Did You Know?
Eighteen men have been executed in the United States during 2012.
Weekly Bible Passage For Meditation, Prayer and Reflection Week of May 20 -26, 2012: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. (NLT)
Naos is the Greek word used for temple here. It is important because the word “Naos” does not refer to a structure – it literally is the Holy of Holies. Your body is the inner sanctuary of the Holy Spirit.
The Forgiveness Foundation Christmas Card Outreach 2012
The Forgiveness Foundation
Christmas Card Outreach 2012
May 17, 2012
Dear Friend,
Christmas is just over seven months away! Have you started thinking about Christmas gifts yet? We have! Here at The Forgiveness Foundation we hand draw over 3,200 Christmas cards to send to the men and women on death row in the United States. For many on death row, the Christmas card they receive from The Forgiveness Foundation will be the only gift the inmate receives for Christmas. Christmas is traditionally spent with family and loved ones, which makes it hard for people in prison generally, and especially hard for the men and women who are isolated on death row. Belonging is an important part of being human, and, I suspect it is why The Forgiveness Foundation begins receiving letters in September from inmates asking us to remember them with a Christmas card.
Seven months may seem like a great deal of time to get ready, but let us assure you it is not. We have to order the card stock and envelopes, hand draw every Christmas card with colored pencils, hand write a scripture passage and personal note, in seasonally appropriate colored ink, on the inside flaps of every Christmas card. Unlike store purchased cards, the cards drawn by The Forgiveness Foundation volunteers become art work that decorates the cell of the recipient and shares the love of Jesus Christ and all of us at The Forgiveness Foundation. Did you know that more men and women on death row come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ through our Christmas card outreach than any other time of the year? I haven’t forgotten the envelopes: every envelope is addressed by hand in seasonally appropriate colored ink. We want as many believers sharing the love of Christ with every card drawn as possible.
Help us fulfill the great commission by taking the love of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, to every man and woman on death row in the United States: “[Jesus] said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” (Mark 16:15, NIV) We need to start drawing, but before we can start drawing, we need to purchase the supplies needed for The Forgiveness Foundation Christmas Card Outreach 2012. Prayerfully consider a gift to The Forgiveness Foundation Christmas Card Outreach 2012.
Cards and Envelopes $ 969.00
Postage 1,750.00
Red and Green Ink Pens 95.94
Colored Pencils 259.00
Total: 3,073.00
You can make your gift online by going to our website by clicking on the PayPal logo and following the instructions. If you prefer, you may mail your gift to The Forgiveness Foundation, P.O. Box 2634, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.
We need more! Your time! In early September, we will need a minimum of 300 volunteers to come out and draw the Christmas cards, print the scripture verse in the card, and address the envelopes. The Forgiveness Foundation will supply everything needed to draw, inscribe the cards, and address the envelopes. Light refreshments will be supplied. More details to come!
We need even more help! Your prayers! If you are unable to support The Forgiveness Foundation Christmas Card Outreach 2012 financially or with your time– you can still be an active participant. Pray! Pray for those who are able to support The Forgiveness Foundation Christmas Card Outreach 2012, pray for the artists and inscribers whom the Lord touched to do this work, pray for the men and women who receive a Christmas card. Pray especially for those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, the Christ.
Godspeace!
Rodney Rexrode, Executive Director
The Forgiveness Foundation
Arizona Supreme Court Stays Execution of Samuel Lopez
Forty-nine-year-old Samuel Lopez was scheduled to be executed at Arizona State Prison in Florence, Arizona on May 16, 2012. He has received a stay of execution. The stay of execution was granted by the Arizona Supreme Court to investigate claims that Lopez was denied a fair clemency.
In the days leading up to his scheduled execution, numerous appeals and motions have been filed on his behalf. It began Monday, May 7, 2012, with his defense attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Kelley Henry walking out his clemency hearing claiming the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency did not have the authority to hear the case and that to go ahead with the proceedings would waiver her client’s right to a fair hearing. Henry accuses Arizona Governor Jan Brewer of violating several state statues when she appointed three new members to the five member clemency board. These accusations included a violation of open meeting laws (because their interviews took place behind closed doors), one member being lobbyist for a police association that advocates the death penalty, and the lack of necessary training completed by the new members.
Judge Joseph Kreamer of Maricopa County Superior Court had scheduled a hearing in July to address the charge of the lack of necessary training and the lack of interest in the correction process demonstrated by one of the new members. Interest in the corrections process is a qualification requirement under state law.
Additionally, two, three-judge panels of the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco have each denied appeals filed for Lopez. One claimed Lopez was denied effective legal representation and the other challenged the states execution procedures.
Forty-nine-year-old Lopez was convicted of raping, robbing, and stabbing to death 59-year-old Estafana Holmes on October 29, 1986 in Phoenix. This murder was brutal. Estafana had been blindfolded and gagged with her own clothing. Blood was splattered on the walls of the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. She had stab wounds on her head and face, 23 stab wounds on her left breast, and her throat had been slit. Her apartment was in complete disarray, giving evidence of a prolonged struggle as Estafana fought for her life.
Please pray for peace for the family of Estafana. Please pray for wisdom for the Arizona Supreme Court as they investigate this matter. Samuel has not written to The Forgiveness Foundation, therefore, we do not know if he has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Please pray that Samuel may come to have a personal relationship with Jesus, if he has not already found one.
Steven Staley Execution Stayed By Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stayed the execution of Steven Staley set for 6 PM, May 16, 2012, at the Walls Unit of the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. The court stopped the execution to examine claims that the state was forcing Steven to take powerful anti-psychotic drugs so that Steven would be mentally competent to be executed.
