Public repose underway for late Atlanta Baptist pastor Dr. Charles Stanley

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A public repose is underway for late Baptist pastor Dr. Charles Stanley.

The repose is scheduled until 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church Atlanta where he pastored.

Dr. Charles Stanley, the prominent senior pastor at First Baptist Church Atlanta and the founder of In Touch Ministries has died.

According to his family, Stanley passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday morning at the age of 90. He served as senior pastor of First Baptist in Atlanta for over 51 years.

Atlanta pastor and son of the late Dr. Stanley said during the final moments with his father, he asked if he could pray for him followed by “I couldn’t be prouder of you Andy.”

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens previously released the following statement sending his condolences to the Stanley family:

“I am saddened to hear of the passing of one of Atlanta’s most influential faith leaders, Dr. Charles Stanley, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church. Dr. Stanley was known for his ability to make the scripture accessible to believers and would-be believers, alike. With Atlanta as his base, he created a global broadcast ministry that eventually reached people in 150 countries. Today I join Atlanta and those he reached around the world in offering prayers of condolence to the entire Stanley family as well as the In Touch Ministries family.”

Dozens of visitors lined up to pay their respects at First Baptist Atlanta on Saturday, including Rick and Lynne Gage, who say they have a personal connection to the Stanley family. Gage said his father was friends with Stanley.

“My dad Dr. Freddie Gage who is in Heaven right now with Dr. Stanley, would say that Dr. Stanley was one of the greatest leaders that God ever produced,” said Gage.

Jaranne Brown was shocked and heartbroken to hear of Stanley’s death. She said she felt it was her duty to say a final goodbye.

“He always had inspiring words when you feel that you’re just down and out, and you don’t want to move forward, he always gives positive words to think about,” said Brown.

Dr. Stanley was born Sept. 25, 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, in Dry Fork, Virginia. He was raised by a single mother after his father died when Stanley was only nine months old.

After receiving a call to ministry at the age of 14, Stanley earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, and a Bachelor of Divinity at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He later went on to earn the distinctions of Master and Doctor of Theology from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta.

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