Charles Stanley, the founder of In Touch Ministries and the former senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, died on April 18, 2023, at the age of 90. His death was announced by his ministry, which said that he “lived a life of obedience and is now receiving the joy of his soul-seeing his Savior face-to-face”. But what was the cause of death of Charles Stanley? How did he pass away? And what did he leave behind as his legacy?
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The cause of death of Charles Stanley
The official cause of death of Charles Stanley has not been revealed yet. However, some sources have speculated that he died of natural causes, as there were no reports of him suffering from any illness. According to MSN, he died peacefully at his home. His family said that he was surrounded by his loved ones and that they were grateful for the prayers and support they received.
The life and ministry of Charles Stanley
Charles Stanley was born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Virginia. His father, who had the same name, died nine months later. Stanley’s family moved frequently throughout his childhood. He became a born-again Christian at the age of 12 and began his ministry at the age of 14.
He studied at the University of Richmond and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then studied at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and earned a Master of Divinity degree. He also earned a Master of Theology and a Doctorate of Theology degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida.
He joined the staff of First Baptist Church of Atlanta in 1969 and became the senior pastor in 1971. He served in that role for 49 years until he retired in 2020. He founded In Touch Ministries in 1977 with the mission to lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church. His sermons were broadcasted through television, radio, and digital media in more than 50 languages. He also wrote over 50 books on various topics such as faith, prayer, parenting, and leadership.
He was also a prominent figure in the Southern Baptist Convention, serving as its president from 1984 to 1986. He was one of the founding members of the Moral Majority and the Christian Coalition, two conservative political organizations that advocated for Christian values in public life.
The legacy of Charles Stanley
Charles Stanley was widely respected and admired by millions of Christians around the world for his biblical teaching and pastoral care. He influenced many other pastors and leaders, including his son Andy Stanley, who is also a pastor and the founder of North Point Ministries. He received many awards and honors for his service to God and humanity, such as the Religious Heritage Award from Religious Heritage America in 1988 and the Gideon Award from Gideons International in 1999.
He was also known for his personal integrity and humility. He endured many challenges and hardships in his life, such as the divorce from his wife Anna in 2000 after 45 years of marriage and the death of his daughter Becky in 2012 due to cancer. He always trusted God’s sovereignty and grace in every situation and encouraged others to do the same.
He once said, “God’s plan for your life is not contingent on your circumstances or your failures or your successes or your popularity or anything else. It is based on His love for you.” He lived by this principle until his last breath.
He is survived by his son Andy, six grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends. His funeral service will be a private affair for close family and friends only. However, anyone can visit the church and pay their respects to him on April 29, 2023, Saturday, between the hours of 10 am to 4 pm.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him. He will be remembered as a faithful servant of God who touched many lives with his message of hope and love.
