Light in Darkness

From the Billy Graham Evangelical Association's monthly newsletter, May, 2006:


Dear Friend,


Once known as the bloodiest and most dangerous prison in America, the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola has been dramatically transformed by the power of God. Just a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to preach the Gospel at this sprawling 18,000-acre prison farm surrounded by the mighty Mississippi River on three sides and rugged hills on the other.

I came to Angola at the invitation of Warden Burl Cain, who has helped lead this moral and spiritual transformation since his arrival over a decade ago. Every inmate who enters Angola is met by both a prison official and an inmate chaplain. They are all strongly encouraged to attend one of the several churches that meet regularly in the prison chapels, and many do. The chapels are located at five of the six camps into which the 5,100 prisoners are divided.

This amazing transformation has taken place among a prison population that includes the most violent criminals in the state. Nearly 90 percent of the prisoners sent to Angola never leave, since the average sentence is 88-90 years.

Under Warden Cain's leadership, chapels have been built with private funds where prisoners worship and attend discipleship and evangelism classes. --Franklin Graham

It's amazing seeing the Lord do His good work in such a place of depravity. It just goes to show that nothing is beyond Him. Nothing.