American pastor Greg Locke has published some stern words to vandals who burned welcome flags outside his church - Global Vision Bible Church - in Tennessee.

Mr Locke posted a video to Facebook of vandals tearing down the flags and burning them in a huge fire with the grounds. 

On 24th July 2022 Locke wrote: "Had our church welcome flags stolen last night and then burned on a Snapchat video. 

"The public hatred for our church continues to rise. "This is evil, but make no mistake, we're NOT BACKING DOWN OR GOING AWAY."

Mr Locke's church has been vandalised several times in recent years. 

An unidentified individual spray-painted messages on the church wall and the pulpit last August.

In his Sunday service he addressed the situation again, saying:  "We're going to keep serving God," to his congregation.

"I'm telling you: it's a plan. 

"They're coming against us and everybody that's hated us, maligned us, stole our signs, burned them on Snapchat, everybody that's wanted to burn this tent down, everybody that has laughed, they won't be laughing when this economic situation comes to a crash."

Mr Locke is known for his controversial messages.

In the last few years he has been criticised for opposing Covid-19 mask mandates and claiming that developmental disorders, such as autism and mental health disorders, are signs of demonic oppression.