In the 70's and early 80's the Baptist Church descended into crisis. As even the Southern Religious population grew more liberal and open minded about Christianity's place in the United States the hierarchy of the Southern Baptists chose to go the other way betting on their congregations following them based on their moral authority, it worked for a short time, but the tide was too strong and as the baby boomers took the position of the older generation of the church, things fell apart. Families left the Southern Baptist church in droves, for a church whose base was founded on evangelical recruitment this was devastating.
At the time Charles Stanley was the head minister at the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He preached a firebrand of moralist based on historically Baptist dogma. The Church grew and Mr. Stanley became very powerful and wealthy writing books on how to grow rich and broadcasting his show In Touch, with Charles Stanley on the Moody Radio Network. Stanley's power and financial wealth grew, despite the growing problems in the evangelical world. Then Anna Stanley, his wife filed for Divorce in 1993. For a Church based largely on moralism and strict doctrine regarding marriage this was devastating, the Southern Baptist Conference and the First Baptist Church of Atlanta were rocked.
The heart of the Baptist Congregation, First Baptist Church of Atlanta, began to suffer the same lagging attendance and membership numbers as the overall Baptist Conference of Churches. IN the mean time Charles Stanley's son, Andrew Stanley was serving as associate minister at the scandal rocked Church. While the leadership of the Baptist Conference and First Baptist Church of Atlanta held tightly to the traditional ways, Andrew began to study ways to "fix" the problems with the Church.
Having a Journalism Degree from the University of Georgia Andrew Stanley recalled a story he worked on about how incredibly successful political campaigns had become targeting a new generation who had abandoned the old ideology by repacking the ideology using new younger images and how something as simply as word choice could affect ones perspective. Andrew Stanley pushed First Baptist and the larger Convention to adopt a new image, new ceremony, and new tradition while wrapped in the same moralistic Baptist message, they both refused in a biblical struggle between father and son.
Andrew Stanley left the Baptist Church at that point, forever became known as Andy Stanley and started North Point Community Church in Atlanta in 1995. North Point Church, a so called mega Church grew to today's 38,000 members spread over 6 campuses in Atlanta and the second largest church in the United States. Not only did North Point dwarf the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, it began to "franchise" its success to other cities and branch churches selling its method and package to churches across the nation birthing the Mega Church Movement. They still advertise today that your Church can become an affiliate for a starting fee as low as $1000 a month. Unhenged from Baptist Dogma, and officially a non-denominational church, the tether to to Doctrine and old ways is severed. The same moralism exists but it is re-branded using rock music, casual attire and a New Church approach. The old Conservatism packaged to appeal to a more liberal generation. It works.
At the time Charles Stanley was the head minister at the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He preached a firebrand of moralist based on historically Baptist dogma. The Church grew and Mr. Stanley became very powerful and wealthy writing books on how to grow rich and broadcasting his show In Touch, with Charles Stanley on the Moody Radio Network. Stanley's power and financial wealth grew, despite the growing problems in the evangelical world. Then Anna Stanley, his wife filed for Divorce in 1993. For a Church based largely on moralism and strict doctrine regarding marriage this was devastating, the Southern Baptist Conference and the First Baptist Church of Atlanta were rocked.
The heart of the Baptist Congregation, First Baptist Church of Atlanta, began to suffer the same lagging attendance and membership numbers as the overall Baptist Conference of Churches. IN the mean time Charles Stanley's son, Andrew Stanley was serving as associate minister at the scandal rocked Church. While the leadership of the Baptist Conference and First Baptist Church of Atlanta held tightly to the traditional ways, Andrew began to study ways to "fix" the problems with the Church.
Having a Journalism Degree from the University of Georgia Andrew Stanley recalled a story he worked on about how incredibly successful political campaigns had become targeting a new generation who had abandoned the old ideology by repacking the ideology using new younger images and how something as simply as word choice could affect ones perspective. Andrew Stanley pushed First Baptist and the larger Convention to adopt a new image, new ceremony, and new tradition while wrapped in the same moralistic Baptist message, they both refused in a biblical struggle between father and son.
Andrew Stanley left the Baptist Church at that point, forever became known as Andy Stanley and started North Point Community Church in Atlanta in 1995. North Point Church, a so called mega Church grew to today's 38,000 members spread over 6 campuses in Atlanta and the second largest church in the United States. Not only did North Point dwarf the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, it began to "franchise" its success to other cities and branch churches selling its method and package to churches across the nation birthing the Mega Church Movement. They still advertise today that your Church can become an affiliate for a starting fee as low as $1000 a month. Unhenged from Baptist Dogma, and officially a non-denominational church, the tether to to Doctrine and old ways is severed. The same moralism exists but it is re-branded using rock music, casual attire and a New Church approach. The old Conservatism packaged to appeal to a more liberal generation. It works.