Feb 22, 2021Seven people have been killed after a Nigerian military plane crashed short of the runway in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The plane had previously reported engine failure. The plane was headed to try and rescue 42 people who had been kidnapped. Pray for the families of the deceased. Pray for the safety of those who have been kidnapped.
Feb 22, 2021Protests continue in Myanmar against the military coup that seized control of the country on February 1, 2021, overthrowing and imprisoning elected government officials. At least two people have died in the protests. Pray for the families of the deceased. Pray for a peaceful resolution.
Feb 22, 2021At least six students are thought to have died in an attack against a bus in the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia. The identity of the attackers in unknown at this time. The bus was carrying students who had just graduated and was being escorted by soldiers. Pray for the students and their families. Pray for peace.
Feb 22, 2021On much of Israel’s Mediterranean coastline, large globs of tar have washed up, thought to be from a ship spilling oil, which officials are attempting to track. Thousands of volunteers are helping clear the tar and animals. Pray for the safety of the workers.
Feb 22, 2021Troops from both China and India have agreed to pull back troops from a disputed border area. Within the last year, Chinese and Indian troops have clashed, with at least 24 being killed. Pray for the families of the deceased. Pray for continuing peace.
Feb 26, 2021Ramiro Rubi Ibarra is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm local time, on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. Sixty-six-year-old Ramiro is convicted of murdering 16-year-old Maria De La Paz Zuniga on March 6, 1987, in Waco, Texas.
Feb 22, 2021Forty-three-year-old Luca Attanasio, the Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, has died after the convoy he was traveling in came under fire. Two others also died in the attack, which is believed to have been a kidnapping attempt carried out by an unknown group. Pray for the families of the deceased. Pray for peace.
Steven Long, Texas
Updated: Monday, August 21, 2017 10:44 am EDT
Steven Lynn Long was scheduled to be executed at 6 pm CDT, on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at the Walls United of Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. His execution has been stayed. Steven was previously scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, before it was rescheduled. Forty-five-year-old Steven is convicting of raping and murdering 11-year-old Kaitlyn Briana Smith on May 21, 2005, in Dallas, Texas. Steven has spent the last 11 years of his life on Texas’ death row.
Steven's execution has been stayed by Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in order to allow the court time to further examine claims of his mental incompetently. Previously, the court has ruled that Steven was competent to be executed, however, since that ruling the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that Texas' method for determining mental competency was invalid. In light of that ruling, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has agreed to reconsider Steven's competency. Steven's execution is stayed pending further order from the court.
According to testimony at his trial, Steven’s mother, by her own admission, neglected her children. She would frequently take them to bars and leave them sitting in the car. She also threatened to take and leave them in an orphanage if they misbehaved. Steven was arrested several times a child, misbehaved at school, and suffered from anxiety attacks. As he grew older, his attacks became more violent; once threatening his mother with a knife and physically assaulting his daughter. While serving time for attempted murder, Steven alleges he was sexually abused by another inmate. Prior to his arrest, Steven worked on refrigerators.
On May 20, 2005, 11-year-old Kaitlyn Smith went over to her neighbor’s house to spend the night. The following morning, it was discovered that she was missing. Following that discovery, a search of the neighborhood commenced. Kaitlyn’s grandfather noticed the skirting around a vacant home had been disturbed. Upon further investigation, he found Kaitlyn’s body beneath the house.
A bloody fingerprint was found near her body. The fingerprint matched that of Steven Long, who had also been staying the night in the same house as Kaitlyn. An autopsy revealed that Kaitlyn had been violently sexually assaulted for a prolonged period of time. Long confessed to killing and raping Kaitlyn shortly after police arrested him.
Please pray for peace and healing for the family of Kaitlyn Smith. Please pray for strength for the family of Steven. Please pray that if Steven is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed, or should not be executed for any other reason that evidence will be provided prior to his execution. Please pray that Steven will come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if he has not already.
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