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.

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1. NC VALUES: Our Team is Growing!

We have exciting news to share—our NC Values team is growing! As we continue to advocate for pro-life, pro-family, and pro-religious freedom policies in North Carolina, we recognize the importance of having a strong, dedicated team to stand in the gap. Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to two new members who will help us expand our impact: Ashley Vaughan and Joseph Backholm.

As we continue our work in Raleigh this legislative session, Ashley and Joseph will be on the front lines—walking the halls of the General Assembly, engaging with the media, and ensuring your voice is heard.

Click here to read more about their backgrounds, or to check out some of the other talented members of our team.

Read more: https://ncvalues.org/our-team-is-growing/

2. CAROLINA JOURNAL: Dems on NC Board of Ed Ask NCGA to Put ‘Moratorium’ on Opportunity Scholarship Funding

“The North Carolina Board of Education, largely composed of appointees by former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, voted last week to urge lawmakers in the legislature to put a ‘moratorium’ on Opportunity Scholarship spending for the upcoming school year. The board wants the extra funds sent to traditional public schools.

The resolution passed 9-2, with Republican state treasurer Brad Briner and state school board member Olivia Oxendine the two ‘no’ votes. Oxendine was appointed by former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.”

Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/dems-on-nc-board-of-ed-ask-ncga-to-put-moratorium-on-opportunity-scholarship-funding/

3. NC VALUES: Thank You Senator Krawiec!

We had the great honor of attending a retirement party for Senator Joyce Krawiec. She was an incredible champion of our values at the General Assembly, and she will be sorely missed. Thank you for everything you have done for the people of North Carolina, Senator Krawiec!

View more: https://www.instagram.com/p/DF_a5zyv2Dc/?igsh=eWdoN2xheHFmM3c1

4. FOX NEWS: Senate Confirms Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Serve as Trump’s Health Secretary

“The Senate on Thursday confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary in President Donald Trump’s cabinet.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted 52-48 nearly entirely along party lines to confirm Kennedy. The final showdown over his controversial nomination was set in motion hours earlier, after another party line vote on Wednesday afternoon which started the clock ticking toward the confirmation roll call.

Kennedy, the well-known vaccine skeptic and environmental crusader who ran for the White House in 2024 before ending his bid and endorsing Trump, needed a simple majority to be confirmed by the Senate.”

Read more: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-confirms-robert-f-kennedy-jr-serve-trumps-health-secretary

5. CAROLINA JOURNAL: State Elections Board Confirms it Will Seek NC Supreme Court Review of Griffin/Riggs Dispute

“The North Carolina State Board of Elections confirmed in a court filing Wednesday that it will ask the state Supreme Court to bypass the Court of Appeals in addressing a dispute over an election to the state’s highest court. Democratic candidate Allison Riggs filed a separate court document supporting that plan.

Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin had signaled the elections board’s bypass petition plans on Tuesday. That’s when Griffin filed paperwork asking the Court of Appeals to expedite its timeline for hearing the dispute.

Riggs, an appointed state Supreme Court incumbent, leads Griffin by 734 votes out of 5.5 million ballots cast in the Nov. 5 election. Two recounts confirmed Riggs’ lead. Yet Griffin challenges more than 65,000 ballots. A state Supreme Court stay initially granted on Jan. 7 has blocked the elections board from certifying Riggs as the winner.”

Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/state-elections-board-confirms-it-will-seek-nc-supreme-court-review-of-griffin-riggs-dispute/

Weekly Prayer: Freedom

LORD, you have blessed us with a spiritual liberty that is so wonderful and beyond description, that it can only be understood through experiencing a life-giving relationship with Christ. However, we also recognize that in your grace, you have blessed our country with a political liberty that enables us to openly proclaim the experience of a life lived in the freedom of the Gospel.

LORD, as individuals and as a nation, may we never take the inalienable right of religious freedom for granted. Right now our country has faced a rapid increase in the number of attacks made against this cherished right. We have seen groups across our public arena increase in boldness and frequency their smears against religious liberty. They claim it is bigotry, when we know it is the security of the greatest of all possible loves.

Be with your people and our country as it continues to protect the constitutional right protected by our nation’s Founders. Be with legislators and the Supreme Court, as they determine through their actions the protection of this particular and fundamental freedom. 

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)

“Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

Amen

Sincerely,

Tami & Team

NC Values