Brenda Lenard, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate with support from the Tea Party, spoke Monday night to the local 912 Project in a meeting at the First Church of the Nazarene.

The 912 Project describes itself as a non-partisan, grassroots movement that welcomes everyone who is interested in meeting with others who are dedicated to returning to our roots and restoring America to its greatness.

Lenard described herself as a conservative Christian who loves God and her country, and she expressed great concern for the direction being taken in Washington.

Lenard is among a large field of candidates challenging incumbent Bob Corker in the Aug. 2 Republican Primary for the U.S. Senate seat Corker now holds.

Her campaign literature says Brenda stands for:

* Balanced budget amendment;

* Reduce taxes;

* End earmarks;

* No more bailouts;

* Downsize bureaucracies; and

* Allow school vouchers.

She also supports repealing Obamacare, protecting property rights, securing the borders, a strong national defense, and 2nd Amendment rights, the literature says.

Her literature also says, if elected, she will never vote to:

* Raise the debt ceiling;

* Raise taxes;

* Fund abortion;

* Confirm liberal judges who do not believe in the U.S. Constitution;

* Expand the size of government; or

* Reinstate earmarks or any other pork barrel spending.

"And, unless something is specifically enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, it will not get my support," the literature says.

Among Lenard's concerns was deficit spending in Washington.

"If we don't do something, it is going to be chaos in this country like we have never ever witnessed before, and for people to not understand the severity of the problem, you're living in fantasyland," she said.

"I believe this election, Christians have to wake from their slumber and realize we are going to be ruled by humanists, liberals, atheists, agnostics if we do not realize what's in front of us," she said.

"We are a snap away from Christianity being illegal in this country," she said.

"We should be worshipping God, not the government, and that is the problem in this country. We have to rise up and be bold and courageous and say, 'We are not going to take it anymore,'" she said.

She also expressed concern about redistribution of wealth, and said America should have an environment in which entrepreneurs should feel comfortable taking risks.

Lenard said she is a single mom who grew up in the housing projects of Atlanta.

"My hope was in God Who gave me the determination and the breaks I needed to leave that life and to realize the American dream," the literature said.

She said the way out of proverty is to finish high school, take any job available, stay away from drugs, and get married and stay married.

"People should want to get up and go to work. There's virtue in work, and even if it's a minimum wage job," she said.

But, the federal government's social entitlements keep people in poverty, she said.

She encouraged the audience to tell everyone to vote.

During a question-and-answer session, topics of discussion included abolishing minimum wage, concerns about what was termed lavish spending by the Obama family, and abolishing the U.S. Department of Education to let schools be governed locally.

Lenard announced that she plans to open her local campaign headquarters Monday.

The headquarters will be located in the shopping center near Olde Towne Restaurant.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Monday.

Lenard's website is http://www.brendalenardforsenate.com, and she can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Marty Copelin encouraged those in attendance to join the Greeneville 912 Project on Facebook.