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: Great Celebration of Carolina Values in Raleigh

We wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who joined us at this year’s NC Values Celebration of Carolina Values in Raleigh! It was a beautiful evening of fellowship and conviction—celebrating the values that make our communities strong. From the powerful testimony of our keynote speaker, Dan Bishop, who reminded us of the enduring importance of principled leadership, to the courageous voices on our panel confronting radical gender ideology—Janet Peterson, Prisha Mosley, and Evie Edwards—the night was both inspiring and deeply affirming of the mission we share. We also got to celebrate our appreciated legislators of the year—Rep. Neal jackson, Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, and Rep. Jonathan Almond—for their pro-values work.

If you believe in advancing life, family, and religious freedom across North Carolina, would you consider making a donation today? Your one-time or monthly gift helps us continue this vital work—equipping citizens, influencing policy, and defending truth in the public square.

Visit ncvalues.org/gift to make a contribution.

Thank you again to those who were able to attend, and to all of you for making our celebration possible!

2. NC VALUES: We Applaud the NC House for Voting to End Planned Parenthood Medicaid Funding

Earlier this week, the North Carolina House passed House Bill 378 along a 61-47 vote. This legislation protects taxpayers from funding Planned Parenthood. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to immediately end all Medicaid contracts with Planned Parenthood and redirect those services to other qualified healthcare providers.

“HB 378 is a victory for life in North Carolina,” said Tami Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the North Carolina Values Coalition. “Today the House ensured that our taxpayer dollars do not fund or subsidize ending the lives of unborn children in our state. We’d like to thank Speaker Hall and the members who voted for this important legislation that protects the conscience of NC taxpayers and promotes a culture of life in our state.”

Read our press release: https://ncvalues.org/pr-nc-values-applauds-house-vote-to-end-planned-parenthood-medicaid-funding/

Also check out the letter to Congress we co-signed with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and 100+ other pro-life groups: https://www.lifenews.com/2025/10/22/over-100-pro-life-groups-tell-congress-to-stop-funding-abortions-in-obamacare/

3. NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS: Lawmakers Approve New NC Congressional Districts

"New congressional districts are now in effect, after passing both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly. Last week, lawmakers proposed a new map to gain an additional Republican congressional seat in the 2026 midterm elections. Republican lawmakers claim this is necessary to combat redistricting efforts in Democratic-majority states like California."

Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/lawmakers-approve-new-nc-congressional-districts/

4. ENDORSEMENT: NC Values Endorses Pam James and Thomas Dement in Wake Forest Commissioners Race

“Pam James and Thomas Dement are deeply connected in the Wake Forest area and have been actively involved in their local churches and other community outreaches for many years,” said NC Values Grassroots & Political Director Isaac Burke.

“Throughout that time, Pam and Thomas have displayed a high level of professionalism and moral character in their conduct, a strong and unwavering desire to serve and uplift everyone around them, and a deep commitment to family values and biblical truth. If you live in Wake Forest town limits, please show up and vote for Pam James and Thomas Dement this November 4th.”

Early voting for municipal elections is currently underway. To view our endorsements, and other tools that prepare you to vote in this year's municipal election, check out our NC Values Voter Toolkit here: https://ncvalues.org/vote/

5. CAROLINA JOURNAL: NC Opportunity Scholarship Enrollment Nears 100K

"The Opportunity Scholarship Program is nearing a key milestone of nearly 100,000 North Carolina students enrolled.

As of Oct. 6, state data show 98,917 students were using Opportunity Scholarships — a 204% increase from two years ago and a 23% jump since last school year. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, the state agency responsible for overseeing the voucher program, is still taking applications for the spring term, meaning the total could surpass 100,000 this year."

Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/nc-opportunity-scholarship-enrollment-nears-100k/

Weekly Prayer: Officials

LORD, you also have instructed us to pray for our governing officials, and we come to you in the spirit of this petition. We pray for our state government and its executive, legislative, and judicial servants. May they indeed be servants unto the people, and govern in a manner that protects liberty and virtue. In the same spirit, we pray for public servants across our local governments. May they all heed your mandate in Romans 13:4 to be in positions of authority as “God’s servant” and for the “good” of the public. They govern in what we confess are difficult times. May they plead with you to give them wisdom, and may your grace to govern wisely be poured out on them.

Protect us from the oppression and loss of freedoms that other countries have experienced, and help us to value and preserve freedom, which we know comes only from You.

“I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt.  I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free.” Acts 7:34

Amen

Sincerely,

Tami & Team

NC Values