Early on Easter morning, a disturbing event transpired near Mount Juliet’s Global Vision Bible Church. Deliberately ignited at an intersection close to the church, a trailer packed with Bibles prompted an urgent response from local authorities.
Around 6 a.m., emergency services hurried to the scene to confront the engulfed trailer. Confirming suspicions of foul play, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office asserted that the fire was no accident, revealing that the trailer had been strategically positioned in the intersection before being set ablaze.
Pastor Greg Locke, renowned for his provocative online persona and contentious beliefs, utilized social media to share visuals of the charred trailer. He recounted how surveillance footage captured the culprit parking the trailer before committing the arson.
During a live-streamed Easter service, Pastor Locke assured his audience that the perpetrator would be held accountable, despite ongoing investigations. Describing the recorded events, Locke expressed disbelief at the perpetrator’s seemingly courteous demeanor while lamenting the destruction of numerous Bibles.
Locke disclosed intentions to distribute the signed Bible pages but acknowledged that authorities had seized them as evidence. He insisted that the incident was being treated as a hate crime, with federal agencies involved in the inquiry.
This occurrence isn’t an isolated incident for the Global Vision Bible Church. In recent years, the church has faced vandalism, including graffiti and threats, amid Pastor Locke’s controversial statements and actions.
Despite his vocal support for former President Donald Trump and his contentious stances on topics such as vaccines and LGBTQ+ rights, Locke’s confrontations with authorities and neighbors have heightened tensions within the community.
