
THE 2023 NC FAITH & FREEDOM SALT AND LIGHT CONFERENCE
THE 2023 NC FAITH & FREEDOM SALT AND LIGHT CONFERENCE
Discover the fusion of faith, freedom, and impactful influence at the 6th annual Salt & Light Conference, located conveniently off I-40 at the Nebo Crossing Church in Marion. Salt & Light is more than a conference; it’s a vibrant community where you can interact, learn, and be inspired by some of the most visionary and encouraging speakers. This is your chance to challenge your perspectives, kindle your conviction, and be part of the stirring conversation shaping our culture.
As North Carolina’s largest faith-based policy conference, NC Faith & Freedom’s 2023 Salt & Light Conference is a beacon of conservative values, drawing individuals passionate about being change-makers in their communities. Register today for an incredible autumn weekend nestled in the stunning foothills of North Carolina. This is not a virtual event. Our speakers appear in person. You should prepare to leave the conference inspired and equipped with practical insights to stand up for your conservative values at the polls and in the public square. Don’t just join the conversation, become an integral part of it. Make your voice heard, strengthen your faith, and ignite the spark of positive change.
Gear up and connect with like-minded individuals, learn from seasoned activists, and engage in interactive Salt & Light Pre-Conference Workshops Friday afternoon by the Leadership Institute designed to equip you with the tools and strategies needed to drive change in your local area. Each session will be led by seasoned grassroots and campaign experts who will teach you the skills needed to influence public policy, communicate with impact across political divides, and grow volunteer support for your cause. The workshops are limited to 50 people and we do expect them to sell out.
Pre-Conference Training
Limited SeatingLeadership Institute Pre-Conference Workshop
- Hands-on Training on Friday Afternoon
- September 22, 2-5pm
- Leadership Institute Certified Trainers
- Only 50 Seats
- Easy Add onto Any Ticket
Friday Evening Session
- Ticket to Friday Evening, September 22nd Session Only
- Add the Pre-Conference Workshop for $25
Weekend Pass
- Tickets to Both Friday & Saturday Sessions
- General Admission Seating
- Saturday Lunch Included (Save $12.50)
- ($129 Advance Tickets Available until 9/10)
- Full-Price Pass $149.00
VIP Weekend Pass
- Reserved VIP Conference Seating (Friday & Saturday)
- Saturday Lunch Included
- Opportunity to Meet Key Speakers
- Complimentary Autographed Book from a Current or Past Conference Speaker
Saturday General Session
- Ticket to Saturday, September 23rd Session Only
- General Admission Seating
- Saturday Food Truck Corral Voucher included (Save $12.50)
- ($99 Advance Discount until 9/10)
- Full-Price Ticket $129.00
Friday, September 22 – Salt & Light Itinerary
Leadership Institute Pre-Conference Workshop | 2 to 5 pm |
Grounded Coffee Shop & Deli Opens | 5 pm |
Conference Registration Opens | 5 pm |
Inner Circle Lounge & Exhibit Hall Opens | 5 pm |
William H. Long Auditorium Doors Open | 5 pm |
Evening Session | 6 pm to 9 pm |
Book Signing & Exhibit Hall | 9 to 9:30 pm |
Building Closed | 9:30 pm |
Saturday, September 23 – Salt & Light Itinerary
Conference Registration Opens | 7:30 am |
Grounded Coffee Shop & Deli Opens | 7:30 am |
Inner Circle Lounge & Exhibit Hall Opens | 7:30 am |
William H. Long Auditorium Doors Open | 8:00 am |
Morning Session | 9 am to 12:15 pm |
Lunch Break in Freedom Hall | 12:15 to 1:45 pm |
Book Signing & Exhibit Hall | 12:15 to 1:45 pm |
Breakout Session in Leadership Institute Training Room | 12:30 to 1:30 pm |
Afternoon Session | 1:45 to 3:40 pm |
Afternoon Break | 3:40 to 4 pm |
Book Signing & Exhibit Hall | 3:40 to 4 pm |
Late Afternoon Session | 4 to 7 pm |
Grounded Coffee Shop & Deli Closes | 4 pm |
Book Signing & Exhibit Hall | 7 to 7:30 pm |
Building Closed | 7:30 pm |

Nebo Crossing Church
263 Barnes Rd, Marion, NC 28752
Friday, September 22
5:00pm (Doors) – Conf 6:00pm to 9pm
Saturday, September 23
7:30am (Doors) – Conf 9am to 7pm
Salt & Light Conference
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Host Conference Hotels
Area Hotel Options 🌟= Limited Room Block Available
- 🌟 Hampton Inn & Suites – Marion (1 Mile) Call (828) 652-5100 to book room block until 9/1/ (Friday Night Sold Out)
- 🌟 Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Marion (2 Miles) Call (828) 527-0035 to book room block until 9/1/2023 (Friday Night Sold Out)
- 🌟 Hampton Inn & Suites – Black Mountain (22 Miles) Rate: $179 – Call (828) 669-1000 and Mention NC Faith & Freedom Conference
Accommodation Alternatives
- Comfort Inn – Marion (6 Miles) (Friday Night Sold Out)
- The Monte Vista Boutique Hotel – Black Mountain (22 Miles) Rate: $149/night to $269/night
- Lake James Camping Resort – Lake James (15 Miles) Cabin Rate: $199 to $279 – RV: $75
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Morganton (19 Miles) Rate: $180 to $200
- Hampton Inn & Suites Forest City (26 Miles) Rate $153
- Holiday Inn Express Asheville East-Blue Ridge Parkway (29 Minutes) Rate $173
- Hilton Garden Inn Hickory (36 Minutes) Rate $160
- Holiday Inn Express Hickory (36 Minutes) Rate $123
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Hickory (36 Minutes) Rate $143
2023 SALT & LIGHT SPEAKERS

John Amanchukwu
Influential Preacher, Author & Activist
Upper Room Church of God in Christ
Wake Forest, NC

Marziyeh Amirizadeh
Author, Speaker
Former Candidate for George State House
Atlanta, GA

Dan Bishop
North Carolina Congressman | NC09
Candidate for NC Attorney General
Waxhaw, NC

Sid Bream
Former Professional Baseball Player
Zelienople, PA
Dr. Paul Brintley
Pastor & Ambassador
Kings Mountain, NC
Ted Budd
US Senator
Former US Congressman | NC13
Advance, NC

Sam Brownback
Ambassador-at-Large
for Religious Freedom
46th Governor of Kansas
Topeka | KS

CL Bryant
Pastor, Businessman
Host of the CL Bryant Show
Sr. Fellow at FreedomWorks
West Palm Beach, FL

Doug Collins
Former US Congressman | GA09
Air Force Chaplain & Author
Gainesville, GA

Jason Crabb
Grammy & Dove Award Winner
In Concert
Nashville, TN

Matt Doherty
Business & Sports Coach
Author & Broadcaster
Mooresville, NC

Rev Byron Foxx
Evangelist & Music Publisher
Byron Foxx Evangelistic Association
Newport News, VA

Tulsi Gabbard
LTC, U.S. Army Reserves
4-term Congresswoman
2020 Presidential Candidate
Matt Hagan
Artist & Speedpainter
Fayetteville, NC

Mark Harris
Pastor & Vice-President
Family Research Council
Mooreseville, NC

Clarence Henderson
Civil Rights Champion
Inspirational Speaker
High Point, NC
Mike Huckabee
44th Governor of Arkansas
Host of The Huckabee Show
Little Rock, AR
Bishop E.W. Jackson
Candidate for President
Pastor, Founder of STAND
Suffolk, VA

Benny Johnson

Alveda King
Evangelist, Author
Former GA State Representative – GA28
Pro-life Advocate | Atlanta, GA

Dr. Robert Malone
Leading Virologist, Biochemist,
Vaccine Scientist and Author
Madison, VA

Allen Mashburn
Conference Sponsor
Businessman & Pastor
Candidate for Lt. Governor
Seagrove, NC

Guy Penrod
GRAMMY & DOVE Award-Winning
Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductee
& former Gaither Vocal Band Lead
Nashville, TN

