Guest blog by Andrew Lindsey
Dr. Vines announced that he asked Dr. Stanley to share how he has proclaimed the gospel throughout the world through In Touch Ministries.
“I’m just called to do one thing, and that’s to preach the gospel as far and as wide as God lets me.”
The church has one mission. Great Commission texts quoted from the gospels and Acts.
In many preaching magazines the emphasis is “making great leaders” rather than prayer and the Holy Spirit.
It is our job to preach the gospel, and God will grow the church as He wishes.
[Dr. Stanley related his personal testimony of being saved as a young child.]
“The message that the world is looking for is a message of assurance that our God is a God of love.”
Example of a letter from a woman in Iran who sent a letter requesting information about our God in love, rather than her God who terrified her.
The world needs Jesus.
We have a war coming a worldwide enemy in Islam, there are 80 thousand Muslims in Atlanta alone, and they hate the message that salvation is in Jesus alone.
The world is listening and the world is watching ministries in America.
[Dr. Stanley spoke of a time when God spoke to his spirit through the text of the Great Commission, which led him to a vision of taking the gospel to the world using means such as short-wave radio.]
[Dr. Stanley related the history of In Touch Ministries. This story was fascinating, but the narrative did not lend itself to taking many notes. The In Touch story can be found HERE.]
A few things that were said:
“There’s no way to lose obeying God… whatever God tells you to do, just do it, and then trust Him.”
“Today, as of yesterday’s figures, one billion four hundred million people” around the world can watch In Touch on television. “God did that.” Dr. Stanley related several remarkable ways that God gave access and funding for In Touch to be broadcast around the world.
“I’m always looking for another way to get the gospel to somebody.”
This is the first generation that has the capacity to reach everybody on the face of this earth with the gospel.
“All these theological things we’ve heard of are a vital part of our belief system and God equips us with these things not to keep, but to share.”
God wants us “with a sense of righteous inadequacy” so He can do through us things we never dreamed of.
“One of my favorite phrases is ‘obey God, watch Him work,’ because He’s going to.”
“God doesn’t give us beliefs to be happy with, he gives us beliefs to serve Him.”
Comments (8) »
1. John Meche
November 7, 2008
4:32 PM
I may not agree with a lot of men at this conference, but I look up to most of them and Dr Stanley is definitely one I look up to. I pray that God would extend his gospel sharing and the years he has to do so.
2. donsands
November 7, 2008
9:58 PM
Didn’t Charles Stanley say he would step down out of the pulpit if he ever divorced his wife? I thought he made that very clear. His son Andy left because of the turmoil.
I wrote to Charles’ church many years ago, and his elders sent me a letter, stating that he and his wife were having struggles. But they wouldn’t say much, which is right.
I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, but there seems to be some monkey business here.
I hope I’m wrong.
3. M Burke
November 7, 2008
11:15 PM
You look UP to Stanley? The guy who divorced his wife, remained in the pulpit, and advocates once-saved-always-saved tripe?
4. Susanna Rose
November 8, 2008
1:53 PM
“You look UP to Stanley? The guy who divorced his wife, remained in the pulpit, and advocates once-saved-always-saved tripe?”
As one who sat under Stanley’s preaching for 2 + years while living in Atlanta, I can say that though I found his preaching eventually was not meaty enough for me…it was more appropriate for new Christians…I do think he is sincere and though he did not back down after the divorce from his wife (for reasons no one can know fully), it is obvious God uses his ministry so what can be said?
Also, as for once saved, always saved? I don’t think that is tripe…it is the truth of the gospel that by God’s grace, we can not lose our salvation after becoming Christians. If it were not this way, we would ALL be eternally doomed!
5. John Meche
November 8, 2008
10:49 PM
He had a divorce? Wow. That’s heart-breaking. I did not know that. I have heard a lot of his preaching and I have read one of his books, which really helped me get out of a charismatic phase that I had been in while I was a teen. As for his preaching being for new believers, I agree. It’s very easy for someone who is not familiar with biblical language to understand.
6. chuck p
November 8, 2008
10:52 PM
I knew someone who worked for In Touch Ministries and there is a lot more to the story than most people know (which usually is the case). I may disagree with him on some issues, but having lived in Atlanta and been to his church he has a far reaching ministry and concern for the lost that many pastors don’t have. Also he was one of the main leaders that turned the SBC around and he took A LOT OF ABUSE for it. He helped turn the SBC and it semanaries from liberalism. God bless him for that.
7. Sylvia Zeller
November 10, 2008
6:00 PM
I appreciate Charles Stanley. I read his In Touch Magazines and share them in devotional time with my husband. I then clip them out the devotional daily reading. I travel a lot, I leave a message or two from In Touch with a gospel track in the hotel room. It is one way of trying to witness and bless someone with the gospel.. May God keep him on TV reaching the lost. SZ from MN.
8. Timothy
November 15, 2008
2:31 PM
>”It is our job to preach the gospel, and God will grow the church as He wishes.”
Interesting statement, considering recent statistics on adherents. God seems to be growing His church Catholic, Orthodox and/or Mormon; not Episcopalian, Methodist, or Southern Baptist.
http://christian-apologetics-society.blogspot.com/search/label/Statistics
God bless… +Timothy