Dear Jack,

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: 👋 Check Out Our Newest Teammate

Last week, Governor Josh Stein vetoed HB 805, a vital piece of legislation passed by both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly. This pro-family, pro-woman bill was crafted to protect vulnerable citizens, defend parents’ rights, and restore common-sense standards in our laws. His veto shows just how out of touch he is with the values of most North Carolinians.

But we’re not giving up.

In fact, we’re stepping up our efforts—and that includes expanding our NC Values team.

Earlier this week, we introduced you to Isaac Burke, our new Grassroots & Political Director. Isaac joins us at a critical moment as we work to secure the votes needed to override Governor Stein’s veto of HB 805.

Read more: https://ncvalues.org/newest-teammate/

2. NORTH STATE JOURNAL: Stein Vetoes 7 More Bills, Bringing His Total to 11

"Gov. Josh Stein issued seven more vetoes, bringing his total number of vetoes since taking office in January to 11.

Stein’s latest vetoes have him passing his predecessor Roy Cooper, who had vetoed nine bills by the end of July 2017. Cooper issued 28 vetoes during the 2017-18 legislative sessions, with 23 of the 28 overridden by the legislature."

Read more: https://nsjonline.com/article/2025/07/stein-vetoes-7-more-bills-bringing-his-total-to-11/

3. AP: Pastors Who Endorse Political Candidates Shouldn’t Lose Tax-Exempt Status, IRS Says in Filing

"The IRS says pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit should not have to risk losing their tax-exempt status.

The move effectively calls for a carve out for religious organizations from the rarely used IRS rule called the Johnson Amendment, put in place in 1954 and named after then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson.

In a joint court filing intended to end an ongoing case against the IRS, the tax collection agency and the National Religious Broadcasters Association — a Evangelical media consortium — and other plaintiffs have asked a federal court in Texas to stop the government from enforcing the Johnson Amendment against the plaintiffs."

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/irs-tax-trump-nonprofit-religion-courts-eee4b690ad475d5c8a52137c14cb03de

4. WRAL: A Former Governor, a Trump and Many Others: Tillis Retirement Sets Off NC Senate Seat Speculation

“'There's a tremendous amount of people who are looking at the position and trying to determine whether they have the fire in belly to run for it,' state Rep. John Torbett said on Monday. The absence of an incumbent emboldens national and state Democrats in their bid to flip back the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage."

Read more: https://www.wral.com/story/a-former-governor-a-trump-and-many-others-tillis-retirement-sets-off-nc-senate-seat-speculation/22070683/

5. FOX NEWS: Trump Admin Suing California Over Alleged Title IX Violations

"The Trump administration on Wednesday announced it will sue the California Department of Education (CDE) and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) over Title IX violations.

The administration is asking for an injunction on the state’s policy allowing males to compete against females in sports – an issue that reached a fever pitch earlier this year when a transgender athlete won multiple events in girls’ track and field competitions."

Read more: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trump-admin-suing-california-over-alleged-title-ix-violations

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