Georgia’s largest church Pastor Andy Stanley revealed the last words his late father, Pastor Charles Stanley, spoke to him before his death this week.
Stanley, the pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, recalled what happened between himself and his dad in the weeks preceding his death.
These last few weeks with his father have been priceless beyond words. He asked him to pray for him at the end of every visit, Stanley posted on Twitter on Wednesday. Of course he did. On his knees near the large leather chair in which he had been imprisoned for many months.
However, when he was leaving his home the other night, he asked if he might pray for him. As though he were aware. Then, as he always did, he said, ‘I couldn’t be prouder of you, Andy. The source of a word determines its significance. Those were some powerful remarks, and his parting words to me.
He’ll miss him every day until he sees him again, Stanley said at the end.
These final few weeks with my dad have been precious beyond words. At the end of every visit, he asked me to pray for him. Which of course I did. On my knees beside the big leather chair he was confined to for the past several months.
— Andy Stanley (@AndyStanley) April 19, 2023
But as I was leaving his house this past… pic.twitter.com/2gQWeHgtFW
Dr. Charles Stanley, a famous Baptist preacher, author, and founder of InTouch Ministries, died on Tuesday at the age of 90 at his home. During the 1980s, he served as the past president of the Southern Baptist Convention on two one-year teams. He also served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta from 1971 until 2020, when he stepped down and became pastor emeritus until his death.
Dr. Stanley lived an obedient life, dedicated to teaching others how to have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Now he is experiencing the delight of his soul—meeting his Savior face-to-face, In Touch stated in a statement after his death.
Andy and Charles Stanley had a falling out when the latter started his missionary activity. Both father and son would not reconcile until years later, as reported in 2012.
Andy’s mom, Anna Stanley, filed for divorce from Charles in 1993. The divorce was finalized in the year 2000.
