There is a people group in Louisiana of over 5,000 people.

Until seven years ago it was known as the bloodiest people group in America. It was not uncommon for 40 people a year to be murdered and 40 people a year to commit suicide.

It was so bad that the federal government had to take charge and set up a type of martial law.

Seven years ago things began to change. Several hundred have been converted to Christ in the past seven years. Over 2000 have been trained and discipled through Experiencing God and other discipleship materials. Faith based ministries and teachings have permeated the life style of these people. At least seventy of these people have finished an onsite seminary and are considered preachers of the gospel.

In a recent revival over 200 people accepted Christ as Savior.

It is now hard to get a good fistfight started among the populace, according to local leadership. There has not been a murder or a suicide in the past four years.

This activity has taken place in the largest maximum security penitentiary in the U.S. It is the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

The warden made a commitment to “turn the prison over to God Almighty” as he expresses it. He made a commitment to do this with the help of Louisiana Baptists.

Ten churches have been established on these 18,000 acres.

When a prisoner is executed for a capital crime by lethal injection the warden goes into the death chamber and holds the prisoner’s hand.

The funeral services are New Orleans style funerals, complete with the horse drawn carriage. A group of fellow prisoners walk behind the carriage singing as the entourage makes its ways to the cemetery.

In time past the men who died in prison, eighty-five percent of them will die there, wanted to be taken off prison grounds for burial. Now they want to be buried “prison style” on the grounds.

Recently, the warden was named the outstanding warden in the U.S.