Influential Southern Baptist pastor and televangelist, the Rev. Charles F. Stanley, now has a portion of I-285 renamed in his honor.

The stretch of I-285 named after Stanley is a short distance from First Baptist Atlanta, the megachurch he led for more than five decades before stepping down from the pulpit in 2020.

Stanley, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, became pastor emeritus and continues to be active with In Touch Ministries, which was founded in 1977 and now broadcasts in 30 languages around the world. Viewership is about 10 million households a week in the United States.

The “Dr. Charles F. Stanley Highway” spans a half mile east and half mile west of the North Peachtree Road Interchange in DeKalb County and was approved by the Georgia Legislature during the last session.

The dedication was held on Saturday, Stanley’s 89th birthday. Those attending included Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and Pastor Andy Stanley, his son, senior pastor of North Point Community Church and founder of North Point Ministries.

Retired is not a word that Charles Stanley embraces. In November, he will release his latest book, “When You Don’t Know What to Pray: 100 Essential Prayers for Enduring Life’s Storms.”

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