Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, told his congregation this week that federal agents raided his home several weeks ago while investigating claims that he misused church funds.
The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed deputies helped federal agents secure the property so a search warrant could be carried out, though the office said it had no records of its own investigation into Locke or the church.
What Locke Told His Congregation
During a Sunday service, Locke described waking up to find roughly sixty federal agents surrounding his house early in the morning. He said agents broke down his front door and forced him to the ground while he shouted that children were inside.
He also claimed his wife was taken outside in her nightclothes. Locke said agents seized phones and computers belonging to him and his media company, and that two separate search warrants were served, one for his home and one for Locke Media.
He added that the church’s bank accounts were closed after the government subpoenaed financial records, leaving the ministry without a way to process incoming donations.
Locke told worshippers the raid came amid longstanding online allegations that he misappropriated church funds, though he did not identify who filed the complaints or which federal agency led the search. He insisted the church had nothing to hide and predicted the investigation would ultimately clear him.
Conflicting Reports on Which Agency Was Involved
News outlets covering the story have offered differing accounts of who searched. The FBI’s Nashville field office said it was not involved, and reporting from other outlets has pointed instead to possible IRS involvement, though that agency has not confirmed its role publicly.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee said it could not comment. Locke himself has declined to say which agency carried out the raid.
A Pattern of Controversy
Locke and his church have drawn scrutiny for years. The congregation once held services in a large tent in Mt. Juliet that generated noise complaints and lawsuits before relocating to a Lebanon warehouse in late 2024.
His home was previously the target of a shooting in which dozens of rounds were fired, and he was cited in March for driving on a suspended license, an incident he initially denied despite jail records and a booking photo. Two former Global Vision pastors also resigned last year, alleging spiritual abuse and financial mismanagement within the ministry.
Locke’s attorney declined to comment further on the current investigation, and no arrest warrant has been issued against the pastor at this time.
