WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — After years of friction between a controversial church and Mt. Juliet neighbors, the Global Vision Bible Church tent has finally come down and a for-sale sign has been placed out front.
For years, the church held services inside a large white tent off Old Lebanon Dirt Road, prompting noise complaints and multiple lawsuits.
“There’s some things in that gravel parking lot on Old Lebanon Dirt Road we didn’t bring with us, and we honor Mt. Juliet and we love them and we thank the Lord for them,” Global Vision Bible Church Pastor Greg Locke said during a service.
Some Mt. Juliet neighbors who live within a mile of the site also welcomed the news. Over the past few years, multiple residents have expressed concerns about large events, loud noises, and more to News 2, but some have been too scared to go on camera.
“Probably the most upsetting would be hearing him angrily casting out demons from people in his congregation,” one neighbor told News 2 in 2023.
The controversial church has been in the spotlight for several reasons. For example, on Easter Sunday, someone set a trailer full of Bibles on fire near the church.
“We get a lot of pushback. We get a lot of hate for some of our religious and political stands, but to see the Bible disrespected that way was a little unfortunate,” Locke said at the time.
Then, a man was arrested earlier this month after dozens of shots were fired at the pastor’s home — without injuring anyone — back in September.
Now, the church is hoping to turn over a new leaf with the community by worshipping inside a warehouse in Lebanon.
“We’ve been in this vicious cycle for the last few years, spending over half a million dollars on lawsuits,” Locke said.
Neighbors directly across the street said their lawsuit is still active against the church. However, they’re hoping the noise complaints can be put to rest.
“We’re also relieved because, especially for the neighbors that were directly across from him, but just being able to enjoy our own backyards,” neighbor Griff Akins told News 2 in a past interview.
