Charles Stanley’s grandson RETURNED grandfather’s personal belongings after selling them on eBay
An anonymous buyer successfully returned the late Pastor Charles Stanley’s personal items to his family after his grandson, Matt Brodersen, attempted to sell them on eBay.
The auction included Stanley’s engraved pocket watch inscribed with ‘CFS’ (Charles Frazier Stanley), a framed portrait of the late pastor and a collection of coins.
The sale of the engraved pocket watch resulted in a winning bid of $2,375 with 63 bids, while a 13×13 framed painting received a final bid of $3,650 after 40 bids.
Matt Brodersen, the 29-year-old son of Stanley’s daughter Becky, faced an online backlash after auctioning off the items just weeks after the auction. renowned pastor, author and founder of In Touch Ministries dies at age 90.
Brodersen posted on YouTube how an anonymous buyer bought the pocket watch and returned it to the Stanley family.
The buyer also called Brodersen to explain why it was important to keep such sentimental items in the family.
Matt Brodersen, pictured, sparked outrage last week after he tried to profit from his grandfather’s death by selling his items on eBay
Brodersen, right, pictured with his famous reverend grandfather Charles Stanley, left
“Apparently when he was younger and his grandfather died… his brother and cousin… immediately auctioned off his grandfather’s things, which he didn’t like. So he said, “I wish my family hadn’t put my grandfather’s things up for auction. I would have loved to keep some of those things. I’m so glad I was able to buy them and send them back to your family for you.” ‘
“So that’s when it really hit me how creepy or weird it was for me to do that,” he said on YouTube.
“When he told me his story, I just died inside,” he said. “And I realized how selfish I was being, so I canceled the other eBay auction for the picture frame and the coin collection and sent it back to my uncle. So technically nothing was sold on eBay. Everything goes back to the right owners.’
The conversation made Brodersen, an aspiring YouTuber, realize how inappropriate his actions were. His account has only 6,000 followers.
Brodersen’s grandfather, Charles Stanley, built a large religious following during a 50-year career as a preacher from his megachurch in Atlanta, while also publishing numerous books and lecturing on television and radio.
Brodersen admitted it was “a little weird” to rummage through his grandfather’s things, but he said he was holding onto a few things, including a “treasured” passport.
A portrait of Stanley had been posted on eBay by Brodersen, with the highest bidder reaching $3,650 after 40 bids. The auction was subsequently cancelled
Brodersen said he decided to take the rest of the items off sale after talking to the pocket watch buyer.
When Brodersen heard the buyer’s story, he said he felt a deep sense of remorse and canceled the eBay auction for the picture frame and coin collection, returning them to his uncle instead.
Brodersen revealed how his mother allowed him to take some of Stanley’s belongings after his grandfather’s death, but she referred to pictures on the wall.
Driven by financial desperation, he instead picked out items he could immediately sell on eBay when he searched his grandfather’s desk.
“I went to his desk with the intention of finding things that I could specifically sell directly on eBay because I was desperate for money,” he shared on YouTube.
One of the items Brodersen tried to sell was a signed portrait of Stanley, something he “would like to have for one of his fans,” and said he would add a few “bonus” possessions to the one it has the highest bid.
The sale of the engraved pocket watch resulted in a winning bid of $2,375 with 63 bids
A signed portrait was also for sale at one point before the auction ended
The additional items include Stanley’s coin collection decorated with Jesus, George W. Bush and Donald Trump.
The second item he decided to cash in was an engraved pocket watch found in Stanley’s desk.
“If you win this one, I’ll send you the rest of the watches I found in his desk,” Brodersen added, flashing several gold watches for the camera.
“These aren’t very nice watches, and there’s nothing special about them,” he admitted. “But they were in his desk, so I’m going to give them as bonus gifts.
”
He seemed to love the time spent with his grandfather and stated how he would give words of encouragement, prayers and continued support in his lows.
The engraved pocket watch bore the initials ‘CFS’ for ‘Charles Frazier Stanley’
A verse from the Bible was also engraved on one side of the watch
The smart watch face was housed in a metal case
Brodersen apologized and acknowledged his own mental health issues and connection to reality.
He also noted that he had difficulty finding a job after becoming addicted to Adderall, which led to several layoffs.
“I want to apologize,” he said. “This is just how crazy and crazy I am.
I didn’t even realize that this would upset people. I have some problems, some psychological problems; I’m a bit disconnected from reality.’
In an earlier YouTube video, Brodersen talked about his turbulent past, revealing his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction and how he squandered his inheritance money.
He emphasized the important role his grandfather played in his life, through words of encouragement, prayers and constant support during his lows.
Brodersen sparked outrage after posting the video, with many decrying his “disrespectful” attempt to profit from his grandfather’s death.
‘This is unreal. Wow. That’s called respect. Privacy. Integrity. And much more,” said one fan.
Some additional items sold included Stanley’s coin collection decorated with Jesus
Broderson held up a framed portrait of the late pastor that had been up for auction
Broderson seems to have ambitions to start his own YouTube page, but he only has 6,000 followers
“After more than 40 years personally to Dr. Charles Stanley and through many other sources, he became my/our Pastor. Like a family member. In all the years of listening to his sermons and messages, I don’t think he would be proud of what is happening now.’
“I couldn’t even finish watching,” added another. “The lack of respect is a disgrace, not only to your family, but also to our Heavenly Father!! Such a pity!’
A third said: ‘Very disturbing! I saw your grandfather as an anointed man of God who gave his life to God to do his will.
“I don’t see him as a celebrity, I see him as my pastor and teacher. It sickens me to see this being done to his personal items and the selling point of it being in the room where he died is just disgusting.”
In response to the backlash over his eBay sale, Brodersen said, “I promise I have a lot of my grandfather’s stuff that you don’t see that I’m going to keep.”
“Why wouldn’t my grandpa’s fans have a chance to win two of his items that were in his office? The office where he slept when he died.
“I’m a man with bills to pay, and you know what the economy is like,” he added. “So no, I’m not really ashamed to sell his stuff… and whoever wins is going to help me pay my bills, which I desperately need right now.”
Brodersen again defended his decision on eBay’s listing for the possessions, where he wrote on the portrait painting, “We need to go through his stuff and everyone has a bunch of their stuff.”
“I know that sounds weird, but it’s exactly what happens when people die.
“(The painting) hung in the office of his home before he died, the office where he wrote all his sermons and studied the scriptures. How long was it on that wall? Don’t know. A treasure for a true fan who wants to celebrate his passing and want to have a signed photo of the holy pastor on the wall at home.
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