Charles Stanley, RIP

Back in my university days I enjoyed visiting my brother in Atlanta.  He'd always take to me his church, First Baptist Atlanta, pastored by Dr. Charles Stanley.  When you were sitting in Dr. Stanley's church, listening to him, you could easily be spellbound.  And I was.  So was my brother.  And when my parents rolled up in Atlanta, they attended services at First Baptist.  They, too, were drawn to him, and his message.  Back home, my grandmother would watch him on TV.   She did for many years.  She'd also get a laugh out of his obvious hairpiece, but no doubt she loved him.  Stanley was a force.  Like many of the great evangelicals (and any spiritual guide or leader in any field), he was deeply passionate, a great speaker and had a special charisma.  When you're that devoted to something, wow.  From my perpective, considering the environment in which I was raised, Charles Stanley was a very compelling figure.  One aspect of his ministry that caught my eye was the choir behind him.  There were some African-Americans it.  Surprised me.  It was not that way in my home church - probably still isn't.  Charles Stanley was at least embracing a more accepting and loving approach, which I felt was more like Jesus would be.  Several years later, when the church moved to its new Dunwoody location, there were a quite a number of African-American members.  I remember, specifically in 1999, staying with my brother for a couple of months in Atlanta and going to First Baptist Atlanta.  In fact, I volunteered in the church library, shelving books.  On Sundays, I would attend the young adults Sunday School class.  Coming from Headland, I couldn't believe the number of people there.  I had been feeling a bit down, and just being in that environment rejuvenated me.  I got back on my feet, and pretty quickly.  So recently, hearing he died, it made me reflect a bit on Dr. Stanley, and those years.  And, yeah, I recall first learning when he and his wife had separated and how estranged his relationhip had become with his son, Andy.  It disillusioned me, as it should.  Reminded me of all the hypocrisy in religion.  As influential as Stanley was, he was still all too human, had an ego and, I'm sure, enjoyed the power of his position.  Doesn't mean he didn’t eventually turn it all around.  In the late '90s, I started thinking about him less and less.  And as the years have gone by, I do roll my eyes at some of his teachings that just haven't held up so well 25 years later.  But that's okay.  We're all works in progress.

I have more memories of First Baptist Atlanta that I will add to this blog post in the future.

I had these.

I will add the source of this photo later.  This is an example of a series of sermons you could buy.