Chuck Colson's Condition Turns Critical After Brain Surgery
Chuck Colson, a noted evangelical leader and leader of Prison Fellowship, is in critical condition after surgery following a brain hemorrhage on Friday.
"Colson is listed in critical condition at this point but has shown some early signs of potential for recovery," said Michelle Farmer, Colson's spokesperson.
The 80-year-old Colson fell ill while addressing a conference in the Washington, D.C. area over the weekend. He underwent surgery on Saturday morning to remove a pool of clotted blood on the surface of his brain. Earlier this week, an update on Colson's Facebook page showed that he did not have a stroke and was resting comfortably.
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"We believe that we serve a mighty God – the 'Great Physician' – and are hoping and praying for Chuck's full recovery. When I visited him yesterday, I was encouraged to see that as we prayed, Chuck was responsive," said Prison Fellowship Ministries CEO Jim Liske, in a statement Tuesday.
"In the meantime, Easter is on the horizon. As many know, Chuck would rather be in prison on this sacred day than in a hospital or any other place on this Earth. He would want us to be praying just as fervently for Prison Fellowship's Easter events this weekend in prisons in San Diego and New York, that God would do an amazing work in the lives of the inmates to whom our organization has been called to serve."
Penny Nance, who heads Concerned Women for America, told The Christian Post, "We are in prayer for him. He has truly been one of the most transformation leaders in the Christian world – probably in this century."
Will Nance, Penny's husband, served as Colson's chief of staff for four years in the mid-1990s and worked closely with him on a daily basis.
"Having been around so many Christian leaders, Chuck is the real deal and is one of more sincere leaders in our nation," Nance said. "We're praying for a speedy recovery because his intellect and commitment are still vital to the Christian community and to the world."
Colson gave his life to Christ just before he went to prison over charges related to the 1972 Watergate scandal. After serving seven months in a federal prison, he founded Prison Fellowship Ministries, which claims to be "the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families."
Richard Land with the Southern Baptist's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has known Colson for years and wants him to recovery quickly.
"We need to pray for him and his wife Patty," Land told CP. "I'm sure that Chuck is ready to go home and be with Jesus forever, but I'm praying that God will restore him to excellent health so he can continue the fight for the Kingdom."
