LEBANON, TN (4:06 p.m., PST) – Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church is cooperating with federal agents after a raid took place at his residence three weeks ago. The pastor shared details surrounding the event with congregants this past Sunday (Jul. 12).
Locke began by inviting attendees to take their seats. He also sat down in a chair positioned on the platform.
“Most of you know last Sunday we returned from a six-week, six-Sunday, sabbatical from Global Vision because of, obviously, the death of our son, which is still, eight-and-a-half weeks in, very raw and still extremely difficult to process,” the pastor shared.
Pastor Greg Locke and his first wife, Melissa Biggers, lost their son, Evan Locke, in May. The 20-year-old died of an overdose.
“His struggle was very public,” Pastor Locke said of his son’s battle with substance abuse when announcing his untimely passing. “It was used as a warning to many, a punchline to the haters but an overall reminder that even in our deepest pain, the grace of Jesus will sustain us.”
Pastor Greg Locke and his wife, Taisha Locke, took six weeks off from the ministry to grieve the family’s loss. Three weeks into their time away was when federal agents raided their home.
“We were in bed at home, and at six o’clock in the morning, sixty federal agents surrounded our home,” Pastor Locke told congregants this past Sunday. “I heard a faint knock at the door, and I got up. By the time I got my robe on and got out of the bedroom a team of federal agents had batter-rammed (sic) in our front door.”
Pastor Locke explained the agents were wearing riot gear when they entered his home. “I was screaming, ‘I’ve got kids in the house. Don’t shoot. Don’t shoot. I’ve got kids in the house,’” he revealed.
“They drug my wife outside in her night shirt and underwear. Kicked our kids’ bedroom doors in, [and] drug my kids out of bed. Three of them were home. We didn’t know what was going on.”
According to Pastor Locke, the search of his home and Locke Media Studios – located in Mt. Juliet, TN – was caused by whistleblowers and online accusations.
“They pulled me aside and said, ‘We’re here because of an over-of-abundance, the last couple of years, of allegations online that you have misappropriated church funds,’” Pastor Locke told his congregants on Sunday. “I was so shocked in the moment. I said, ‘A phone call wouldn’t have sufficed?’’
Federal agents reportedly took phones, computers, and other devices that belonged to the Locke family during the raid.
“Three hours went by. Three of the most Earth-shattering, humiliating hours of our lives,” Pastor Locke said. “And they left with a little tiny box of, literally, a few bank statements,” he revealed. “Nothing there.”
At present, Pastor Greg Locke and Taisha Locke are cooperating with the federal investigation still underway.
“For the last three weeks, our lives have been turned inside out,” Pastor Locke shared on Sunday. “It has been a journey,” he added. “We’re praying for a swift restoration.”