Author, Speaker and Colson Colleague Assumes Role Immediately; Steve Verleye, Former Tech Industry CEO Named Executive Director

Contact: David Carlson, 703-554-8410, 571-283-1998 mobile, david_carlson@colsoncenter.org

LANSDOWNE, Va., Aug. 18, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- John Stonestreet has been appointed president of the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. A gifted communicator on areas of faith and culture, published author, and a popular conference speaker, Stonestreet is the anchor for The Point and BreakPoint This Week radio broadcasts. Since the death of Chuck Colson in 2012, Stonestreet has served as co-host with Eric Metaxas on Colson's daily radio program, BreakPoint.

Regarding his appointment, Stonestreet said, "Working with Chuck Colson was one of the greatest honors of my life. I believe deeply in his vision of Christianity as the fundamental truth about reality and the task of Christians to be the restorers of culture."

Colson invited Stonestreet to join the Colson Center staff in 2010, specifically with an eye to reach a new generation of Christians. "It's a tough, confusing world for Christian young people," Colson said on a BreakPoint broadcast. "The problem's compounded by the fact that we older Christians aren't particularly adept at communicating our faith and worldview to younger Christians."

Colson then announced how pleased he was "that we've added one of the truly fine, leading, young worldview thinkers and teachers to the BreakPoint fold."

Stonestreet is the co-author of three books—the latest being Restoring All Things (with Warren Cole Smith). He remains a featured faculty member of Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and has engaged deeply in collegiate life, lecturing frequently on college campuses and formerly serving on the teaching faculty of two Christian colleges.

Best-selling author and radio host Eric Metaxas praised Stonestreet's appointment: "After working with John and co-hosting BreakPoint for the past three and a half years, I have no doubt that John is God's choice to take the Colson Center forward. I congratulate the board on this important decision and rejoice to think what lies ahead for the Colson Center under John's leadership."

The Colson Center also announced the appointment of Steve Verleye as executive director. Verleye spent nearly 35 years in the technology industry with roles including chief administrative officer of Coinstar/Redbox and CEO of Applied Microsystems. A graduate of the Colson Center's Centurion Program, Verleye also serves as chairman of the board for Pioneer Human Services, a nonprofit that helps former prisoners with housing, treatment and job skills training.

Founded by Chuck Colson, the nonprofit Colson Center educates Christians on how to apply a biblical worldview to all areas of life. Its BreakPoint radio commentary is carried by more than 1,200 radio outlets nationwide. More than 900 Christian leaders have completed the Colson Center's Centurions Program, an intensive, one-year worldview training. For more information, visit ColsonCenter.org and follow the Colson Center on Facebook and Twitter.

MEDIA NOTE: To schedule interviews with John Stonestreet or Steve Verleye, contact David Carlson at 703.554.8410 / 571.283.1998 mobile, or Sherrie Irvin at 703.554.8546