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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.

We would be very grateful if you could make a donation of $100, $50, $25, or $10 today ([link removed]) towards our work producing these Friday Fives and fighting for your values on the public square!
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** 1. YOU'RE INVITED: Ride Up With Us to D.C. to Stand for Women’s Sports at the Supreme Court
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Join us for a free, one-day trip to Washington, DC as we rally on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in State of West Virginia v. B.P.J.—a pivotal case defending fairness and safety in women’s sports.

We’re inviting supporters to start the new year by standing strong for biological reality and protecting girls’ and women’s opportunities in athletics. Buses will depart early on January 13 and return later that day after scheduled activities. There is no cost to attend.

Why this matters:

West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Act was passed to uphold Title IX’s promise of equal opportunity by ensuring women and girls are not forced to compete against males. After the law was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, Alliance Defending Freedom intervened to defend the law. The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to restore clarity and fairness nationwide.

What to expect:
* Free bus transportation to and from DC
* Peaceful rally outside the Supreme Court
* A meaningful way to take an actual stand for women’s sports
* Currently, we have buses chartered to depart from Raleigh, Charlotte, and Winston-Salem.

To learn more about the case, check out this amicus brief ([link removed]) written by our sister organization, the NC Values Institute.

If you would like to join us for this great opportunity, visit ncvalues.org/dc ([link removed]) to learn more.

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** 2. FOX NEWS: Trans Athlete at Center of Supreme Court Case Accused of Sexual Harassment, Intimidation Tactics Against Girls
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"The trans athlete's lawsuit initially sought to ensure the athlete, a biological male, could compete on middle and high school girls' sports teams in West Virginia. The trans athlete is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and more than 130 congressional Democrats have signed an amicus brief in support of the trans athlete for the Supreme Court review.“

“Bridgeport High School female student Adaleia Cross, who is a former track and field teammate of the trans athlete when the two were at Bridgeport Middle School, alleges the trans athlete made comments to her that constituted sexual harassment in the girls' locker room."

Read more: [link removed]

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** 3. NEWS: Republicans Confirm: We Will Not Back Down on Hyde, No Tax-Funded Abortions
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"GOP lawmakers and pro-life groups are strongly pushing back against a suggestion by President Donald Trump Tuesday that House Republicans should be 'a little flexible' during health care legislation negotiations on the Hyde Amendment, a bipartisan provision protecting tax dollars from funding abortions that has been renewed annually for the last 50 years.

During the president’s remarks at a day-long House Republican policy meeting, Trump discussed the possibility of a potential health care bill that could include a 'health care account' that would 'let the money go directly to the people.' Then he added, 'You have to be a little flexible on Hyde, you know that. You gotta be a little flexible. You gotta work something … we’re all big fans of everything. But you have to have flexibility.'"

Read more: [link removed]

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** 4. WORLD: The Outlook for Religious Liberty in 2026
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"With the Supreme Court set to hear arguments next week over whether men can participate in women’s sports, 2026 launches with some heavy-hitting court cases.

Ilya Shapiro is the director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, a think tank in New York, and previously worked as a vice president of the Cato Institute. He has filed hundreds of friend-of-the-court briefs in the Supreme Court and testified before Congress and state legislatures.

I recently interviewed Shapiro to discuss what’s ahead for the religious liberty legal landscape in 2026. Here are edited excerpts."

Read more: [link removed]

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** 5. CAROLINA JOURNAL: Economic Outlook 2026: NC Remains Strong
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"Despite tariff wars and trade deals taking a toll on American consumers and business owners, the economic outlook for 2026 appears strong, according to experts, both nationwide and in North Carolina.

Dr. Michael Walden, an economist and professor at North Carolina State University, says that North Carolina is in a much stronger position heading into 2026 than most of the country.

“I’ve been doing this for almost 50 years; North Carolina always looks better on virtually every metric, and here in the Triangle, probably another step higher than that,” Walden told Spectrum News 1. ‘So we are in a good place to weather some of these economic challenges here in North Carolina.’"

Read more: [link removed]


** Weekly Prayer: Freedom
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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

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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