the passing of popular Evangelical broadcaster, preacher, author and founder of In Touch Ministries Charles Stanley at the age of 90 after 65 years of ministry.

In Touch Ministries remembered him as someone who “lived a faithful life of obedience, dedicated to teaching others on how to have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Now he is receiving the joy of his soul — seeing his Saviour face-to-face.”

He was born in rural Virginia and decided to pursue a spiritual life following the loss of his father at an early age and the influence of his devout Christian grandfather.

Charles Stanley earned several degrees including a Doctor of Theology at Luther Rice Seminary.

In 1969, he joined the staff at First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and soon became a senior pastor, a position he held until his retirement in September 2020.

In 1972, he began an Atlanta television program called The Chapel Hour which later became In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley.

CBN News reports his ministry as claiming the In Touch program is now broadcast on more than 4,000 television, radio, and satellite networks and stations worldwide, with his sermons being translated into 127 heart languages.

His program has always been popular with Vision Radio listeners.

Vision Media CEO Phil Edwards told the 20Twenty program: “He’s actually been on as long as Vision has been on. He was one of the foundational teachers that we had on and still is on Vision today. And also, if you have the Vision app, you can listen to his teaching. That’s the legacy that he leaves. We still get to enjoy this wonderful teaching. The Word of God is timeless. And I think when you have someone who sticks to it, then it’s really only the style and the presentation that dates. The content itself is as relevant today as the day those words were spoken. And that’s a principle that he’s lived by.”

During the 1980s, Dr. Stanley served two one-year terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.

He was part of the SBC’s Conservative Resurgence, a movement that led to a rejection of the progressive theological trends that dominated other Protestant churches in the United States.

He once said: “I have one goal: Get the truth of the Gospel to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, as simply as possible, in the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God.”

Dr. Stanley sold more than 10 million copies of more than 70 books. His devotional works, including A Man’s TouchHandle With PrayerInto His PresenceWaiting on God: Strength for Today and Hope for TomorrowPrayer: The Ultimate Conversation, and When the Enemy Strikes: The Keys to Winning Your Spiritual Battles.

CBN founder Pat Robertson called Charles Stanley: “A great man of God, a wonderful Bible teacher, and his influence reached all around the world. To those of us who know Jesus, we don’t mourn the fact that one of his saints comes home, although at the same time, that doesn’t take the sorrow from our hearts.”

Johnnie Moore, president of the Congress of Christian Leaders, told how his grandmother always had Charles Stanley on her television, observing that: “Like millions of others, I think she watched every single one of his sermons, twice.”

President and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Troy A. Miller said: “Dr. Stanley leaves behind a lasting legacy as a torch-bearer and trailblazer of Gospel ministry and Christian broadcasting.”

Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California acknowledged that: “I like so many others was blessed by hearing his messages on the radio and TV and he was a trusted voice we have all been encouraged by. ”

Focus On The Family founder Dr. James Dobson spoke for many in his tribute: “Charles Stanley was a lion of the faith. An effective evangelist and teacher of the Bible, Stanley had a straightforward take on how to live the Christian life – trust Scripture and obey God. That simple mantra undergirds his legacy and no doubt is reflected in the faith of countless Christians who have been impacted by his ministry.”

To listen to the full interview with Phil Edwards on Charles Stanley, click the link below:

Photo: Facebook – In Touch Ministries