Charles and Andy Stanley open up to John Blake of CNN about their relationship and the split that led to the founding of North Point Community Church back in the 1990’s. The story appears in Andy Stanley’s new book Deep and Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend. Fair warning: The intro to the CNN story will hook you into reading this lengthy article. Here it is:
Andy Stanley walked into his pastor’s office, filled with dread.
The minister sat in a massive chair behind an enormous desk. He spread his arms across the desk as if he were bracing for battle. His secretary scurried out of the office when she saw Andy coming.
The pastor had baptized Andy when he was 6, and groomed him to be his successor. But a private trauma had gone public. And Andy felt compelled to speak.
The minister stared in silence as Andy gave him the news. The “unspoken dream” both men shared was over.
After Andy finished, the pastor looked at him as tears welled up.
“Andy,” he said, “you have joined my enemies, and I’m your father.”
Read the rest here.
7 Comments
Don Johnson
One of my pastors is reading the book “Deep and Wide” and recommended it to the entire congregation. It is on my wish list.
scottshaffer
There is so much wrong with that article, ranging from the writer’s ignorance of biblical Christianity to the Stanley’s bizarre ecclesiology. The Bayly’s summarize it well: http://baylyblog.com/blog/2012/11/charles-andy-and-millions-yet-unreached
The Seeking Disciple
Both links above go to Amazon.com. Is there another article to read?
Bernie Chowren
I too was expecting one link to CNN. Here it is: http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/17/us/andy-stanley/index.html
Jon Hall
CNN article: http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/17/us/andy-stanley/index.html
This is a very sad story. From the deep family issues to the blatant seeker sensitive church that Andy Stanley has created, I pray for these men’s souls.
Peter Eddy
I’m reading The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson right now. It’s really good. The differences between Charles and Andy sound like Johnson and Kennedy. Charles and Johnson were work horses, and were out for a fight. Andy and Kennedy were less abrasive, and that caused them to win.
Kamilla Ludwig
Denny,
I have to tell you NOTHING short of news of their repentance could induce me to read anything about either man. When the father refuses to honor his own word (much less follow God’s word) and the son tells a homosexual couple the reason they can’t serve as volunteers is that one of them didn’t end his marriage first — well, that’s all I need to know about them as pastors.
Kamilla