“Christians who understand biblical truth and have the courage to live it out can indeed redeem a culture, or even create one. This is the challenge facing all of us in the new millennium.”
― Charles W. Colson, How Now Shall We Live?
Chuck Colson (1931-2012) is well known for many reasons. He was President Richard Nixon’s lawyer during “Watergate” and went to prison for irregularities regarding it. Along the way his search for truth led him to faith in Jesus. He began “Prison Fellowship,” now worldwide, and one of the great prison ministries in the world. See www.pfi.org.
A few years ago, of course before Chuck died, I was honored to have him as a radio guest. I asked him: “Would you ever have begun a prison ministry without having gone to prison?” He answered “Never!”
Reminded me of Joseph in the latter part of the Bible book of Genesis. His brothers nearly killed him, put him in a hole in the ground, sold him to some traders on their way to Egypt, went to prison because of false charges of attempted sexual attack by his boss’s Potiphar’s wife, other trials go on and on.
But when God raised him up before all of Egypt and showered favor to him, in time his brothers’ assumed Joseph would want revenge. But in Genesis 50:20, he made a powerful statement to them: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good!”
Chuck Colson probably deserved prison much more than did Joseph. But during that time Chuck repented of his sins and received Jesus Christ into his life. But his prison experience God used as a factor to give birth to “Prison Fellowship!”
Again, see www.pfi.org.
But another great ministry is our focus now. Chuck Colson is the inspiration behind “Colson Fellows.” See www.colsonfellows.org. The movement advances deep discipleship in all who take part, was begun in his name and born out of seeing the need to disciple followers of Jesus Christ!
Dr. Kirk Boyenga and his wife, Anita, have successfully completed the discipleship guidelines of the “Colson Fellows” movement. In the brief attached radio interview with Kirk, he mentions by name a Colson Fellow, an attorney, who made a presentation before the United States Supreme Court.
“Colson Fellows” is nationwide in scope, but now has subdivided into geographical regional ministries.
Retired Psychologist Dr. Boyenga, an impressive and personable godly man, leads the one in St. Louis, MO, area. Facts about him:
- “Born in Alden, Iowa to immigrant families, ranging from recent to the Mayflower (9 generations).
- Accepted Christ as Savior when 9 years old in Florissant, MO.
- [HHH note: The North St. Louis County Church, Florissant Valley Baptist, was his family’s church when a boy. Kirk told me that his father was a leader in the “Flo Valley” Church when they planted what became “Parker Road Baptist Church” in Florissant, the Church I served as pastor for several years!]
- Obtained an appointment to the USAF Academy, with the dream of being a pilot, lost pilot qualification, travelled around the country and to Korea.
- Dayton, Ohio was where a relationship with my wife, Anita, began, a painful five years for both, with tough lessons, reconciliation and marriage.
- Left the Air Force for a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy at Purdue.
- The first of several jobs after college was at a mental health center in Springfield, MO. Daughters one and two were born there. Ordained a deacon.
- After many corporate healthcare moves and their third daughter, they stayed in Springfield, IL, where the girls grew up, completed college and all got married.
- A rather unexpected job change resulted in entry into private practice as a psychologist; church involvement grew, along with volunteering, hobbies and mission trips to Thailand.
- A desire to be closer to grandchildren resulted in a move to the St. Louis area [Wentzville] and the need to re-establish ministry goals in a new town. Thus, the Colson Fellows involvement and acceptance of director position with Colson Fellows St. Louis.”
About “Colson Fellows:”
“The Colson Fellows Program is a transformational course that compresses a lifetime of Christian wisdom into ten months. Colson Fellows learn how creation, identity, morality, fall, redemption and restoration all go together to form a true and coherent understanding of the world and everything in it. From there, you will learn how to apply this framework to your own assumptions as well as to the controversies that confront society. The Colson Fellows Program will provide you with the fundamentals and guidelines for thinking biblically, a lifetime support structure, the data to inform others, and encouragement of the faithful.”
When I learned that Dr. Boyenga was a descendant of — not one, but – two who came over on the Mayflower in 1620, 400 years ago, I asked him to come back into the St. Louis Bott studios wherein we recorded two more segments about his Mayflower heritage. One of his ancestors signed the “Mayflower Compact.”
Again, there is a St. Louis chapter of the Colson Fellows and Dr. Boyenga leads it. To learn more, visit www.colsonfellows.org.
