Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families.

We would be very grateful if you could make a donation of $100, $50, $25, or $10 today towards our work producing these Friday Fives and fighting for your values on the public square!

1. VOTE: Tomorrow is Your Last Chance to Vote Early

NC Values is urging Christians to voice their values at the ballot box.

Statistically, only 51% of Christians vote. In this critical election year, we need every Christian to make informed choices and vote for candidates who will protect the unborn, religious freedom, parental rights and family values.

As in years past, we have partnered with iVoterGuide to rate candidates for North Carolina elections from a Biblical pro-values worldview. In addition to containing our sponsored iVoterGuide, the toolkit also lets you lookup important election dates, review our legislative scorecard, access our endorsed candidates list, view our new 2024 party platform comparison, and includes a number of other pro-voter tools designed to save you time and equip you to vote wisely.

If you were planning on voting early, don’t forget that early voting ends TOMORROW on Saturday November 2nd at 3pm.

We hope you find these tools useful, and we strongly encourage you to get out today and vote early for pro-values candidates such as Hal Weatherman, Dan Bishop, Michele Morrow, Luke Farley, and many others.

2. CAROLINA JOURNAL: More than 3 Million Ballots Cast in North Carolina’s Early Voting

“As of 10 am on Wednesday, voter turnout was at 3,382,286 ballots, according to NCSBE.

Additionally, turnout in the 25 counties in the western part of the state impacted by Hurricane Helene continues to outpace the rest of the state.

‘We encourage all voters who have not yet cast their ballot to do so. There is still time. Let’s shatter 2020’s record turnout,’ Patrick Gannon, Public Information Office for NCSBE, told the Carolina Journal. ‘Early voting continues through 3 pm Saturday at 420 sites across North Carolina. Of course, Election Day is next Tuesday, November 5. Polls will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Voters should go to their assigned polling place on Election Day.’”

3. NORTH STATE JOURNAL: NCGA Passes $644M more in Helene Relief

“Both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed a second round of Hurricane Helene relief funding on Oct. 24.

Senate Bill 743, retitled ‘The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 — Part II,’ contains more than $644 million for Helene relief and will draw from the state’s Savings Reserve, also known as the Rainy Day Fund.”

4. MY DAILY RECORD: Kamala Harris Rebukes Christian Students

“The truth has a way of coming out. For anyone who still has any doubt, several recent and prior events have clarified what Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris’ stance is toward Christians and people of faith.

At a campaign event recently in La Crosse, Wisconsin, two Christian students in the crowd shouted, ‘Jesus is Lord!’ after suffering through one of Harris’ oft-used rants for unlimited abortion rights, apparently her only campaign issue. . . . Kamala shot back: ‘Oh, I think you’re at the wrong rally.’ The left-wing crowd went wild.”

5. DOCTORS & MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS: Women’s Healthcare Declaration

A coalition of doctors and medical organizations has signed and launched the Women’s Healthcare Declaration at www.womenshealthmatters.org to promote a program of dignified healthcare for women, especially surrounding pregnancy. The Declaration calls for accurate information about abortion to be given to patients as well as urging medical leaders, medical associations, and agencies to communicate accurately about pregnancy, pregnancy complications, and state laws.

Read the Declaration: https://womenshealthmatters.org

WEEKLY PRAYER: Life

LORD, we recognize that you are Sovereign over all creation. We recognize you made man from the dust, and in your mercy, you crowned creation with man and woman made in your image. What a wonder it is that you would bestow upon us this blessing and responsibility!

LORD, may we not take this blessing for granted. We pray that this great responsibility and dignity may motivate us to love You, our neighbors, and our families more. LORD, may we as a culture truly see and believe that children are a blessing from the LORD—born or unborn; able or disabled. All children should have an opportunity to experience the liberty of life. LORD, make us your vehicle to change our culture into one that cherishes and protects life. Keep at the forefront of our minds our responsibilities to respect, cherish, and serve the youngest and oldest in our society.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.’” (Matthew 18:1-6)