Obedience -- there are rewards for obedience. Privileges are given. Authority is delegated and Responsibility is increased. Disobedience - there is punishment for disobedience. Privileges are withdrawn. All possible authority is withheld and responsibility is withdrawn - leaving the disobedient party in an ineffectual place.
Riding in the SUV with Warden Cain we could see that there was trouble in the fields where a crew was laboring. The mounted guards turned to attend to the issue. One guard raised his rifle and fired a shot into the air. The other guard did nothing. The fight stopped, but Warden Cain pushed the gas pedal to the floor. He left the road and raced across the field. He jumped out of the car and moved quickly toward the guard who had not fired his rifle. "Give me that rifle." the warden said. Warden Cain proceeded to empty the rifle, by shooting repeated shots into the air. "I pay you to shoot your rifle when fights break out. I pay you to do your job. You're fired. Get off this farm."
As he climbed back into the car, he proceeded to describe story after story about guards and other officers in the system had disobeyed rules. He described situations where fights had been allowed to continue and where men had been killed. He described situations where guards had lost their lives and where people had been seriously injured. It was clear to me that he loved these men. It was even clear to me that he loved this guard. His willingness to disregard this rule, he told me, would one day jeopardize his life and the lives of others. This mounted guard had to go.
Yahshua/Jesus came to give us life and that more abundantly. The gospel is the power of Yah to all that believe and receive it. How beautiful are the feet of those that bring good news. As I walked through the libraries of Angola, I was struck again with the Warden Cain's love for these men. They have a general library, a law library and a library with specific biblical reference and study tools. They have a bible school and a school to help men to get their GED and other advanced degrees. It was clear to me that these men were being given the opportunity to develop. Some inmates acted as lawyers for other inmates; filing appeals and working through documents as they researched precedent and judges that might be willing to read their cases. Other inmates served food, made toys from scrap wood, while others were given studios to craft paintings and sculptures to express their magnificent talents. Every inmate that I spoke to – in each of these positions – talked about how their work was a gift from God and how it was through that work/gift that they could worship God and serve the men of Angola. It was clear to me that these men loved the other prisoners in Angola. They were also consciously aware of the love that Warden Cain had for them and how easily these privileges could easily be taken away from them. One act of disobedience – could cost them a lifetime of expression. One act of anger could cost them a lifetime of sowing seed.
As I walked the halls, I was greeted time and time again by men who were in our ministerial training - over 150 men heard the Leadership training, that Pastor Rusty Griffin presented and the teaching that I brought on the Sacred Name and the intimacy of the Hebrew Language in prayer and in study. Friendships are being formed. Pastor Ron, Pastor Sidney, Pastor Bubba and Rambo spent time with us. Greg, Paul, Alex, George, Prentice, Flynn, Trent, Sam, Hop Sing, ET and Sweet Lou have all made lasting impressions. Individuals came to me with prayer requests and with appeals for help on certain matters. Paperwork was dropped into my hands and that paper represented years of a man’s life. These 100 pages seemed to weigh 100 pounds. “Find me a lawyer in New York or some other state to read this and who will agree to file these in their state on our behalf.” “It’ll cost $300 to file these papers. Do you think you can find someone to sponsor this?” “Now remember, this is not for me – this is for my friend – who should not be serving life. And should we win this case it will help many others, who are in similar circumstances.”
Greg came up to me and began to share some of his artwork. He showed me pictures of cars that he had restored and he voiced a dream of his. “A few of us would like to find a car that runs that we can restore and sell at the Rodeo, so that we can give the money to the ministry. We will be able to educate our missionaries that we are sending to the other prisons in Louisiana.” They have caught the vision for the prison that Warden Cane carries in his heart. They have taken ownership of their vision and they are beginning to see that through one man’s obedience – Warden Cain – they have been able to develop themselves and to position themselves to make a difference on behalf of others.
Ryan will be entering into a course of study to earn his Masters in Divinity as he is being sent to other prisons to raise up men in ministry but more importantly as examples of Yahshua's character and person. Faith Exchange is going to join with the ProVision Network to cover his tuition - $1800 – so that he can go to school. In the midst of a building program, in the midst of a downturn in giving at Faith Exchange – we know and believe that we are to continue to OBEY the voice and give to every good work.
Let us find a car that Greg and his team can restore. Let us continue to partner with Mike and Rusty and me to send us to Angola and elsewhere as we begin to have an effect on the violence in prison as well as the recitivism.
As we were leaving the studios and the various wood and metal shops we walked through the gym. As we walked through some of the men came up to me and asked me for my card. They were lining up to be counted. As I looked out onto the basketball floor there had to be 60 men – 40 of these men were taller than me. They were young. They were strong and they were criminals – grateful – for the opportunity to run, jump and compete. I could see that they were choosing up teams and one inmate ran over to me and said, “Hey, I need a power forward.” Oh, how I wish I were 30 again. Oh, how I wish that I could have the chance to ‘man up’ with some of these men in that gym that day, giving and earning respect in the hopes that a soul might make a choice to follow Yahshua. There was so much raw power in that room. The talent locked away – without expression – was impossible to measure. It wasn’t the time to engage them. I regret not being in shape – to the point – that I could have borrowed a pair of shoes and ran the floor with these men.
I am only beginning to understand the reasons for me traveling with Mike and Rusty. I am only beginning to see my part and the purpose of my contribution. All I know for sure is that I am a man under authority and I go where He sends me.
Finally, as we sat for breakfast this morning I had the honor to open the door for Warden Cain as he came through the door to eat. He had been away and he was just getting back. Each man had something to say to him and with each piece of information, he picked up the phone to speak to people to make adjustments. “This man needs to be moved. This policy needs to be written. These clearances need to be given.” Men live and die by his decisions. And as I write this note, I see that this man is crying out for help. Echoing in my mind are the words “Men live and die by his decisions.” And as I hear the words echo off the far reaches of my mind, they come back to me and they seem to say, “Men live and die by your decisions too, Daniel.”
When Warden Cain came to me, as we sat around that table, I reminded him of a conversation that we had back in November. He has expanded his vision to include the building of a camp for the children of the men of Angola. He told me that “70% of the boys born to these men will follow their fathers to jail unless we reach them with the gospel.” Within seconds he had a man in the room describing a property that he had located. We began the discussion. I think about these children. I think about the victims that will be spared because we build this dream out and help Warden Cain to be fully expressed for as he is expressed so are the prisoners, so will be their children and so will be those that would have otherwise been victimized.”
Warden Burl Cain will be with us for the Leadership Summit Feb. 25-27. If you want to meet a great man, amongst other great men – make every effort to be with us.