Lieutenant Governor, coaching legend headlining faith rally
Robbinsville – A chance encounter in Nashville has morphed into a visit from the N.C. Faith & Freedom Coalition.
Current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and former University of Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer will be in Graham County on Thursday, Oct. 27, for a stop on the coalition’s Bold & Courageous Tour at Robbinsville High School (301 Sweetwater Road).
Rev. Coy Adams – who is pastor of Dry Creek Baptist Church in Stecoah – was invited to the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s “Road to Majority” conference in June. The event was held in Nashville and included an appearance by former President Donald Trump.
Adams was introduced to Robinson at the event and the two hit it off right away. Adams later pitched the idea for the coalition to hold an event in Graham County.
The pieces just fell into place.
“I told him (Robinson) that this is a Christian-based area in western North Carolina and that Christians needed to be able to hear you,” Adams said in a Friday phone interview.
A veteran of the Army, Robinson is a Greensboro native that first came to prominence after presenting an impassioned speech to his hometown’s city council, defending the 2nd Amendment. A groundswell began to form around Robinson and in 2020, was elected as the first black lieutenant governor in North Carolina’s history.
Robinson has expressed a desire to run against Gov. Roy Cooper in the 2024 election.
“I’m grateful for the work of the NC Faith and Freedom Coalition,” reads a quote from Robinson on the state’s coalition website, ncfaithandfreedom.com. “Jason Williams was instrumental in leading the largest faith-based voter education effort in the history of our state during the 2020 election cycle.
“We need groups like NC Faith and Freedom to combat the liberal assault on our conservative values across the state.”
Williams is the state coalition’s executive director.
Fulmer is scheduled to speak with the Robbinsville Black Knights football team before the event begins, to provide motivation before the Smoky Mountain Conference finale at Hayesville on Friday, Oct. 29.
Now a resident of Maryville, Tenn., Fulmer was head coach of the Volunteers from 1992-2008. Tennessee won its second national championship under Fulmer’s guidance in 1998. He retired with an overall record of 152-52.
Adams noted that the event – which will begin at 6 p.m. in the high school’s theater – will be free to the public, though donations will be accepted. To reserve a seat, visit ncfaithandfreedom.com/events. A VIP package can be purchased and will include a chance to meet Robinson, one-on-one. For details, call Adams at (828) 735-9079.
The non-profit Faith & Freedom Coalition was formed in 2009 to connect faith-based individuals with the political arena. North Carolina’s chapter began in 2019.
Notable attendees of past events include Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and former N.C. Congressman Mark Meadows.