ReAwaken America Nashville: How locals are reacting to major right-wing event

• ReAwaken America Tour is a controversial event hosted by prominent right-wing personalities.
• Headliners like Michael Flynn, Eric Trump and Roger Stone.
• The event is coming to Mt. Juliet.

The nation’s largest gathering of proponents of Christian nationalism is in the Nashville area this weekend, stirring enthusiasm on the right and anxiety among others.

The ReAwaken America Tour is holding its two-day event at Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet on Friday and Saturday. Thousands of people are expected to attend for headliners like Michael Flynn, Eric Trump and Roger Stone, who will share the spotlight with local political and religious figures.

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Global Vision is pastored by Greg Locke, who is a regular speaker at ReAwaken America Tour events throughout the country.

An event that started in protest of COVID restrictions, the ReAwaken America Tour has gained a reputation for promoting right-wing conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and the 2020 election, among others.

“We’re going to have a great unmasked unvaccinated blasty blast of patriotic patriotism,” event founder Clay Clark said in a video Thursday ahead of the events.

But local residents, faith leaders and scholars fear it will be anything but a blast.

“They are bad faith operators. And it hurts me that it is all being marketed as Christian,” said David Dark, Belmont University professor of theology and Christian ministry.

“I take the Christian witness seriously….to watch it be exploited and claimed by abusive people, famously abusive people, wealthy abusive people, again in and out of office, is very, very disturbing,” said Dark, a frequent commentator on religious and political issues in Tennessee.

Here's what to know about the event and what's at stake.

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What to expect from the event

Mixing elements of church worship and political rallies, the two-day event is packed with 30-minute blocks for more than 70 speakers to deliver speeches, sermonize or lead the crowd in religious rituals.

The days start and end with time for prayer and singing contemporary Christian worship songs. On Friday evening, there will be an opportunity for attendants to be baptized.

The event is widely seen as a celebration of Christian nationalism, which is rooted in the belief that America was founded as a Christian nation.

Critics, from scholars to watchdog and advocacy groups, have criticized the event for profiting off disinformation and for inciting violent ideas. Some ReAwaken America Tour speakers, including Locke, were in Washington D.C. during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and continue to promote idea that led to the insurrection.

Why it matters from a local standpoint

Not only will speakers of national acclaim take the stage, but local political activists.

In fact, some were even scheduled to share the spotlight, such as a panel featuring Flynn and Gary Humble, a conservative activist in Williamson County who challenged and lost to Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, in an August primary election.

Ultimately, Humble did not attend the event as scheduled.

“When you sit on the stage with someone, you’re platforming them,” Dark said. “I worry that something like the ReAwaken tour is trafficking in the currency of worldwide wrestling personalities.”

Citing other recent controversies like the Daily Wire’s attack on gender-affirming care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dark worries the event this weekend amplifies a message that “Tennessee is up for grabs” for far-right politics.

Locke has previously hosted at his church figures like Stone and controversial Christian musician Sean Feucht, who is also scheduled to speak this weekend.

Griff Akins, a Mt. Juliet resident who lives near Locke's church, is among a group of locals who has frustrations about Global Vision over noise and traffic. But the nature of the events, such as the ReAwaken America Tour, are becoming more a concern.

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"He’s attracting these kind of fringe conspiracy theorists to our community," Akins said. Akins isn't as worried about the speakers on Locke's stage, but more the attendants and potential conflict with neighbors or peaceful protesters.

Akins isn't aware of any protests planned near Global Vision this weekend. A group of Tennessee faith leaders held a virtual prayer vigil Thursday evening to denounce the event this weekend.

“There are so many voices, angry voices hateful voices, hurtful voices that are so loud right now,” said the Rev. Candace Worth of New Hope Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga during the prayer vigil. Worth prayed “that our voices would not be drowned out by people who work for hate.”

The Rev. Gordon Myers, a retired pastor in Arlington, called the ReAwaken America Tour idolatry. “Deliver us from the hubris of superiority of a false god of domination, the impulse to impose power and will,” he said.  

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams.