Zondervan Offers Statement of Condolence on the Passing of Chuck Colson, Plans to Contribute to Prison Fellowship Ministries

“God gifted Chuck Colson in incredible ways, and he gave it all back to the kingdom for Christ. We were honored to work with him and help carry his message to a hurting world, and I am grateful to have gotten the chance to meet and know Chuck."

Grand Rapids, MI, April 23, 2012—Zondervan has announced plans to honor Chuck Colson’s legacy by donating a portion of the proceeds from Colson’s titles published with Zondervan to Prison Fellowship Ministries. These contributions are above and beyond author royalties that already go to the Colson estate. Through all his accomplishments as an author and Christian leader, Colson never lost focus on his passion for helping inmates. He founded Prison Fellowship Ministries in 1976, and today the ministry reaches prisoners, ex-prisoners and families of prisoners throughout the United States and, through Prison Fellowship International (PFI), in 115 countries worldwide.

“God gifted Chuck Colson in incredible ways, and he gave it all back to the kingdom for Christ. We were honored to work with him and help carry his message to a hurting world, and I am grateful to have gotten the chance to meet and know Chuck. His passion, focus, energy, stamina, drive, and commitment made everyone who came in contact with him a better person and a better warrior for Christ. Our thoughts and prayers are with Patty, Emily, and the rest of his family during this time,” said Scott Macdonald, Zondervan President and CEO.

Zondervan published four books and two video curriculums with Chuck Colson. Loving God was published in 1984, followed by Kingdoms in Conflict in 1987 and God & Government in 2007. In 2008, Colson chose to return to Zondervan to publish what he considered his most important work, The Faith—a thought-provoking, soul-searching and powerful manifesto of the great, historical central truths of Christianity that have sustained believers through the centuries. Colson coauthored the book with Harold Fickett and also developed a video curriculum based on the book. Across all formats, Colson’s Zondervan titles have sold 1.2 million copies