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Watergate figure to discuss his life, faith
By JULIE CHURCH, Times Staff Writer If you'd asked Chuck Colson in 1972 where ministry work would rank on a list of his top 100 goals, he would have said dead last. But after more than 30 years as a Christian, 26 of them leading Prison Fellowship Ministries, an international nonprofit prison outreach ministry, the former special counsel to President Richard Nixon said any other type of work would be insignificant to him. "Flying on Air Force One and listening to a military band play Hail to the Chief pales in comparison," he said Monday from his Naples home. Colson, 70, will be the keynote speaker March 14 at the UPARC Foundation's 16th annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast. He will talk about his life, including the seven months he spent in an Alabama prison for obstructing justice in the Watergate scandal of 1974. He also will share his views on Christianity and living a God-centered life. "There has been a lot of discussion recently on Islam and Christianity," he said. "People say they don't want to see Christianity imposed on them, but my view is that you need to look to God to live a life that is purposeful and productive." Colson served as special council for President Nixon from 1969-73. He describes himself as "guilty of political dirty tricks and willing to do almost anything for the cause of his president and his party." "Thank god for Watergate," he said. "From that came a ministry that is now working in 95 countries and has more than 150,000 volunteers." Colson's philosophy is that crime is fundamentally a moral and spiritual problem that requires a moral and spiritual solution. He said he learned through his participation in prison prayer groups that offenders do not simply need rehabilitation; they require regeneration of a sinful heart. "That is only going to happen when they turn to Christ," he said. Colson has a love for UPARC and other organizations that deal with mentally handicapped people. He has an 11-year-old grandson who is autistic. He is a syndicated columnist and the author of 16 books. He has a nationally syndicated radio program, BreakPoint, and is a highly requested public speaker. -- Julie Church can be reached at (727) 445-4229 or church@sptimes.com.
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
