Greg Locke timeline: From independent Baptist pastor to right-wing firebrand
Global Vision Bible Church Pastor Greg Locke has long been a showman and willing to be unconventional.
But the Mt. Juliet pastor is also calculated, even before his explosion on social media and dive into political issues.
Locke acknowledges "some very boldness, some very forthrightness in things that I do and it's on purpose," the pastor said.
His critics point to his dangerous rhetoric and unfounded positions and some even see him as a heretic.
Special report:The evolution of Greg Locke: How a controversial Tennessee pastor wants to save America from its demons
A look at some of Locke's evolution.
2006: Greg Locke starts Global Vision Baptist Church in Mt. Juliet
2010: Started a yearly weekend retreat in January named the Homeless Experience with other men from Global Vision who live on the streets as if they experience homelessness in Nashville for a weekend using only money given to them.
2011: Locke and his church formally split with the independent fundamental Baptists. Church name changes to Global Vision Bible Church.
2012: Locke spends four days and three nights in a scissors lift 30 feet in the air to solicit donations for people experiencing homelessness in downtown Nashville.
2014: Locke embarks on a 3,020-mile cross-country bicycling trip to California and back to raise money for church expansion. Locke had done other bicycle trips and extended walks for other causes.
2015: Locke demonstrates in front of a local middle school to condemn a school district curriculum on Islam, posting a video of himself on Facebook.
2016: Locke criticizes Target for the retailer's gender-neutral bathroom policy with a video on Facebook that goes viral. “Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” Locke asks Target, generating reactions on both sides.
2016: Locke calls former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam a “major disappointment” for vetoing a bill that would have made the Bible the official state book.
2017: Locke travels to Washington, D.C. to return thousands of letters from Planned Parenthood after a video he made speaking out against the organization. His actions spawned donations to the group in his name.
2019: Locke protests Carafem, an abortion clinic that opened in Mt. Juliet. "God didn't give me a huge social media platform so I can sit around and be quiet," he said.
2020: Locke draws attention for continuing to hold in-person services at the beginning and throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Locke became very critical of churches that closed. Many times Locke has denounced COVID-19 as a pandemic.
2020: Locke, on the advisory committee for Evangelicals for Trump, receives an invitation to White House for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s acceptance speech for the GOP presidential nomination.
2020: Political operative Roger Stone and Republican activist Charlie Kirk visit Global Vision on separate Sundays before the presidential election. Global Vision was vandalized with spray paint just before Stone's first visit.
2020: Viral Facebook video about a confrontation with a Dunkin’ Donuts manager who requested the pastor wear a face mask the next time he came in. Locke sharply criticized the employee and still stands by his beliefs in the video, but did another post and acknowledged “maybe I came across as a jerk for Jesus.”
January 2021: Locke attends rallies in Washington D.C. protesting the certification of votes for President Joe Biden; Locke makes it as far as the steps of the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Locke would later denounce the mob for Donald Trump that stormed the capitol.
July 2021: During a Sunday service at Global Vision, Locke warns people who are wearing masks: “I will ask you to leave. I am not playing these Democrat games up in this church.” Locke would say later said he was speaking to a specific group trying to be disruptive.
September 2021: Twitter bans Locke for spreading misinformation about COVID-19. Also says "Hillary Clinton is a high priestess in the Satanic church."
December 2021: Global Vision gave away $66,000 in a "reverse offering" held at a service just before Christmas with $500 checks offered to anyone who came forward. Global Vision also has a team that helps those experiencing homelessness.
January 2022: Locke says during a sermon that some children who have medical conditions “may be demonized and attacked, but your doctor calls it autism.” Locke faced considerable backlash. The pastor maintains comments were taken out of context and that his point was that not all diagnosis have a medical answer.
February 2022: Locke and Global Vision hold an event where items occult-related items and books were burned. Locke has held burnings before. Locke also encouraged “anything tied to the Masonic Lodge,” to be part of the burning.
Locke referred to the Masonic Lodge as a "satanic cult no matter what your Master Mason, fish frying grandfather told you,” in a Facebook post to promote the burning. The Masonic Network asked that the Facebook post be removed and stated: “This kind of rhetoric is unacceptable coming from a Christian leader, considering that a large number of Freemasons are fervent Christians.” Locke responded that he "struck a nerve," and wouldn't back down.
February 2022: Controversy over Locke’s comment in sermon that there are six witches within Global Vision’s membership, threatening to expose them.
April 2022: Global Vision holds panel discussion that includes Locke, Stone and others interviewed on their feelings about COVID-19 following a review of a docu-series by Ty and Charlene Bollinger named "Propaganda Exposed."
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @AndyHumbles. Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams.