LANSDOWNE, Va (WordNews.org), April 21, 2012 — Charles W. “Chuck” Colson, the former Nixon aide who went on to start a prison ministry, died today. He was 80 years old.

The Prison Fellowship and Colson Center for Christian Worldview founder died at 3:12 p.m. on Saturday from complications resulting from a brain hemorrhage, the ministry said.

Colson was a  Watergate figure who “emerged from the country’s worst political scandal, a vocal Christian leader and a champion for prison ministry,” the ministry said.

Colson became a born-again Christian shortly before starting his prison term. He documented his conversion in the book “Born Again.” He went on to author more than 30 books.

Colson entered a guilt plea to Watergate-related charges although he was not implicated in the Watergate burglary. He voluntarily pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in the Daniel Elsberg case.  He entered Maxwell Federal Prison Camp in Alabama in 1974 as a new Christian, serving seven month of a one- to three-year sentence.

But when he was released, he had a new mission: mobilizing the Christian church to minister to prisoners. He started Prison Fellowship in 1976. He visited some 600 prisons in the U.S. and 40 other countries, and built a movement that at one time extended to more than 50,000 prison ministry volunteers.

Colson received the  Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion in 1993 for his work with inmates. He donated the $1 million prize to Prison Fellowship. He speed accepting the award, called “The Enduring Revolution,” has been described as his most eloquent. Delivered at the University of Chicago, he said:

“For history’s cadence is called with a confident voice. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob reigns. His plan and purpose rob the future of its fears. By the cross He offers hope, by the resurrection He assures His triumph. This cannot be resisted or delayed. Mankind’s only choice is to recognize Him now or in the moment of ultimate judgment. Our only decision is to welcome His rule or to fear it.”

There were other awards, including: the Presidential Citizens Medal (2008, the second-highest U.S. civilian honor), Humanitarian Award from Domino’s Pizza Corporation (1991), The Others Award from the Salvation Army (1990), several honorary doctorates from various colleges and universities (1982-1995), and Outstanding Young Man of Boston from the Chamber of Commerce (1960).

He spent the last years of his life in the dual role of leading Prison Fellowship, the world’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families, and the Colson Center, a teaching and training center focused on Christian worldview thought and application.

He had been speaking at a Colson Center conference when he was overcome by dizziness, the ministry said. He was sent to the Fairfax Inova Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, and underwent two hours of surgery on March 31 to remove a pool of clotted blood on the surface of his brain.

The ministry said at times Colson showed encouraging indicators of a possible recovery before his health took a decided turn.

The Colson family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Charles Colson Legacy Fund. Condolence cards may be sent to Prison Fellowship Ministries, 44180 Riverside Parkway, Lansdowne, VA 20176.