Charles Frazier Stanley Jr. (September 25, 1932 – April 18, 2023) was an American pastor and author associated with the Southern Baptist Church. He served as the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta for 49 years before becoming emeritus in 2020. He established and led In Touch Ministries, which extensively disseminates his sermons via television and radio. Additionally, he held the position of president of the Southern Baptist Convention for two one-year terms between 1984 and 1986.

Stanley was born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, during the Great Depression. His parents were Charles Frazier “Charlie” Stanley, Sr. (April 27, 1904 – June 18, 1933), and Rebecca Susan Hall (née Hardy, formerly Stanley; October 10, 1908 – November 29, 1992). His father passed away when Stanley was just nine months old. At the age of nine, his mother married John Hall, a truck driver, and they had a daughter named Susan “Susie” Hall. His paternal grandfather was Reverend George Washington Stanley (November 12, 1875 – May 17, 1965), who hailed from Chatham County, North Carolina.

In 1969, Stanley joined the staff of First Baptist Church of Atlanta and became the senior pastor in 1971.

Stanley graduated from the University of Richmond in 1956 at the age of 23 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he earned a Master of Divinity. Additionally, he obtained a Master of Theology and a Doctorate in Theology from Luther Rice Seminary, which was then based in Jacksonville, Florida.

At 12 years old, around 1944, Charles Stanley Jr. experienced a born-again conversion, and by 14, he began his journey in Christian ministry.

In 1972, Stanley started a half-hour religious TV show named The Chapel Hour. By 1977, he established In Touch Ministries with the goal of guiding individuals around the globe into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and enhancing local churches. The Christian Broadcasting Network began airing In Touch in 1978. Since then, the program has been translated into 50 languages. In the United States, In Touch can be found on about 500 radio stations, 300 television channels, and numerous satellite networks, including The Inspiration Network (INSP) and Trinity Broadcasting Network. Stanley’s sermons, along with various audio and video content, are accessible on the In Touch website. Additionally, the ministry publishes In Touch magazine. In Touch employs various media like radio, television, magazines, and digital platforms to spread the Gospel as effectively as possible. The name In Touch was inspired by a Living Bible that Stanley possessed.

Stanley’s writings and broadcasts cover topics such as finances, parenting, personal challenges, emotional issues, relationships, and Protestant beliefs. The In Touch website stated, “Dr. Stanley passionately believes that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, a conviction that is prominently evident in his teachings.” In 1985, Charles Stanley was elected as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Additionally, Stanley discussed his influences and philosophy, revealing in 2009 that

Theologically, Stanley was considered a conservative evangelical, and his eschatological views were dispensationalist. Throughout his ministry, he established “30 Life Principles” that he believed were crucial. He attributed the inspiration for one of the most quoted principles, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him,” to his Pentecostal grandfather, George Washington Stanley. In his book Courageous Faith: My Story from a Life of Obedience, Stanley recounted, “Granddad told me, ‘Charles, if God tells you to run your head through a brick wall, you head for the wall, and when you get there, God will make a hole for it.’”

In 2017, Stanley appointed Anthony George to succeed him as the senior pastor of First Baptist Church at a future date. On September 13, 2020, Stanley announced his retirement as senior pastor and his transition to pastor emeritus, although he mentioned that he would remain active with In Touch Ministries.