HB 921 Would Dramatically Expand Alcohol and Normalize Gambling in North Carolina
By Dr. Mark Creech Director of Government Relations Return America Some weeks at the General Assembly are more discouraging than others, and this was one of them. On Tuesday, I appeared before the House Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee to speak against House Bill...
Letter to NC House ABC Committee Members with Analysis of HB 921 – ABC & Gaming Omnibus Bill
Dear House ABC Committee Member, I am writing to respectfully share serious concerns about H.B. 921 – ABC & Gaming Omnibus Bill. Many of the measure’s provisions would substantially expand alcohol access, alcohol promotion, and the conditions that contribute to...
Governor Stein’s Budget Raises Serious Religious Liberty Concerns for Christian Schools
by Dr. Mark Creech Director of Government Relations Return America Governor Josh Stein’s proposed state budget includes a provision that should concern Christian parents, pastors, and school leaders throughout North Carolina. Buried in the Governor’s budget...
Virginia Dare, Motherhood, and the God Who Is There
Hope Born in Uncertainty Rev. Mark Creech RevMarkCreech.org Mother’s Day is a time to honor the women whose love, sacrifice, prayers, and quiet endurance shape the world in ways they may never fully see. Scripture says, “Her children arise up, and call her blessed;...
What So Much of Modern Christianity Misses
by Rev. Mark Creech RevMarkCreech.org Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with a statement that runs directly counter to modern thinking: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). At first glance, those words sound strange....
When an Assassination Attempt Becomes a Private Summons
by Rev. Mark Creech RevMarkCreech.org When tragedy strikes, such as an assassination attempt, our first instinct is to look outward and ask, What kind of person would do such a thing? We may even be tempted to say that only the worst of sinners could ever stoop so...
Lawmakers Take Aim at Social Media Harms to Minors
by Dr. Mark Creech Director of Government Relations Return America The North Carolina General Assembly’s Short Session is now fully underway. Bills from the previous 2025 Session that remained eligible because they passed one chamber are now being heard in the second...
The Profanity Plague: What Our Filthy Language Says About Our Souls
by Rev. Mark Creech RevMarkCreech.org There was a time when profanity in public life was considered shameful. It was muttered under one’s breath, spoken behind closed doors, or perhaps heard in places where people were expected to be rough around the edges. But today,...
Lawmakers Return to Raleigh: A Week of Signals and Substance
by Dr. Mark Creech Director of Government Relations Return America The North Carolina General Assembly returned to Raleigh last week to resume the people’s business. From the outset, it was clear that this session would be marked by urgency and uncertainty. With the...
When Loyalty and Conviction Collide
by Rev. Mark Creech RevMarkCreech.org The contrasting responses of Riley Gaines and Franklin Graham to a recent controversy involving former President Donald Trump offer more than a passing moment of disagreement. They provide a revealing window into a deeper struggle...