A link to a related radio recording about the Mayflower …
To hear … “FORMER CONGRESSMAN TODD AKIN IS ONE OF THE FINEST MEN I KNOW! HE DISCUSSES THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1620 LANDING OF THE MAYFLOWER & MAYFLOWER COMPACT (2020) … AND HIS BOUT WITH THE ‘C’ WORD …” … click on … Former Congressman Todd Akin is one of the finest men I know! He discusses the 400thAnniversary of the 1620 landing of the Mayflower & Mayflower Compact (2020) … and his bout with the “C” word … – Harold Hendrick
Dr. Boyinga is a volunteer at “Righteous Rides,” just a few miles west of his home in eastern Missouri. See www.righteousrides.org, and To hear … ““RIGHTEOUS RIDES” PROVIDES LOW COST VEHICLES FOR MISSIONARIES ON FURLOUGH; CO-FOUNDER MARK REIGHARD EXPLAINS; MARK GROSSMANN GIVES TESTIMONY” … click on … “Righteous Rides” provides low cost vehicles for missionaries on furlough; co-founder MARK REIGHARD explains; MARK GROSSMANN gives testimony – Harold Hendrick
And a few other radio links related to discipleship …
To hear … “Mark Whitacre | The Informant -BIG SALARY, FBI WHISTLEBLOWER, JAILED, FOUND CHRIST, DISCIPLED 50 IN PRISON” … click on … www.markwhitacre.com: big salary, FBI whistleblower, jailed, found Christ, discipled 50 in prison – Harold Hendrick;
To hear … “TO DISCIPLE, MIKE BAESE MEETS 11 MEN WEEKLY, 75-90 MINUTES EACH FOR 3+ YEARS! IT’S II TIMOTHY 2:2!” … click on … To disciple, Mike Baese meets 11 men weekly, 75-90 minutes each for 3+ years! It is II Timothy 2:2! – Harold Hendrick;
To hear … “ST. LOUIS EVANGELIST ROB WELSH IS ‘FOR REAL!’ IN HIS AFRICAN FESTIVALS HE PREACHES TO AND TRAINS MULTITUDES. HIS TEAM’S USE OF ‘T4T’ METHOD (WWW.T4TONLINE.ORG) IS POWERFULLY EFFECTIVE SUSTAINING RESULTS” … click on … St. Louis Evangelist Rob Welsh is “for real!” In his African Festivals he preaches to and trains multitudes. His team’s use of “T4T” method (www.t4tonline.org) is powerfully effective sustaining results – Harold Hendrick.
To hear … “’NAVIGATOR’ STAFFER BRETT CLARK TELLS MOVING STORIES ABOUT HIS MINISTRY. AS A TEEN, I MEMORIZED THEIR ‘TOPICAL MEMORY SYSTEM.’ THOSE BIBLE VERSES CONTINUE TO GUIDE MY LIFE TO THIS DAY!” … click on … “Navigator” staffer Brett Clark tells moving stories about his ministry. As a teen, I memorized their “Topical Memory System.” Those bible verses continue to guide my life to this day! – Harold Hendrick;
To hear … “PAUL KRUSE HEARD J VERNON MCGEE ON BOTT RADIO NETWORK IN HIS TRUCK; RECEIVED CHRIST, TOTALLY CHANGED” … click on … Paul Kruse heard J Vernon McGee on Bott Radio Network in his truck; received Christ, totally changed – Harold Hendrick;
To hear … “FORMER US SENATOR JIM TALENT OF MISSOURI REJOICES IN HIS COMPLETE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND INNOCENCE WHEN HE STANDS BEFORE GOD IN DEATH; HIS GIFT OF ABUNDANT & ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST … AVAILABLE TO ALL!” … click on … Former US Senator Jim Talent of Missouri rejoices in his complete forgiveness of sins and innocence when he stands before God in death; his gift of abundant & eternal life in Christ … available to all! – Harold Hendrick;
To hear … “A ONE-MINUTE TESTIMONY FROM JOSH HAWLEY. HE OPPOSES HIS OPPONENT’S SUPPORT OF PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION” … click on … A one-minute testimony from Josh Hawley. He opposes his opponent’s support of partial-birth abortion. – Harold Hendrick;
To hear … “FROM THE ARCHIVES: DRAWN TO FAITH IN JESUS BROUGHT ME (HHH) JOY, FORGIVENESS, PURPOSE, INNER-PEACE, ABUNDANT & ETERNAL LIFE” … click on … FROM THE ARCHIVES: Drawn to faith in Jesus brought me joy, forgiveness, purpose, inner-peace, abundant & eternal life – Harold Hendrick;
To hear … “MARK WHITACRE: ADM PRICE FIXER, FBI WHISTLEBLOWER, SUICIDAL; PRISON WAS ‘BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE!’” … click on … Mark Whitacre: ADM price fixer, FBI whistleblower, suicidal; prison was “Best years of my life!” – Harold Hendrick.