First Baptist Church (Atlanta)

{{Use American English|date = December 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = December 2019}}
{{Infobox church
| name = First Baptist Church Atlanta
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| coordinates = <!-- {{coord missing|Georgia (U.S. state)}} -->
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| location = 4400 North Peachtree Road, [[Dunwoody, Georgia]]
| country = [[United States]]
| denomination     = [[Baptist]]
| associations     = [[Southern Baptist Convention]]
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| founded date = {{start date|1848}}
| founder = David Gonto Daniell
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| division = [[Georgia Baptist Convention]]
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| seniorpastor = *Anthony George
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'''First Baptist Church of Atlanta''' is a [[Baptist]] [[megachurch]] located in [[Dunwoody, Georgia]], a northern suburb of [[Atlanta]]. It is affiliated with the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]. Originally located in Atlanta city limits, First Baptist Atlanta moved to the suburb of Dunwoody, Georgia. The senior pastor is Anthony George, succeeding [[Charles Stanley]] who pastored there for 49 years.

==History==
[[File:First Baptist Church, Atlanta, 1907.png|thumb|320x320px|The church building in 1907]]
The church was founded in 1848 in midtown [[Atlanta, Georgia]].<ref>Martin Sinderman, 
[https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2001/02/05/focus9.html First Baptist Church profits from relocating north], bizjournals.com, US, February 5, 2001</ref> 

[[Charles Stanley (pastor)|Charles Stanley]], joined the staff in 1969 and became senior pastor in 1971.<ref>Buck Lanford, [https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/dr-charles-stanley-honored-for-50-years-of-ministry Dr. Charles Stanley honored for 50 years of ministry], fox5atlanta.com, US, October 7, 2019</ref><ref>Shelia Poole, [https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/atlanta-pastor-charles-stanley-life-principles-bible-hits-million-sold-mark/fqtbXw6L3QYsVvjT9AyQhK/ Atlanta Pastor Charles Stanley’s ‘Life Principles Bible’ hits 1 million mark], ajc.com, US, December 19, 2017</ref>

In the late 20th century, a commercial facility was purchased on Atlanta's Interstate 285 and the church relocated to the larger, more accessible property in [[DeKalb County, Georgia|Dekalb County]].<ref>Martin Sinderman, [https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2001/02/05/focus9.html First Baptist Church profits from relocating north], bizjournals.com, US, February 5, 2001</ref>  In 2006, the church inaugurated a new building.<ref>Atlas Piers of Atlanta, [https://www.atlaspiers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Atlas_newsletter_spring_2006.pdf Modern Renovation of First Baptist Church of Atlanta Worship Center], atlaspiers.com, p. 5, US, Spring/2006</ref>

In 2017, Anthony George was named as Stanley's successor.<ref>Shelia Poole, [https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/who-anthony-george-the-successor-for-atlanta-megachurch-pastor-charles-stanley/kiSiogevinOlV02wVZfDoJ/ Who is Anthony George, the successor for Atlanta megachurch pastor Charles Stanley?], ajc.com, US, December 13, 2017</ref>

On September 13, 2020, Stanley announced his transition to pastor emeritus after having been senior pastor of the church since 1971. <ref> Shelia Poole, 
[https://www.ajc.com/news/charles-stanley-steps-down-as-senior-pastor-at-first-baptist/DBQEOR7WVBF2BLEH2YLBE76UYE/ Charles Stanley steps down as senior pastor at First Baptist], ajc.com, USA, September 13, 2020 </ref>

==Ministries==
First Baptist Church Atlanta began a television and radio ministry in 1972, one year after Stanley became the senior pastor.<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, USA, November 19, 2012</ref> It is now known as [[In Touch Ministries]]. Together, the teaching of Stanley and beliefs of FBA are available globally—translated into more than 100 languages via radio, television broadcast, audiotapes, videotapes, CDs, DVDs, pamphlets, books and a monthly devotional magazine, In Touch.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links==
* [http://www.fba.org/ First Baptist Atlanta Website]
* [http://www.intouch.org/ In Touch Website]

{{Megachurches}}

[[Category:Evangelical megachurches in the United States]]
[[Category:Megachurches in Georgia]]
[[Category:Baptist churches in Atlanta]]
[[Category:Southern Baptist Convention churches]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1848]]
[[Category:1848 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]