Stanley obtained his bachelor's degree from the private liberal arts school, the University of Richmond in [[Richmond]], the capital of Virginia. He then obtained a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]]. The private theologically [[conservative]] Luther Rice College and Seminary awarded Stanley both Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry. The private institution was founded in 1962 in [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], [[Florida]], and was relocated in 1991 to Lithonia in DeKalb County in suburban Atlanta.<ref>Charles Stanley Bio, Age, Family, Education, Career, Management, Worth (hustleinboots.com), accessed August 2, 2021.</ref>
Stanley married the former Anna Margaret Johnson (1931-2014), a native of North Carolina, who accompanied her husband in Christian activities in North Carolina, [[Ohio]], and [[Florida]], until he accepted the Atlanta pastorate in 1969. The couple separated in 1994, and their divorce was finalized in 2000. They had two children, Rebecca "Becky" Stanley Brodersen (born 1961) of [[Dallas]], [[Texas]] , and the Reverend Charles Andrew "Andy" Stanley of the North Point Community Church in Alpharetta in northern Fulton County, Georgia.She was cremated.<ref>Anna Margaret Johnson Stanley (1931-2014) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessed August 2, 2021.</ref> According to First Baptist Atlanta's bylaws, Stanley was allowed to continue his pastorate so long as he did not remarry.
==Christian ministry==