Wilson County Pastor Greg Locke has announced that Global Vision Bible Church will relocate to a new facility at 3764 Murfreesboro Road in Lebanon, south of Interstate 40.
The new campus is several miles from the campus Global Vision will leave at 1010 Maddox Simpson Parkway in eastern Lebanon. Global Vision has met at Maddox Simpson Parkway since Dec. 1, 2024 through a lease agreement.
Locke announced the relocation of Global Vision at the church's Aug. 2 service. The new location is about a mile from Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Locke told the Global Vision congregation.
The new Global Vision campus was formerly used by another church, which Locke told congregants "transitioned" to the Atlanta area several years ago during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. The property was sold and has since been used as a warehouse type operation, Locke said to his congregation.
The goal is for Global Vision to start meeting at the new campus next Sunday, Aug. 9. Locke requested help from the congregation in the effort to start meeting at the new facility beginning next week.
"There is a lot of things that are happening," Locke said about the pending move. "We need to mash the gas, it's an all hands on deck, full court press this week to get things done."
The facility has an auditorium that will be part of the renovation, Locke said.
Maddox Simpson property owner Cato Industrial reached an “amicable,” agreement with Global Vision to end the three-year lease early, Cato Industrial manager Cynthia Cato said.
Plans to move also appear to have started before federal investigators and local law enforcement went to search Locke’s home and another church location several weeks ago, which the pastor addressed in a July 12 church service.
Locke said the raid was part of a nearly two-year-long investigation into accusations of financial mismanagement in his leadership at Global Vision, which the pastor has described as unwarranted.
Global Vision became established under Locke in western Wilson County at 2060 Old Lebanon Dirt Road where the church utilized a large white tent.
The move to Maddox Simpson Parkway came after the church did not close on a contract to buy the former Love's Way Church campus at 310 Coles Ferry Pike in Lebanon.
Greg Locke has 2.2 million Facebook followers and has gained national attention for social media posts with right-wing political positions, a mass-deliverance ministry that includes casting out evil spirits and events like inviting people to burn items the church relates to the occult.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect