[citation needed] Stanley was born on September 25, 1932 in Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in the midst of the Great Depression.

[6][7] His paternal grandfather was Reverend George Washington Stanley (November 12, 1875 – May 17, 1965), who was originally from Chatham County, North Carolina.

In 1977, he founded In Touch Ministries with the mission to lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church.

[16] Stanley's writings and broadcasts address issues such as finances, parenting, personal crises, emotional matters, relationships, and Protestantism.

The In Touch website said, "Dr. Stanley fervently believes the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God, a belief strongly reflected in his teaching.

[12] In 2017, Stanley named Anthony George to succeed him as senior pastor of First Baptist Church at some point in the future.

[22][23] He credited his pentecostal grandfather, George Washington Stanley, with inspiring one of the most referenced principles of the thirty: “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.

'"[25] Stanley also addressed his influences and philosophy when he wrote in 2009 that he "began to apply the principles of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich to my endeavors as a pastor, and I discovered they worked!...

The Moody Radio Network station in Atlanta (then-WAFS) took Stanley's daily broadcast off the air during the time, as managers concluded that there was no sign of reconciliation.

[34] A close friend of Moral Majority founder Jerry Falwell, Stanley served on the organization's board.