Pastor Greg Locke told his Tennessee congregation Sunday that federal authorities are investigating his financial records, after conducting an early morning search of his home and media business several weeks ago.
The pastor noted for his provocative messages and public actions defying COVID-19 lockdowns did not say what day the raid occurred. But Locke did say it took place while he had stepped back from preaching following the May 8 drug overdose death of his son Evan Roberts Locke.
Speaking during a church service following a six-week sabbatical, Locke choked up while describing how 50 to 60 federal agents raided his home around 6 a.m. They forced entry into his home with a battering ram and executed search warrants for his residence and Locke Media, he said. Locke added that investigators also served a subpoena for Global Vision Bible Church, his congregation.
In an email to the Roys Report (RR), Capt. Sam Moore of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed his officers assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service with the raid. They did so only because federal officials asked “due to the residence being located in our jurisdiction,” he said.
Locke said no arrest warrant was issued. Instead, he said, investigators told him they were examining allegations that church funds had been misappropriated. “They pulled me aside and said, ‘We’re here because of an overabundance — the last couple of years — of allegations online that you have misappropriated church funds,’” Locke said.
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The allusion to “allegations online” appears to refer to accusations made by former Global Vision Bible Church online pastors Justin and Kasey Greenwell, who claim Locke has mismanaged church finances. They also published a book on the alleged mismanagement, “Pulpit of Leaves: Deception in Plain Sight.”
Locke claims the book has been withdrawn, but the title is still listed at Amazon.com, with the notation “Out of Print — Limited Availability.”
As reported previously by RR, some, in addition to the Greenwells, have claimed Locke used money from his church’s building fund to buy a $1.6 million home in 2024. According to Wilson County property records, the home is not owned by Locke but by Global Vision Bible Church.
Locke has vehemently denied these allegations.
Kasey Greenwell also alleged that the church has received loans from individuals, but that Locke handled the loans and refused to reveal details to staff.
On Sunday, Locke said investigators searched his property for three hours. They seized phones, computers and other electronic devices, and collected only “a few bank statements.”
“They went through the pages of our library books, every drawer, every cabinet, every bed, every attic, every space, every chicken coop, every shed on our property,” he said.
Locke attributed the investigation to “whistleblowers” and online critics, including a Facebook page and a book that he said had promoted allegations against him. He said he would not grant interviews or comment further on social media.
“This is the only time that I will publicly talk about it,” Locke said. “I will not give any interviews. I will not respond to any news media. I will not post anything on social media because I’m not in fight mode, nor am I in flight mode. I’m in faith mode.”
RR reached the FBI’s National Press Office via email for comment. It replied, “The FBI has no comment.” The IRS did not immediately respond to a comment request from RR.
Locke told the congregation that he and his attorneys have cooperated with requests for records dating to 2020.
“To God be the glory, the attorney general has given us extra time to be able to solidify all the paperwork that we need,” he said. “We’re talking about tens of thousands of documents.”
Locke said investigators subpoenaed donors, missionaries and other individuals connected with the church.
“We have nothing to hide,” he said. “The more they dig, the more they begin to see things.”
The investigation produced financial consequences beyond the searches, Locke said. He said banks closed Global Vision Bible Church accounts and his personal accounts after receiving subpoenas, leaving the ministry temporarily unable to process donations or pay expenses through normal channels.
“We have operated this church for two weeks with no income and no outflow,” he said.
Church leaders had continued serving without pay while the ministry sought a new banking relationship, Locke told the congregation. Online donations were being temporarily held by the church’s payment processor until replacement accounts could be established, he added.
Despite the investigation, Locke told congregants he expected the matter to end favorably.
“We’re praying for a swift restoration,” he said. “The books will just be closed, exoneration.”
Locke said he believed the investigation would ultimately demonstrate that church finances had been handled properly. He urged members to remain unified, continue worshipping and support the church financially while the inquiry continues.
Mark A. Kellner is a reporter based in Mesquite, Nevada. He most recently covered statewide elections for the New York Post and was for three years the Faith & Family Reporter for The Washington Times. Mark is a graduate of the University of the Cumberlands and also attended Boston University’s College of Communication.
7 Responses
Who could have seen such a thing coming?
It’s sad to see a person fall, but many tried to prevent it.
Out of curiosity, is it typical behavior for the Feds to use a battering ram and then depart with multiple computers and electronic devices if they’re only investigating financial wrongdoing? Or could (especially since the article mentions only a few bank statements were seized) there possibly be an investigation into something more serious as well?
I’m not so sure battering rams were used to the extent it was described. I just pray Gods hand in all things!!
We only have Locke’s testimony that a battering ram was used, and he’s a pretty unreliable narrator.
but yes, computers and devices are pretty common seizures for financial crimes.
Keep in mind that Mr. Locke is known to have lied about other events. It’s possible that what he says about this is not true.
Maybe Pastor Locke stopped tithing to the Save America PAC? I note with alarming interest that this is an investigation by the Trump Administration of a famously MAGA evangelical pastor. I remember back during the Obama Administration, the IRS tried to begin enforcing the Johnson Amendment while Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) launched a Senate investigation into these very sorts of allegations against prosperity-gospel preachers and churches. Those combined actions caused such an uproar among US evangelical voters that, to this day, many leaders cite that as reasons why they supported Trump, declaring him as “the best thing that ever happened to religious freedom in America,” to quote Pastor Robert Jeffress.
It just doesn’t seem that hard to be a pastor and not be raided by federal agents. I rather believe that is a requirement if the job, really.