Senior pastor Charles Stanley died on 18 April 2023 in his Atlanta house at age 90. Was the pastor suffering from any illness or health issues before his death?
Dr. Charles Stanley was a prominent Baptist pastor and writer of American nationality. He served First Baptist Church in his hometown as a senior pastor until 2020.
Stanley reportedly served as a senior pastor in the church for five decades. The Atlanta native founded In Touch Ministries, a Christian evangelical organization. The organization shared his sermons via radio and television.
Following the prominent pastor’s death, people have been asking if he had any health issues before his death. Let’s explore more in regard below.
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Charles Stanley Illness And Health: Was American Pastor Sick Before Death?
It is unclear if Dr. Charles Stanley was sick before his death. At least there have been no reports on the pastor’s illness.
In addition, his family also informed the public that Charles died peacefully at his house. Thus, we assume that the late pastor had no serious health issues.
Born on 25 September 1932, Charles Frazier Stanley was a native of Dry Fork, Virginia. When Stanley was just 9 months old, his father passed away. His mother alone raised him. They relocated to several places throughout his childhood.
He became born Christian again at 12 years old. By the age of 14, Charles Stanley started working in Christian ministry.
Stanley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. Then he received his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas.
Dr. Stanley completed doctoral and master’s degrees in theology from Luther Rice Seminary, formerly in Florida (now in Lithonia, Georgia).
Stanley was a pastor of Fruitland Baptist in Hendersonville, North Carolina, from 1957 to 1959.
In 1959 he joined the First Baptist of Fairborn, Ohio and worked until 1962. Then, worked for First Baptist of Miami, Florida, from 1962 to 1968.
Similarly, Dr. Stanley served at First Baptist of Bartow in 1968. Finally, on 1 October 1969, Stanley was appointed assistant pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta.
Stanley began his five decades-long tenure as head pastor of First Baptist Atlanta in 1971. The following year, he began his broadcast ministry with a 30-minute program called “The Chapel Hour,” aired on Atlanta-area TV stations, including WANX, WXIA, and WANF.
The show “The Chapel Hour” name was changed to “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley” in 1978 and was broadcasted all over the country.
After 50 years as senior pastor, Stanley stepped down as preacher emeritus of First Baptist Atlanta in September 2020.
Charles Stanley Was A Proud Father Of Two
Dr. Charles Stanley was a doting dad to his children, Becky Stanley and Andy Stanley.
The late pastor’s son, Andy, is following in his footsteps and is the pastor of North Point Community Church in Georgia. Stanley often mentioned his daughter in his sermons.
Stanley was married to his wife, Anna J. Stanley, for over four decades before parting ways in the early 1990s. A judge signed the final divorce decree in May 2000.
Anna was the mother of Charles’ kids, Andy and Becky Stanley.
Stanley’s divorce caused a small controversy in the Southern Baptist Convention. Reports suggested that Charles would resign as a pastor if he got divorced.
Stanley was permitted to continue serving as pastor as long as he didn’t get remarried, according to the regulations of First Baptist Atlanta.
Charles Stanley’s ex-wife, Anna J. Stanley, died on 10 November 2014.
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