On September 25, 1932 (91 years ago), Stanley was born in Dry Fork, an unincorporated community of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States, North America.His father, also named Charles, died nine months later. Stanley's mother, Rebecca, and the rest of the family moved frequently throughout his childhood.

At the age of 12, around 1944, Stanley became a born-again Christian, and at age 14 he began his life's work in Christian ministry.

Stanley graduated in 1956, at the age of 23, from the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then studied at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, earning a Master of Divinity.[5] He also earned a Master of Theology and a Doctorate of Theology degree from Luther Rice Seminary (then located in Jacksonville, Florida).

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