Friend,
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. YOU’RE INVITED: NC Values “A Special
Evening with Barronelle Stutzman” event, and “Protect Your Ministry”
events.
SOGI laws are being considered across North Carolina.
They have been passed in Greensboro, Durham, Carrboro, Chapel Hill,
Winston-Salem, Hillsborough, and in Buncombe and Orange Counties. SOGI
laws allowed the State of Washington to take legal action against
Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene's florist. Stutzman serves
all customers but cannot create custom floral designs to celebrate a
view of marriage that violates her faith.
Every American should
be free to peacefully express himself or herself at home, work,
school, and in the community without fear of government censorship or
punishment. We believe that our laws should protect the
constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of every citizen, no matter who
they are. Unfortunately, SOGI laws undermine both fairness and
freedom. We have seen these SOGI nondiscrimination laws penalize
entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even religious nonprofits and
churches. These policies and ordinances are often put forth under the
guise of “tolerance,” but they actually open the door to
government-mandated intolerance and coercion that stifles personal
speech, religious liberty, and a welcoming community.
In
our effort to educate the state on the real-life harms of SOGI
legislation, we have organized a week-long, multi-city, awareness and
education campaign. Would you consider checking them out and RSVPing
to any that interest you?
2. TAKE ACTION: 👣The Human Life
Non-Discrimination Act
We're excited to share the filing of the Human Life
Non-Discrimination Act (HB453), which prohibits abortions based on
race and/or the prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
“Children shouldn’t have to pass a genetic test to earn
the right to be born” said bill co-sponsor Representative John
Bradford. “Today, it is estimated that 70 percent of all babies with a
prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome are aborted."
The North Carolina Values Coalition is backing this bill
because every child should have the chance to live a full, happy life.
We hope that North Carolina will join the leading edge of states
enacting protections against the discrimination of unborn
children.
If
you agree, would you consider clicking-to-contact your NC House member
and asking them to vote FOR the Human Life Non-Discrimination Act –
HB453?
3. DAILY SIGNAL: My friend was pressured
to have an abortion after scan showed chance of disability
“Every day in America, pregnant women sit in their
doctors’ offices, waiting for scan results. These mothers—no matter
their age, race, or economic backgrounds—all hope to hear the same
news: that their baby is healthy and growing right on track.
Hearing the all-clear, these moms can rejoice and
continue with their medical appointments. However, for the women who
receive less-clear news—or an outright distressing prenatal
diagnosis—an already nerve-racking doctor’s visit can take on a
nightmarish quality.
Not only must the mother face the possibility that her
baby is in peril, but all too often she is subject to bullying, as the
doctor to whom she has entrusted her body and her child attempts to
push her toward abortion.”
4. FOCUS ON THE FAMILY: Down Syndrome;
what the doctors didn’t tell us
“Raising a child with Down syndrome has taught us
to slow down and celebrate each and every milestone. As full of love
and joy that Kirsten is, she is also quite strong willed. (I like to
tell myself that one day this quality will serve her well.) She likes
to remind us that, just as with any child, we are not the ones to
dictate the timeline of her milestones.”
“I wish I could go
back in time and tell that doctor what I know now. If I could, perhaps
he could have offered us a more insightful glimpse into our future. If
it were up to me, the words would have gone something like this …”
5. DAILY SIGNAL: Arkansas bill would bar
doctors from transgender drug, surgical ‘experimentation’ on
minors
"Just a week after Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed
bills protecting women’s sports and medical conscience protections
from being forced to bend to progressive gender ideology, he now has
the chance to sign yet another pro-science bill that would protect
children from harmful surgical and hormonal interventions on their
bodies in the name of 'gender affirmation' and 'transgender
medicine.'"
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.
Finally, LORD, we pray even further for our children. Across
our state, country, and world, an entire generation of youth have seen
their lives and education ruptured by the pandemic and its closing of
schools. Father, as a result so many of these children are not only
wounded by the quality of their education, but by a likely onslaught
of mental illness brought about by social isolation. LORD, bring them
hope and healing as only You can.
"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)
Amen
Will
you chip in $100, $50, $25, or even $10 to help the NC Values
Coalition continue to fight for your rights? You can donate by
clicking here.
Sincerely,
North Carolina Values Coalition
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103-226, Raleigh, NC 27615-1902, United States
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