Cain's Redemption: A Story of Hope and Transformation in America's Bloodiest Prison

by Dennis Shere

Publisher:

Northfield Publishing

, 2005

Overview

Formerly known as America’s bloodiest prison, the 18,000 acres that comprise Louisiana’s Angola State Penitentiary are now home to 5,000 inmates, a full range of seasonal crops, a 9-hole golf course, yearly rodeos, a Bible seminary, a museum, and much more. All of this came into being at the behest of Warden Burl Cain, who is now the longest-standing warden in the history of Angola prison. Under his leadership, the inmate population of 5,000 has gone from regular knife fights to Bible studies. Cain is a strong believer in the ability of the gospel to turn the most incorrigible of sinners into productive, moral citizens. Because eight out of ten prisoners are serving life sentences without parole at Angola, Cain has taken upon himself the task of making the lives of these prisoners productive and educational. Through a partnership with New Orleans Baptist Seminary, prisoners have the opportunity to get a bible degree and even be transferred to other prisons as a missionary. The Angola phenomenon has been covered by such media outlets as: Time Magazine, Christianity Today, and in the award-winning film documentary, The Farm: Angola, USA. Author Dennis Shere combines his background in journalism and law to bring readers this account of redemption and life change in the most unlikely of places: a maximum security prison.

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Saving Antonio

2. "You Just Killed That Man"

3. Life on the Mississippi

4. Manufactured Hope

5. What It Feels Like

6. Souls Behind Bars

7. The Bishop of Angola

8. Troubleshooting

9. A Sharp Silver of Metal

10. Shakedowns and Prison Breaks

11. The Yes Man

12. "I Didn’t Do It"

13. In for Life, Making a Life

14. "They Kicked Me Out of Prison"

15. "He Kept His Word"

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Product Details

• Title : Cain's Redemption: A Story of Hope and Transformation in America's Bloodiest Prison
• Author: Shere, Dennis
• Publisher: Northfield Publishing
• Publication Date: 2005
• ISBN: 9781575675015

About Dennis Shere