Dr. Charles F. Stanley
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Dr. Charles F. Stanley, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta and founder of In Touch Ministries, demonstrates a keen awareness of people’s needs by providing practical biblical truths for everyday life. Modeling his ministry after the apostle Paul’s message to the Ephesians, Dr. Stanley believes that:
" . . . Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love" (Acts 20:24 LB).
Dr. Stanley’s earliest childhood memories are of God’s support during the difficult circumstances following the death of his father. Through the counsel and example of his godly mother and grandfather, he learned to trust and obey God’s Word. At the age of fourteen, Dr. Stanley received a clear call to the ministry, which later led him to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, and a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He then earned the degrees of Master of Theology and Doctor of Theology from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta. Always practical, Dr. Stanley often says, "I feel I cannot honestly tell you how to believe Bible truths, and put these truths to work in your life, until I have first let God work them into my own life."
In 1971, Dr. Stanley became Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia. In 1972, a half-hour program was launched on an Atlanta-area television station. Looking for a practical Bible teaching program, the Christian Broadcasting Network contacted Dr. Stanley in 1978 to request the program inclusion on its new venture, a satellite distribution network to cable systems. At no cost to First Baptist Church, the broadcast grew from 16,000 local Atlanta viewers to a nationwide audience in one week. By 1982, In Touch Ministries was incorporated and began radio syndication. The IN TOUCH program penetrated almost every major market in the United States during the 1980’s, reaching more than one million households with the message of Christ’s sufficiency for life’s demands.
Today, the IN TOUCH program can be heard in every nation on earth via radio, short wave, or television broadcasts. In the United States, the IN TOUCH television program is seen on 204 stations and 7 satellite networks. The IN TOUCH radio program is heard on 458 stations and via short wave radio. The ministry continues to produce audio- and videotapes, pamphlets, books, and an award winning daily devotional magazine, In Touch.
Dr. Stanley’s messages tackle such issues as parenting, finances, personal crises, emotions, and relationships. Instructional teaching for personal spiritual growth focuses on prayer, the character of God, fellowship through the Holy Spirit, and the Person of Jesus Christ. Dr. Stanley fervently believes the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God, a belief strongly reflected in his teaching.
Notable organizations and publishers have honored Dr. Stanley. In 1988, he was inducted into the National Religious Broadcaster’s (NRB) Hall of Fame for the consistent excellence of his broadcast and leadership in the realm of Christian television and radio. Religious Heritage of America named him Clergyman of the Year in 1989, an award that recognizes pastors who strive to make Judeo-Christian principles part of America’s daily life. In 1993, the NRB honored IN TOUCH with the Television Producer of the Year award; and in 1999, with the Radio Program of the Year award. Just this year, Thomas Nelson Publishing recognized Dr. Stanley for selling more than 3.5 million copies of his books. Dr. Stanley has also served two terms as President of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Dr. Stanley has authored more than 45 books, including several best sellers. Some of his titles include A Man's Touch, Handle With Prayer, How To Listen To God, Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure, The Gift of Forgiveness, How to Keep Your Kids On Your Team, The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life, The Source of My Strength, How To Handle Adversity, The Blessing of Brokenness, Success God's Way, Handbook for Christian Living, Into His Presence, and his latest release, When Tragedy Strikes.
A common theme found in In Touch's voluminous listener correspondence is how God has changed lives through Dr. Stanley’s teaching. Any success achieved by In Touch or Dr. Stanley is directly attributed to the hand of God. Dr. Stanley says, "It is the Word of God and the work of God that changes people’s lives."
The goal of Dr. Charles Stanley is best represented in In Touch's mission statement: To lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church. Dr. Stanley’s heart’s desire is to get the Gospel to "as many people as possible, as clearly as possible, as irresistibly as possible, and as quickly as possible–all to God’s glory."
Take Advantage of Your Student ID
Many students forget that their student ID is a gold mine for savings. In many towns, students get discounts at the movies, stores, museums, play houses, bars and even restaurants. So take advantage of your student ID and take it everywhere you go!
