In Touch Ministries · 1932–2023
The official Charles Stanley devotional is published at:
https://www.intouch.org/read/magazineCharles F. Stanley (1932-2023) was a Southern Baptist pastor and the founder of In Touch Ministries, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. He served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 50 years (1971-2020), growing it into one of the largest Southern Baptist congregations in the United States. He was twice elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention (1984-1986). His broadcast ministry — In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley — was carried on television, radio, and online in over 100 countries, with daily teaching translated into more than a dozen languages. The In Touch monthly magazine, with daily devotional readings, has reached millions of readers since its launch in 1977. Stanley's teaching style was grounded in expositional preaching from a conservative evangelical perspective, with emphasis on personal application, the believer's relationship with God, and practical steps for Christian living. His devotionals are particularly known for clear, direct application of Scripture to daily situations. Recurring themes include God's sovereignty in suffering, the believer's identity in Christ, principles for life decisions, and the assurance of salvation. Stanley died on April 18, 2023, at age 90. In Touch Ministries continues under new leadership.
Direct, application-focused, expositional teaching from a conservative Southern Baptist perspective. Each devotional typically opens with a Scripture passage, provides 200-400 words of practical commentary, and ends with a clear application or call to action. Style emphasizes the personal relationship with God and the practical outworking of theological truth in daily decisions.
Passages Charles Stanley returns to most often, with their typical theme:
“Our intimacy with God — His highest priority for our lives — determines the impact of our lives.”
“God will move heaven and earth to keep His promises to those who trust Him.”
“You will never enjoy true peace until you are free from the bondage of believing lies.”
The Charles Stanley devotional is published by In Touch Ministries at intouch.org/read/magazine. The In Touch monthly magazine is delivered free to anyone who requests it; the daily readings are also available through the In Touch app and at intouch.org. After Charles Stanley's death in 2023, In Touch Ministries has continued publishing daily devotionals drawn from his decades of sermons and writings.
Charles F. Stanley (1932-2023) was the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 50 years and the founder of In Touch Ministries, a global media ministry. He served twice as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. His daily teaching reached over 100 countries through broadcast, radio, and the In Touch monthly magazine. He died on April 18, 2023, at age 90.
Yes — In Touch Ministries continues to publish the daily devotional after Charles Stanley's death in 2023, drawing from his decades of sermons, writings, and teaching. The In Touch magazine is published monthly with daily readings; the official broadcast continues with archived teachings and new content from In Touch.
Charles Stanley most commonly quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) in his teaching, though he also used the New King James Version (NKJV) and other modern translations. The In Touch magazine devotionals typically quote NASB for the daily Scripture passages.