Judge Jeanine Pirro
TV Host, Author
Former New York State Judge & Prosecutor
Rye, NY
Tracy Philbeck
Chairman at NC Faith & Freedom
Bessemer City, NC
Dr. Ralph Reed
Chairman at Faith & Freedom
Atlanta, GA
Mark Robinson
NC Lt. Governor
Colfax, NC
Candidate for Governor

Leo Terrell
Civil Rights Attorney & Radio Host
Los Angeles, CA

Fred Von Canon
Conference Sponsor
Founder & President of Maverick Solutions
Candidate for Congress | Raleigh, NC

Mark Walker
Candidate for Governor
Congressman NC06 | Summerfield, NC
Michael Whatley
NCGOP Chairman
Gastonia, NC
Jason Williams
Executive Director at NC Faith & Freedom Gastonia, NC
Hal Weatherman
Conference Sponsor
Candidate for Lt. Governor
Wake Forest, NC
Brett Winterble
WBT Radio Host
Fort Mill, SC
Chelsey Youman
Texas State Dir Human Coalition Action
Dallas, TX

Jaime Zerbe
Chief of Staff at Smart Approaches to Marijuana | Washington, DC
FAQs
How Do I Receive My Tickets
Tickets will be emailed out through RegFox. Please check your spam filters and/or clutter/junk folders on the email address associated with your ticket request. Visit our website and click the button on the top of the page to have your tickets resent. Problems? Contact Jim Quick via email at jim@ncfaithandfreedom.com to place a request for your tickets to be resent.
Your paper ticket is not necessary for entry into the conference. Our staff will have a list of all ticket holders at the Conference Registration Desk.
What Time Do the Doors Open on Friday?
The registration desk opens at 5:00 pm on Friday evening. Food Trucks will be on site for dinner. The exhibit hall will be open, and our coffee vendors will be onsite. The Doors to the auditorium will open at 5:00 pm.
What Time Do the Doors Open on Saturday?
The registration desk opens at 7:30 am on Saturday morning. Food Trucks will be available for breakfast. The exhibit hall will be open and our coffee vendors will be onsite. The Doors to the Auditorium will open at 8am.
Where Can I Stay in Marion?
Reserve your room using the NC Faith & Freedom Coalition room block for these two area hotels🌟= Limited Room Block Available – These Will Sell Out!
- 🌟 Hampton Inn & Suites – Marion (1 Mile) (828) 652-5100 (Friday Night is Sold Out)
- 🌟 Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Marion (2 Miles) (828) 527-0035 (Friday Night is Sold Out)
- 🌟Hampton Inn & Suites – On I-40 at Black Mountain (22 Miles) (828) 669-1000 Call for the rate of $175/night (Use Faith & Freedom Group Code)
Other Accommodation Options
- Comfort Inn – Marion (6 Miles) (Friday Night is Sold Out)
- The Monte Vista Boutique Hotel – Black Mountain (22 Miles) Rate: $143/night to $233/night
- Lake James Camping Resort – Lake James (15 Miles) Cabin Rate: $199 to $2 – RV: $75
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Morganton (19 Miles) Rate: $180 to $203
- Hampton Inn & Suites Forest City (26 Miles) Rate $153
- Holiday Inn Express Asheville On I-40, East-Blue Ridge Parkway (29 Minutes) Rate $173
- Hilton Garden Inn On-I-40 in Hickory (36 Minutes) Rate $160
- Holiday Inn Express On-I40 in Hickory (36 Minutes) Rate $123
- Fairfield Inn & Suites On-140 in Hickory (36 Minutes) Rate $143
Is Childcare Available at the Conference?
No childcare or nursery services are available during the conference.
Is Food Available on Site?
The church coffee bar will be open throughout the conference. A variety of dinner options will be available at the Food Truck Corral. The Food Trucks be back offering Breakfast options on Saturday. Early-bird ticket holders and pre-registered conference attendees will receive a complimentary lunch voucher with their conference ticket. Additional vouchers will be available voucher at the conference for $12.50. During lunch, the food trucks will primarily be using lunch vouchers to help speed up the service lines during the lunch hour.
Can I Buy a Ticket at the Door?
Where Can I Watch Last Year's Salt & Light Conference?
All 2021 & 2022 NC Faith and Freedom Salt and Light conference content is available on our YouTube Channel. Watch it from start to finish, or select your favorite speaker.