Nixon's Hatchet Man Falls
Chuck Colson was once a man of great power and influence, serving as Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon during the turbulent years of the Watergate scandal. Known as Nixon's 'hatchet man', Colson's life was defined by ambition, wealth, and a relentless pursuit of political dominance. However, his world was turned upside down when the Watergate scandal engulfed him. In 1974, Colson pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to prison.
A Friend Shares the Gospel
Facing the grim reality of his situation, Colson was introduced to the Christian faith through a friend, Thomas L. Phillips, who gave him C.S. Lewis's book *Mere Christianity*. This encounter with faith marked a turning point in Colson's life. He described his conversion as a 'Damascus Road' experience, a profound moment of surrender when he had to pull over his car and cried out, 'Take me'.
The media was skeptical of Colson's newfound faith, viewing it as a convenient ploy. Yet Colson's transformation was genuine. He once shared, 'I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it…Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world – and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks'.
After serving seven months in prison, Colson emerged with a new purpose. He founded Prison Fellowship in 1976, which grew into the largest Christian nonprofit ministry serving prisoners and their families worldwide. Colson saw his imprisonment as God's way of preparing him for this mission. 'No, the real legacy of my life was my biggest failure -- that I was an ex-convict. My greatest humiliation -- being sent to prison -- was the beginning of God's greatest use of my life', he reflected.
Through his work, Colson advocated for justice reform and became a prominent author and speaker, sharing the message of redemption and hope. He was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion in 1993, testifying that, 'Whatever good I may have done is because God saw fit to reach into the depths of Watergate and convert a broken sinner'.
Chuck Colson's story is a testament to the transforming power of Jesus, who turned a life of ambition and scandal into one of service and grace.
