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. NC VALUES: Victory for Women’s Sport and Biological Reality

This week, we witnessed a major victory for women’s sports and biological reality. President Trump signed the ‘No Men in Women’s Sports’ Executive Order, fulfilling a key campaign promise to protect female athletes from being forced to compete against biological males.

For years, NC Values has been on the frontlines of this fight, introducing the bill in 2021 and again in 2023. We led the charge in North Carolina to pass the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act (H574 & S631), ensuring girls can compete on a level playing field, because denying biological reality and allowing males to compete on female athletic teams undermines basic fairness and safety.

A key moment in that battle was bringing PaytonMcNabb before the press and lawmakers to share her heartbreaking story.

2. DATE CHANGE: Join Us for the Celebration of Carolina Values on April 24th

We wanted to let you know that we’ve rescheduled our Celebration of Carolina Values event from March 6th to April 24th at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte. We appreciate your flexibility and would love to have you be part of this inspiring and impactful evening!

The political landscape is shifting, and the fight for our values has never been more important. This event is an opportunity to gather with like-minded individuals who care about faith, family, and freedom in North Carolina. Enjoy a fantastic evening with great food, hear from our incredible keynote speaker, Rosaria Butterfield, and learn about the work NC Values is doing to defend parental rights, life, and religious liberty in our state.

Seats are limited, and demand is high. Reserve your spot today by purchasing your ticket. Sponsorship opportunities are also available—email [email protected] to learn more.

3. NOW OPEN: The Opportunity Scholarship Registration Period Opened on February 6th

North Carolina’s current budget expanded Opportunity Scholarships to all families in NC, empowering parents to choose the school which best fits their children. Parents know what’s best for their own children, and now economics is no longer a stumbling block for families who want to escape public schools rife with indoctrination. Opportunity Scholarship registration opened up on Feb. 6 and runs until Mar. 6.

Learn more about registering: https://k12.ncseaa.edu/opportunity-scholarship/

4. WATCH: We’re Fighting for Your Values—At the School Board and Beyond!

On Tuesday, Tami Fitzgerald spoke at the Wake County School Board meeting, calling out policies that push radical gender ideology in our schools. With shifting federal Title IX enforcement and new guidance from the Department of Education, it’s time for our school boards to stop prioritizing woke agendas over parents’ rights and students’ safety.

Watch this video to hear Tami’s powerful message and learn why we’re urging the board to close the Office of Equity Affairs and revise their policies to align with the 2020 version of Title IX—not the overreaching 2022 version they adopted last fall.

5. NORTH STATE JOURNAL: Education Department Ends DEI Practices

“President Donald Trump’s Department of Education has taken action to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as ending former President Joe Biden’s ‘Book Ban Hoax,’ according to press statements released by the agency.

The U.S. Department of Education’s (USDOE) elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives follows Trump’s executive orders dismantling DEI, which his administration considers to be a ‘divisive ideology.'”

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)