Daily Archives: January 31, 2015

 

A fantastic photographic depiction of Charles fellowshipping with Jesus, made as a gift for him.

 

 

* Editors Note:  The following account may seem like I’m being boastful or prideful.  It is neither.  It is high and worthy praise to my Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is because of His great love for me (and you!) that I have this account to share.  I have done nothing deserve the countless and endless blessings He has bestowed on me.  The only thing I can attribute my incredible great fortune to, is that I gave Him my life, my heart and my service, and trust in Him moment to moment!  The gift that I have received is available to anyone that will make that same commitment to Him!

 

I returned last night from Atlanta via Charlotte, an 11 hour drive home, and worth every minute of it.  I spent a day and overnight visit with my dear friend and brother in Christ, Charles Stanley.  You may know him as Dr. Charles Stanley, the wonderful teacher in the In Touch Ministries broadcasts, or the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, or the author of countless, best selling, Christian books.  You may wonder what he is really like?  Charles is my photography buddy, and dear friend.  Allow  me to tell you the story of how that extremely unlikely relationship came to happen!

 

About 25 years ago I followed Dr. Stanley’s ministry carefully, watching him on his TV broadcasts, reading his books and learning and growing a great deal under his mentoring.  I did not know him, had never met him, other than who he was and what he taught and I admired him greatly.  When I learned that he was an avid photographer I decided to send him a letter and invite him to one of my Great American Photography Weekends, as my guest of course.  I sent the letter and anxiously awaited a return letter from Dr. Stanley.  A few weeks later I got a reply.  It was cordial and “nice” but it was obvious that my letter had been intercepted and Charles had never seen it.  This was a very nice letter that  said , “thanks so much for you kid offer, but Dr. Stanley schedule is very busy and he cannot accept your kind offer at this time.”  I was crestfallen!  The more I thought about it I was little upset.  My wife tiring of hearing me complain told me to grow-up and understand I was being pretty childish about my disappointment.  She is irritatingly right!

 

Left to right, Tim Olive, Charles’ incredible lab technician, photographer, and master print maker, Charles, and Brad Brown, Director of IT  and In Touch and Charles Photography friend.  Great guys, great friends and I’m honored to be part of their small circle!

 

 

I finally got over it, but often asked God, why couldn’t I have met Charles and just shook his hand and said thank you. Later, I had to fly to New Orleans for a photo industry show, and I flew into Atlanta very early in the morning and was sitting at the gate to board my next flight when guess who walked in to the gate area!!??  Yes, Charles walked up, looked around and took a seat directly across from me.  I happened to have a color sample piece on the upcoming The Nature of America book that I had just done with David Middleton and 36 of the most famous nature photographers in America.  I reached it over to Charles and said I think you will find this interesting.  He looked at it for moment and said, who are  you?  I said my name is Bill Fortney, and I’m the co-producer of that book.  Charles said something that stays with me even today as one of the most shocking things I’ve ever heard, he said, “You’re not “the” Bill Fortney are you?”  I said no, that was my father.  He smiled and said I’ve read your articles in the photo magazines and admired your work and have often thought I would like to come to one of your workshops.  Of course, I told him the story of the letter and he was very embarrassed and proclaimed if he had seen my letter  he would have been at the first workshop available!  We boarded the plane and changed seats with some other people and sat together on the flight to New Orleans,  talking and getting to know each other all the way.  We discovered that we were on the same flight back to Atlanta that evening and agreed to sit together on that flight too.

 

 

Church bulletin photos from 2014, Tim Olive is assembling for a book all shot by Charles.

 

 

On the flight back to Atlanta Charles and I shared on a deep level with one another.  He shared challenges he was facing and I shared my testimony, we prayed and cried for one another. By the time we landed in Atlanta it was like we had been friends for many years.  The relationship has grown over the last 25 years, we’ve gone shooting in National Parks many times together, taught workshops together and I’ve even been a guest in his home a number of times.  If you’re a fan of his ministry and wonder what he is really like, I can sum it up easily.  Charles is the real deal, he is exactly who you hope he is.  I man who loves God, has put God first in his life, and serves him every moment of every day.  He is the most kind and patient person with the countless thousands of people that stop him everywhere just wanting to meet him.  He gives every person the time they need.  He truly lives what he preaches!

 

 

My day was topped off when I met Carl Turner of breakfast Friday morning.  What an incredible Christian brother.  We had a great time at a Cracker barrel just catching up and sharing.  I never get to spend time with Carl that I don’t walk away feeling like I’m a better man for it!  What a great guy and friend he is!!!

 

 

Now back to my Editor’s Note, I am not telling you this in hope you will be impressed with me being a friend of Charles!  No, I am trying to express how God treats His children.  My Heavenly Father knew how deeply I wanted to just thank Charles for what I had learned from his teaching.  The biggest mistake we make with God is not asking enough!  God wanted to show me just what He can do when our motives and hearts are pure on a matter.  I’m sure God turned to Jesus and said “Watch this!” He overwhelmed me with his love and grace, and gifts.  A friend once said to me, do you never tire of sharing how fortunate you’ve been!!??  I said that is not what I’m doing, I’m sharing how much our God loves us!  The blessings of my life are not unique to me, I know thousand of brothers and sisters that have been equally blessed, that is the business God wants to be in with us, if we will only allow Him to do it. It all starts with submitting to His will.

 

I have so many things to thank God for; a wonderful wife, precious family, incredible friends, and associates, my health, my love of photography and allowing me to be able to call Charles Stanley my friend and brother!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

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