Locke repeated one of the rumors he heard was circulating, saying, “Well, you know, the reason we’ve not been able to close on Love’s Way [Church] is because pastor Locke stole all the building fund money to buy a $1.6 million house.”
“Let me tell you something. Not only is that a lie; that is slanderous,” Locke said. “First of all, I bought a $625,000 house and a million dollars worth of 28 acres, and I’ll remind you that six acres right here cost us $1.2 million three years ago.”
Locke informed the congregation that the money he used to buy his new home came from his own savings he’s acquired from selling his books.
“So our ‘mega mansion’ that we live in is worth the same thing that our renovated double wide is listed for right now: $650,000. Is it a beautiful house?” Locke asked. “Absolutely! But guess what? Me and five businessmen, under the grace of God, in four days, came up with the money and bought it.”
“And guess what,” he said again, “it’s not even in my name. The church owns the whole thing.” In other words, if Locke ever leaves the church, the house stays with Global Vision Bible Church.
Locke went on to dispel another rumor, informing everyone that the church doesn’t buy his family’s vehicles either. In fact, the pastor shared that the “Holy Spirit” told him to “finance” the new car he currently has so that he wouldn’t give it away because he has given away the last five vehicles that he outright owned to people who were in need.
“If you can’t trust us with your money, you can’t trust us with your mind, and you might as well go somewhere else, because I’m not gonna live in accusation land my whole life—it’s stupid,” he added. “I got the fear of God in me, and we’re not spending one dime of God’s money in a wrong way. Not one dime.”
“If you think we abscond with money, then we can look up your giving record and I’ll give it all back to you tomorrow,” Locke said. “No matter how much you’ve ever given to this church, you can have it.” Referencing the church’s building fund, Locke said, “Because it’s there…every dime that’s ever come in for that building at Love’s Way is still in the bank right now.”
According to The Tennessean, one former member who left Global Vision Bible Church in 2023, Jen Rockwell, attempted to cash in on Locke’s tithing return offer. But she was denied after Locke clarified he was only talking about money that was given to the building fund.
The Tennessean reported that Rockwell was then contacted by Global Vision Bible Church’s attorney, who informed her that the church had investigated her claim of “seeking a refund” and found it not to be what Locke was offering.
ChurchLeaders has reached out to Locke for comment and will update this article in the event of a response.
 that he found a voodoo doll on the property of his new home.){kind=link}