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Read, Read, and then, Read Some More!
Read any assignments provided, and most importantly, read that syllabus! It´s given out for a purpose. If you have time to read leisurely, do so! Just the familiarity with texts will help improve your grammar, spelling, and communication skills.
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Be Careful of Plagiarism
Stay alert in your writing and do not plagiarize. Sometimes you may read something and then unintentionally include it almost verbatim in a written report. These kinds of things happen, but try to prevent this by always citing your sources. Your professor will usually tell you which citation style to use. Professors know the tricks, and should you be reported, you can kiss your college career goodbye.
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When to Apply
Unsure about when to start applying? Use a college planning calendar, checklist and timetable. Meeting deadlines is crucial, so plan ahead and allow plenty of time to choose the college that is right for you.
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Don´t Be Afraid to Drop a Class
Knowing your limits involves knowing whether a class or a schedule is too overwhelming for you. If the class you are in is required, then try it again with a different professor. Different teaching styles work with different students. Don´t overuse this option, but know that it is there for you. Remember to check with your advisor and/or financial aid department before you drop a class to make sure you are still within your scholarship or student loan requirements.
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Text Books
Be sure to purchase your text books used. Shop early to find the best selection. Also look into seeing if there are any off campus bookstores, they sometimes provide books at a lower cost. If you are lucky, your scholarship or loan will pick up the cost of books. However, even if your books are paid for, you should still try to find the lowest price so that you can keep the left over money. At the end of the semester...sell it back to the bookstore.
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Research the Professor
Research the professor as well as the course. Many universities have a lot of flexibility when it comes to electives or when you can take a course. Take the time to find out who is teaching the course before you take it. Ask friends who know the professor and also go to the student union office where they can often give you the information you need. If you are already enrolled in a class with a professor who has a bad reputation, consider dropping the class and retaking it when it is taught by a professor whom you will enjoy.
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Finding Scholarships
You can look for scholarships in your high school guidance office, college financial aid offices, at the library, or online. Good online scholarship search services to try are Scholarship Experts, WiredScholar, CollegeXpress, and Financial Aid Officer. These services have the most accurate and updated scholarship information.
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Apply Again and Again
Didn´t get that scholarship you applied for? Keep trying. Apply for as many as you possibly can, every month, every semester until you graduate. The more you apply, the better your chances of getting a scholarship.
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Campus Visits
- Take advantage of the campus tours. It is crucial that you visit the campus before you make a final decision.
- Be sure to take a campus tour while school is in session; avoid visits during breaks or final exam weeks.
- Schedule a campus tour appointment and an interview appointment (if applicable).
- Contact the school to arrange a host for an overnight stay or make hotel arrangements (many local hotels will give you a discount if you are visiting a campus).
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High School Preparation- Volunteering
Yes, volunteering is important! Not only will you be contributing to your community, you will increase your marketability to colleges. You can also become eligible for far more scholarships when you volunteer your time and talent.
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Student Unions
Take advantage of student resources that may be available at the university or college that you are attending. In addition to a general student union office, faculties may have their own student union office where you can get information on course content, past exams, or even tutors to help you with current classes. There is no charge for the information and the information can be extremely invaluable. Plus, you may be able to take advantage of scholarship opportunities as a student union member.
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Stepping into a Career
When looking for jobs after college graduation, focus on your studies. Hopefully you considered your future career when you chose your courses.
Your college activities should support your post-graduate plans. You should have a major in your career field, but you can minor in an unrelated area.
Get involved with campus organizations connected with your career choice, also. Many majors have clubs that you may want to join.
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Finding the Right School
Confused about which college or university to attend? Remember you are purchasing an education...research and shop around before making your decision. Also find out what scholarships or financial aid the schools will offer you. Be sure this is the right school for you.
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Online Education Courses
There are many courses available to students online. They vary from vocational courses to obtaining your masters. To find out more about the courses and subjects available, do some online research and see what you come up with.
