(Christian Headlines) A North Carolina public school took out Bible verses printed on donated planners this week. Sulphur Springs Baptist Church in Hiddenite, North Carolina, purchased $2,000 worth of planners to help students, but school district officials believed the verses did not respect a separation of church and state, The Christian Post reports.
According to the church’s Associate Pastor of Youth and Children, James Safrit, two verses—Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”) and Jeremiah 29:11 (“I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not too harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”)—were printed on the back of 2020-’21 school year planners. The planners were a gift from the church after a conversation with East Alexander Middle School Principal Kristie Love.