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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.

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** 1. NC VALUES: Happy National School Choice Week
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This week marked the #NationalSchoolChoiceWeek (1/26–2/1), a time to celebrate the growing number of educational options available to families across North Carolina and the nation.

When it comes to school choice, North Carolina has much to celebrate.

Today, families have access to a wide range of educational options for the more than 2.3 million children living in our state. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling—giving parents greater flexibility to choose what best fits their child’s needs.

Read more: [link removed]

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** 2. OPENING SOON: Opportunity Scholarship Registration Opens Soon
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Just as importantly, North Carolina’s current state budget previously expanded Opportunity Scholarships to all families, empowering parents to choose the educational environment that best serves their children. Parents know their children best, and financial barriers should never prevent families from pursuing the education they believe is right. Opportunity Scholarship registration opens February 2 and runs through March 6.

Click here to learn more about registering: [link removed]

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** 3. WNG: BACKHOLM: Keeping ICE Within the Law
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"A defining feature of the American experiment is that citizens are not meant to live in fear of their own government. The Constitution was written against the backdrop of arbitrary arrests, general warrants, and the abuse of unchecked government power, with the express purpose of ensuring that government would secure the rights of the people rather than endanger them. As a result, Americans have not historically lived under the fear that they might be taken from their homes at the discretion of a vengeful, petty, or overly zealous political authority.”

Read more: [link removed]

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** 4. CAROLINA JOURNAL: NC Ranks 13th on National Education Freedom Index
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"The Tar Heel State ranks 13th in a new index of how well the 50 states provide different educational options for parents in 2026.

Released Jan. 21 by the American Legislative Exchange Council, the results show that North Carolina dipped slightly from its 2025 ranking when the state placed 12th overall, but its score was still enough to earn a B+. The state’s slight dip was primary due to other states’ advancing on parental choice rather than a decline in its own school-choice policies."

Read more: [link removed]

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** 5. DAILY SIGNAL: Nationwide Coalition Organizes to Flip the Script on Gay Marriage
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"A coalition of 47 conservative organizations is launching a campaign to challenge the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which the groups claim redefined marriage to emphasize the desires of adults over the needs of children.

The 'Greater Than' campaign focuses on one message, which a handful of conservative leaders state clearly in a launch video: 'Children are greater than equal, and it’s time we fought for their rights.'"

Read more: [link removed]


** Weekly Prayer: Officials
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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

Disclaimer: Paid for by the NC Values Coalition. Not paid for by any candidate or any candidate’s committee. Financial information about NC Values Coalition and a copy of its #SL006654 license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at (919) 807-2214 (tel:(919) 807-2214) . The license is not an endorsement by the State. Donations to NC Values Coalition and NC Values Coalition PAC are not tax-deductible.

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