Life Sentence [Hardcover]

Charles W. Colson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1981

The sequel to Colson's best-seller, Born Again, this book reveals how he began a new life and his struggle to begin a new ministry.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charles W. Colson is the best-selling author of Born Again and president of Prison Fellowship, a ministry based in Washington, D.C. He also has a radio ministry and has written numerous books. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Fleming H Revell Co (April 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800791738
• ISBN-13: 978-0800791735
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,623,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The well-known story of Charles Colson's transformation from President Richard Nixon's "hatchet man" who was "incapable of humanitarian thoughts" to founder of the Prison Fellowship Ministries and internationally recognized Christian author and speaker is a triumph of God finding a man and a man finding God. His 1973 conversion to Christianity was followed by a guilty plea to obstruction of justice and a seven-month prison sentence in 1974. He founded Prison Fellowship Ministries in 1976, fulfilling a promise made to fellow inmates that he would "never forget those behind bars."

Charles Colson's first book, "Born Again," was released in 1976 and instantly became an international best seller. He has authored 16 books that have collectively sold more than 5 million copies worldwide, including "Justice That Restores," "How Now Shall We Live?," "Burden of Truth," "Answers to Your Kids' Questions," "The Good Life," "Gideon's Torch," "Why America Doesn't Work," "Kingdoms in Conflict," and "Loving God."

The phenomenal growth of Prison Fellowship Ministries over the last 25 years leads Charles Colson and some 50,000 volunteers to serve the needs of prisoners in over 88 countries. In addition to Prison Fellowship, he founded Justice Fellowship, Neighbors Who Care, and Angel Tree. Angel Tree is a program that provides Christmas presents to more than 500,000 children of inmates annually. He is also a syndicated columnist, international speaker, and commentator on the nationally syndicated radio broadcast "BreakPoint." He received the prestigious Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion in 1993 and donated the $1 million prize to Prison Fellowship's Endowment Fund.

Charles Colson remains committed to the unity of the church, the relationships between church and state, and the struggle between the spiritual and secular worlds. He constantly encourages Christians to understand biblical faith as an entire worldview and to adopt biblical faith as a perspective on all life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspires and challenges our understanding and faith..., January 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Life Sentence (Paperback)

I started reading this book because of my involvement with presenting Success Skills Seminars to inmates and staff in prisons. I never expected this book to be so compelling. Although I knew that Chuck Colson made a great impact with Prison Fellowship, still I didn't know much about Chuck or his work. Even though this book was originally published about 20 years ago, it is timeless. Some day soon, I hope to meet Charles Colson in person. This is must reading for everyone who enters a prison, whether they be family, friend, staff, volunteer, inmate, or simply someone who cares.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it after "Born Again", March 19, 2004

By 

Paul M. Dubuc (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life Sentence (Paperback)

If you haven't read Chuck Colson's first book, "Born Again", you should read that one before "Life Sentence". This book continues the story begun in Born Again with the events surrounding the beginning of the Prison Fellowship Ministries. The sad truth is that prisons don't rehabilitate those who break the law. More often than not they produce criminals who are more hardened and more of a menace to society upon their release from prison than when they entered. Prisons are often overcrowded, dehumanizing and dangerous. I think it's safe to say that Prison Fellowship and its sister organizations have done more to reform prisons and the criminal justice system than any other single organization. They have demonstrated a powerful combination of the Evangelical and Social Justice traditions of Christianity to redeem lost souls and wasted lives.

This book is very honest and humble as well as inspiring. Chuck Colson is honest about his own failings and those he sees among Evangelical Christians (with whom he identifies). He was often treated very badly by the news media and others, but his love for prisoners and commitment to Jesus Christ allow him to take such incidents as lessons from a loving God to help him grow in character and in spirit. Chuck Colson's example of love, devotion and integrity should be considered carefully by everyone. Even after 25 years this book is well worth reading.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Encourageing and Challenging, January 4, 2000

By 

S. Jewell (Quad Cities, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Sentence (Paperback)

As was Colsons goal, this book was encouraging and challenging. It makes me want to go and start helping in prisons. It also challenged my faith and helped me to grow.