Blending Faith, Leadership, and Civic Responsibility
Return America
RevMarkCreech.org
THOMASVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 7, 2026) — Return America hosted a “Get to Know the Candidates” forum Saturday at Finch Auditorium in Thomasville, drawing pastors, elected officials, judicial candidates, and citizens for a faith-centered program emphasizing Christian leadership, civic engagement, and moral clarity in public life.
The event was organized and moderated by Dr. Ron Baity, founder and president of Return America, who guided the program throughout the morning and introduced each speaker. Numerous participants publicly thanked Baity for convening the forum and for his decades-long effort to encourage informed Christian participation in government.
Baity opened the event with remarks that framed the gathering in explicitly spiritual terms. “In a few short years,” he told the audience, “none of us will be remembered for what office we held or what ticket we ran on. The only thing that will matter is what we did with Jesus Christ.” He added that the forum was intended not only to introduce candidates but also to keep Christ “preeminent” in the discussion of public life.
The program included the Pledge of Allegiance, along with pledges to the Christian flag and the Bible. Members of Return America’s board were then introduced and briefly described the organization’s mission to help voters identify candidates committed to biblical values. Speakers repeatedly cited Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” – to underscore their belief that moral leadership directly affects community well-being.
“Watchmen on the Wall”
A central theme of the forum was drawn from Isaiah 62:6, which speaks of watchmen stationed on the walls. Rep. Neal Jackson, a member of the North Carolina House and pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Bennet, urged Christians to see themselves in that role – alert, vocal, and prayerful amid cultural and political challenges.
“If no Christians are involved in government,” Jackson said, “then government will be run by people who are anti-God, anti-Bible, and anti-our values.” He argued that civic engagement is not optional for believers, noting, “God created three institutions—the family, the church, and civil government. He never intended His people to abandon one of them.”
Calling for vigilance, Jackson summarized the watchman’s task succinctly: “Somebody has to be watching. Somebody has to be willing to warn. And somebody has to be willing to pray.”
Legislative Perspectives from Raleigh
Dr. Mark Creech, Director of Government Relations for Return America, briefly addressed recent legislative debates in North Carolina, arguing that public policy increasingly reflects deeper questions of moral conviction rather than mere budgetary concerns or procedural matters.
“Politics is no longer just about budgets and procedures,” Creech said. “It’s about truth and confusion, protection and exploitation, courage and cowardice.” He cited legislative battles over parental rights, education, public morality, and religious liberty, arguing that laws inevitably teach values and that abandoning moral boundaries ultimately harms families and communities. When churches are pressured into silence, he warned, “society does not become neutral, but increasingly confused.”
Sheriff Simmons Highlights Law Enforcement and Community Safety
A personal moment followed when Graham Simmons, a pastor and the son of Davidson County Sheriff Richie Simmons, introduced his father, emphasizing integrity and meekness—defined as strength exercised for the benefit of others.
Sheriff Simmons, who is seeking a third term, said public office is fundamentally about service. “We are a republic,” he said. “That means the people have the power, but that power is meant to be used to serve, not to be served.”
Citing Psalm 33:12, Simmons added, “I believe America is blessed when we live under God, not above Him.” He outlined several initiatives from his tenure, including the shutdown of 61 illegal gambling operations in Davidson County. “With them went the drugs, the prostitution, the robberies and the violence,” he said.
Simmons also detailed efforts to combat human trafficking, noting that his office helped recover six girls under the age of 14 and later helped establish a multi-county task force. “Since we formed our task force,” he said, “not one child has been taken from Davidson County.” He further discussed anti-drug programs combining education, enforcement, and treatment designed to reduce recidivism and restore individuals to family and community life.
Candidates and Judicial Races Addressed
The forum featured remarks from a wide slate of candidates and officeholders, including Sen. Steve Jarvis, Rep. Sam Watford, and Rep. Larry Potts. Speakers addressed priorities such as taxes, school choice, Second Amendment protections, support for law enforcement, and pro-life policies, while emphasizing Christian identity and integrity in office.
Attention was also given to the U.S. Senate race. Both Republican candidates, MichaelWhatley and Don Brown, were invited to participate. Baity noted that Whatley initially accepted the invitation but later withdrew, explaining that he had been called to Mar-a-Lago by President Donald Trump. Baity added pointedly that “the votes he needs are right here in Davidson County.”
Brown, a former U.S. Navy JAG officer and bestselling author, addressed the gathering, sharing experiences from military justice cases and offering broader criticism of Washington’s political culture.
A significant portion of the program focused on the race for the North Carolina Supreme Court. Former legislator and attorney Sarah Stevens contrasted judicial philosophies, arguing that judges must apply the Constitution as written. “A judge is not a policymaker,” Stevens said. “A judge is a referee – there to apply the Constitution as it is written.”
She warned that judicial elections often hinge on narrow margins. “These races are decided by a handful of votes,” she said. “Your vote matters more than you think.”
Leadership and Legacy
As the forum concluded, speakers and attendees expressed gratitude for the gathering and for Baity’s leadership in organizing it. Repeated calls were made for prayer, informed voting, and sustained civic engagement.
The overarching message remained consistent throughout the morning: faith, participants said, must come first, but it must also guide how citizens evaluate candidates, engage public issues, and approach the ballot box as North Carolina looks to the future.
Voter Information: North Carolina 2026 Primary Election
According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, in-person early voting for the 2026 primary election started Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, and runs through Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 (ending at 3 p.m.).
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
North Carolina voters affiliated with a political party may vote only in that party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters may choose to vote in one party’s primary or a nonpartisan ballot, if available, but may not vote in more than one party’s primary.
If no candidate receives the required percentage of votes to secure a nomination, a second primary may be requested by the runner-up. Any such second primary would be held on May 12, 2026.
Voters are encouraged to verify their registration status, polling locations, and voting options through official state and county election resources.
