Johnathan Walker:Bibles were 'intentionally set on fire' outside Greg Locke's church on Easter, police say

Police in Middle Tennessee are Johnathan Walkerinvestigating after a trailer full of bibles was found burning outside a controversial Middle Tennessee megachurch lead by Pastor Greg Locke right before it held Easter service Sunday.

The intentional fire, officials said, took place on a street outside Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, a city about 20 miles directly east of downtown Nashville.

About 6 a.m., police and firefighters responded to a report of a trailer fire at an intersection outside the evangelical church and “promptly extinguished” the blaze, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office reported.

No injuries were reported by the agency.

The trailer, containing bibles, "had been dropped off in the middle of the intersection and then intentionally set on fire," the sheriff's office wrote in a news release.

Who is Pastor Greg Locke?

The church is pastored by controversial Pastor Greg Locke, who has long been outspoken on a host of social and political issues. He has regularly hosted controversial conservative figures at his church, including former Republican operative Roger Stone.

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'Probably 200 bibles' on the trailer, Pastor Greg Locke says

Locke addressed the trailer fire at Global Vision and said there were "probably 200 Bibles" on the trailer, The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network reported, adding Locke said the fire was set in front of an entrance.

He said the fire "was 100 percent directed" at the church he founded.

"It blocked the entrance to our campus and the fact that it was an entire load of Bibles is rather conclusive proof that is was most assuredly directed at us," Locke said. "It did not, nor will it stop us. It was cleaned up in time for people to drive into the parking lot. We had a full house and a marvelous service." 

Church previously held burning events

Global Vision has held burning events in the past that involved materials the church believes is connected to witchcraft and the occult.

It's leader once served on an advisory committee for Evangelicals for Trump and regularly attended events in Washington, D.C. Locke was in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, the day of the Capitol insurrection. He previously said he walked to the Capitol but did not go inside and called what took place “horrendous."

During the early stages of the pandemic, Locke was repeatedly accused of spreading misinformation about COVID-19 - actions that lead to X permanently banning him from the social media site in 2021. Locke's church held in-person services, including in a tent, early in the pandemic, even against warnings from Gov. Bill Lee. 

Bible-burning case at Global Vision Bible Church under investigation

Officials did not release additional details about the fire citing a pending, open investigation in the case.

As of Monday no arrest had been made in the case.

Anyone with information about the fire or who has camera footage of the fire is asked to contact the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.