John Stickels, a defense attorney for Steven Staley, claimed that Staley had been off his medications for two weeks and that a psychologist visited Staley at the Polunsky Unit of the Texas State Penitentiary in Livingston, Texas. The psychologist claimed Steven was delusional after being off his medications for two weeks. “He is delusional again. He believes there is a big conspiracy orchestrated by the state and that everybody, everybody, is part of the conspiracy, “'Stickels said. “He believes that he was wrongfully convicted because of the conspiracy.”
Can Texas force an inmate to take his medications so he can be executed? At first glance it would appear that Texas is treating Staley to so he can be executed. The truth is Staley went off his medications which he was taking voluntarily until two weeks ago.
The Tarrant County prosecutors believe that Staley’s medication is in “his medical best interest,” and not merely a means to Staley’s execution. The prosecutors, who do no not deny Staley has a mental illness – they argue that Staley’s condition improved over the years he has been medicated. “There has to be some sort of sense of finality,” said Jim Gibson, an assistant criminal district attorney from Tarrant County. “This is the judgment of a duly impaneled jury. We believe that it is completely reasonable for the trial court simply say, 'Take your medications.'”
Please pray for the members of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals as they grapple with a truly tough decision.
DNA Proves Bennett Barbour Innocent 14 Years After Release From Virginia Prison
Today, it is expected that DNA testing will be performed on evidence found at a crime scene. That wasn’t so 32 years ago. Bennett Barbour was wrongfully convicted of raping a 19-year-old student who attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1978. He was convicted through eye witness testimony. She said! He said! She was believed.
The day of the rape Bennett was 30 miles away with his mother and brother. This testimony is not considered strong because it came from Bennett’s family. Bennett was released from a hospital earlier on the day of the rape where he had a pin placed in his arm. Bennett has a brittle bone disorder which made it highly unlikely that he would be physically capable of accomplishing the rape, even if he attempted. Bennett was tried, found guilty and sentenced to 18 years. He served five of those years in prison with the balance served on parole. Fourteen years after Bennett Barbour had served his sentence, his entire sentence, DNA testing found him innocent!
His world had changed dramatically when he was released from prison. His wife of six months divorced him and his relationship with his daughter is strained. He was unable to find a job. Employers are cautious in hiring people convicted of rape and Bennett has contracted cancer.
The Commonwealth of Virginia learned through DNA testing in 2010, that Bennett Barbour is innocent of committing the crime for which he was convicted; however, they failed to advise him or the victim. The University of Virginia Law School’s Innocence Project learned of this and has asked the Virginia Supreme Court to grant Bennett Barbour an Order of Innocence, which would clear his name.
Please pray that this request, which has been joined by the Attorney General of Virginia, is handled expeditiously by the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Robert Dewey, Innocent! Released From Colorado Prison After 18 Years
Innocent People Can End Up In Prison
Robert Dewey Is Such An Innocent Man
Robert Dewey has spent the last 18 years of his life incarcerated at the Limon Correctional Facility in Limon, Colorado, for a murder he did not commit. Dewey was convicted of the 1994 rape and strangulation of 19-year-old Jacie Taylor, a Palisades woman, and sentenced to life without possibility of parole. New DNA evidence proves he did not commit the murder and it is expected that Robert will be released shortly after a 3:30 PM (MDT) court hearing.
The district attorney’s office used new technology to examine DNA evidence that was found in Jacie Taylors’ apartment, thereby clearing Robert Dewey. The prosecutor’s office believes the DNA taken from Taylors’ apartment implicates Douglas Thames. Douglas Thames is currently serving life for a high profile 1994 rape and strangulation.
Unfortunately it is true – innocent people are in prison. Did you know that over 2,200,000 people are imprisoned in the United States?
An innocent, 35-year-old Robert D. Dewey was sentenced to life without parole by the State of Colorado for a rape and murder he did not commit. Today, Robert is 51-years-old and will be released from the Limon Correction Facility into the free world. A world that has changed dramatically over the nearly 18 years Robert has spent in prison – about 1/3 of his adult life. Robert openly admits he is concerned about fitting into the world in which he is being released. Pray for Robert to make a successful transition back into the free world and that all that see him see an innocent man wrongly convicted. Please pray that the State of Colorado arrests and prosecutes the right man this time. Please pray for all those who are imprisoned unjustly, and that the truth will be revealed. You see, innocent people do end up in prison.
Scheduled Executions
Please continue to pray for the following men who are scheduled for execution in the coming months.
May 2012
- 01 - Michael Selsor, Oklahoma - Executed
- 02 - Anthony Bartee, Texas - Stayed
- 09 - Todd Wessinger, Louisiana-- Stayed by Federal District Judge James Brady
- 13-19 - Eric Robert, South Dakota - Volunteer - Stayed by South Dakota Supreme Court to review case.
- 16 - Steven Staley, Texas - Stayed by Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to determine if Steven has sufficient mental competency to be executed.
- 16 - Samuel Lopez, Arizona - Stayed - Rescheduled for June 27, 2012
June 2012
- 06 - Bobby Lee Hines, Texas
- 06 - Abdul Awkal, Ohio
- 12 - Richard Levitt, Idaho
- 27 - Samuel Lopez, Arizona (Rescheduled from May 16)
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Daily Reading
Only through a relationship with Jesus Christ can anyone hope to separate themselves from the power of sin in this world. Through Him, all things are made new. For a complete listing of readings, please download our Bible Study.
