Serving you as your assistant, Dr. Stanley, and serving this church as its associate pastor for these 8 and a half years has truly been the honor of a lifetime. It will be your legacy, sir, that is my standard. The standard that will inspire me to always do my best with God’s help for as long as God gives me to serve here…I can say with absolute confidence that there has never been a church anywhere, at any time in history, that loves its pastor more than First Baptist Atlanta loves Charles Stanley. We will forever love you and be indebted to you for your faithful service across 51 years.
Stanley moved from Florida to take an associate pastor position at First Baptist Atlanta in 1969. Two years later, Stanley took over as senior pastor of the church. In addition to serving the church, Stanley also held the position of President of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1984 and 1985.
On Sunday, he told the congregation that he was grateful that he and his wife, Anna, got to raise their two children, Pastor Andy Stanley of North Point Church in Alpharetta, Georgia and Becky Stanley Broderson, of Dallas, Texas, in the church. Anna Stanley passed away in 2014.
“My hope is that the greatest days are still ahead,” Stanley said in conclusion.
