From Power to Redemption: Chuck Colson and the Legacy of Second Chances

Join us for a conversation with Ed Simcox, author of In the Room, as we reflect on his personal encounters with Chuck Colson and the early days of the national justice movement. As Prison Fellowship marks its 50th anniversary, this discussion will explore how faith shaped a generation of public leadership and why the call to second chances remains vital for policymakers today. 

Edwin J. Simcox was born and raised in Indiana and has spent a lifetime serving his state in public life. He served two terms as Indiana’s 55th Secretary of State from 1978 to 1986, following earlier roles in state government and private law practice. Throughout his career, he has remained deeply engaged in public service, energy policy, and civic leadership. 

Ed served on the board of Prison Fellowship Ministries for nearly twenty-nine years, making him the longest-serving board member in the organization’s history. He also served on the board of the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview and chaired the Justice Fellowship board of directors, integrating his commitment to faith with his work in governance and justice reform. 

A respected leader in both public affairs and Christian ministry, Ed has been recognized by multiple governors for his service to Indiana. He is the author of In the Room, reflecting on his experiences at the intersection of faith and public life. 

Chuck Colson was born in Boston in 1931. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, earned a law degree, and built a career in Republican politics before joining Richard Nixon’s 1968 presidential campaign. He later served as Special Counsel to the President.  

In 1974, following his conversion to Christianity, Colson pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice related to the Watergate scandal and served seven months in federal prison. His experience behind bars reshaped his life’s mission. In 1976, he founded Prison Fellowship, which has grown to become the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit serving currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families. 

 In recognition of his work, Colson received the Templeton Prize in 1993 and the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2008. He died on April 21, 2012, leaving a legacy as one of the most influential evangelical leaders of his generation, devoted to ministry with the incarcerated and sharing a message of faith and hope.  

Moderator: Scott E. Peyton serves as director of government affairs at Prison Fellowship, bringing over a decade of experience in Louisiana’s criminal justice system, specializing in juvenile and adult probation and parole. His career has spanned roles focused on child welfare, law enforcement, and correctional support. 

Prior to joining Prison Fellowship, Peyton served as a regional director of a national criminal justice initiative, overseeing state advocacy efforts and advancing criminal justice policy. He has witnessed firsthand the importance of rehabilitation and reentry programs, as well as the need for meaningful change within the criminal justice system. 

Peyton holds a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from Louisiana State University at Shreveport and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He is also a veteran, having served in the Louisiana National Guard during Operation Desert Storm. Peyton resides in Louisiana with his wife of 35 years. They have six children and three grandchildren.