In Touch Ministries

==History==
In Touch Ministries began as a television and radio ministry in 1972, one year after Stanley became the senior pastor of [[First Baptist Church (Atlanta)|First Baptist Atlanta]].<ref> Nicola Menzie, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/charles-stanleys-ministry-launches-missing-persons-project-to-regain-forgotten-members.html Charles Stanley's Ministry Launches 'Missing Persons Project' to Regain 'Forgotten Members'], christianpost.com, US, April 26, 2013 </ref><ref> John Blake, [https://www.cnn.com/2012/11/17/us/andy-stanley/index.html Two preaching giants and the 'betrayal' that tore them apart], cnn.com, US, November 19, 2012 </ref> In 1977, In Touch Ministries was founded by [[Charles Stanley (pastor)|Charles Stanley]].<ref> Emily McFarlan Miller, [https://religionnews.com/2020/09/14/influential-pastor-charles-stanley-steps-down-at-first-baptist-church-atlanta-after-50-years/ Influential pastor, Charles Stanley, steps down at First Baptist Church Atlanta after 50 years], religionnews.com, US, September 14, 2020 </ref>

The series ''[[In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley]]'' began airing in 1978. <ref> Mark Ward Sr., ''The Electronic Church in the Digital Age: Cultural Impacts of Evangelical Mass Media '', ABC-CLIO, US, 2015, p. 289</ref>

Stanley, whose Sunday services are broadcast throughout the United States on the ministry's ''In Touch'' television program, was rated the third most influential pastor, behind [[Billy Graham]] and [[Charles Swindoll]], in a 2010 survey by [[LifeWay Christian Resources|LifeWay]].<ref> APNews, [https://baptistnews.com/article/billy-graham-tops-poll-of-most-influential-living-preachers-2/ Billy Graham tops poll of most influential living preachers], baptistnews.com, US, February 2, 2010 </ref> 

The ministry states "At In Touch Ministries, our mission is to lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with [[Jesus Christ]] and to strengthen the local church. We remain committed to advancing the gospel from person to person and place to place as quickly, clearly, and irresistibly as possible."<ref name="INTCH">[http://www.intouch.org InTouch.org, the homepage of In Touch Ministries; accessed September 22, 2018]</ref>