The succession plan is to “ensure a seamless transition in leadership whenever God ordains that to occur.”

Charles Stanley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta for over 40 years now, and the founder and president of InTouch Ministries announced his successor at church this week, but he made it quite clear that he has no intention of retiring anytime soon, despite being 85.

“God said you keep doing what I called you to until I tell you to do something else,” Stanley told CNN. “I got that straight from the Lord… I was simply obeying God.”

Stanley named his associate pastor of five years, Dr. Anthony George, as his successor. The succession plan, according to Stanley, is to “ensure a seamless transition in leadership whenever God ordains that to occur.”

Shane Baker, director of executive communications at First Baptist Church Atlanta, comments that if Stanley is still healthy at the age of 95, he will still be the church’s senior pastor. The popular opinion of the leadership is that he is still an effective leader, despite what critics may say.

Baker explains, “Dr. Stanley does not believe in retirement, he will tell you that retirement is not in the Bible and he has no aspirations to retire.”

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