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Pastor Greg Locke Committed a 1st-Degree Felony, Or Did He

Pastor Greg Locke Committed a 1st-Degree Felony, Or Did He

Last updated on: May 4, 2026 at 10:51 am by Shawn Paul Wood

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Pastor Greg Locke Committed a 1st-Degree Felony, Or Did He 2026-05-04T10:51:55-05:00 Shawn Paul Wood

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Pastor Greg Locke is a man who is never far from a pipe bomb of controversy. Typically, his flapping gums and boisterous presentation at the pulpit of Nashville, Tennessee’s Global Vision Bible Church, are hurling many of his moronic claims, causing a mass hysteria of scratched heads like a lice infestation.

Christian apologist, former youth pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and founder of BibleThinker.com, Mike Winger, unearthed Locke’s most recent allegations.

What Pastor Greg Locke bloviates in this instance is something beyond comprehension. Winger, in the spirit of journalistic integrity and scriptural morality, released a video to discuss this latest irrational and irresponsible blather.

“Pastor” Locke’s claim: Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen are demon-possessed pedophiles. Wait, what the literal what?!

That’s another day at the office for Nashville’s own illustrious ecumenical egghead. In the video, Winger questions why this claim was made and asks viewers to make up their minds about the entire situation without bias. He wants an honest answer, regardless of who can share it.

Many of the headlines he pulls up to pose those questions hit “close to home.”

Naturally, I pay attention. Can we have an adult conversation about this? You may have some vitriolic feelings toward both or all three of these messengers of God, but let’s be real. The Smoky Mountains should be the target. Hopefully, someone can put out this blowhard’s fire.

Before we get into the ungodly messages in God’s House, I encourage you to stay aware of other faith-based issues that hit “close to home.” Subscribe to our free newsletter to stay informed about what’s happening in the Church and how real Christians can help defend the love and work of Christ.

Mike Winger’s Quest for Content

Mike Winger from BibleThinker.com

Believe it. That guy has read all those books. (Image Credit: Screengrab from Mike Winger/YouTube)

It’s interesting how people inside and outside the Church debate differences. First, they decide if they like you or not for any reason. Some reasons are legitimate, and others are strands of thinking so sophomoric that Donald Trump claiming he was the most mistreated president in history seems tame. (Mind you, four presidents were assassinated, so there’s that.)

Religious pundits and people who don’t care about God despise Joel Osteen. Their reasons usually stem from a lavish sports stadium-turned-church, the money he seems to have (from public speaking and a multimedia empire), and the fame he enjoys. Those same people loathe Kenneth Copeland for even dumber reasons. His eyes are piercingly blue and deep-set, so…he must be a demented gremlin, right? Really, people?

Additionally, folks say the guy is worth 3/4 of a billion dollars. One problem: Nary a piece of paperwork has been documented in almost six decades to back that up. Sure, Kenneth Copeland has a nice bank account, but so would any other author of over 100 books. Guess residuals should be different for evangelists.

A quick clue to those dolts: If you’re going to be internet sleuths and journalists, have integrity and show the proof. Otherwise, shut up.

And a Continued Request for Proof

Caricature of Jesus rolling away the stone of His tomb

See, Greg, this is proof. (Image Credit: @Rudall30 via iStock/Getty Images)

That’s what I appreciate about Mike Winger.

He probably has some angst toward both Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland. And he may even believe some (or most) of the ballyhoo online about the two, but his approach toward the internet cackle is earnest. He stands for justice, seeks to defend the Lord, and bows up to all the jackleg fools ruining the reputation of the Church.

Lawsuits, arrest warrants, and people leaving their posts after being caught for whatever reason are evidence and substantiation. Forced innuendo, personal attacks, and inane claims are nothing more than “Yo’ mama” jokes under the monkey bars in grade school. Let’s grow up a little, saints.

Notably, Winger doesn’t entertain what is thought, considered, and presumed without citing proof. And if there aren’t any notes, he says so.

Why can’t more people do that? “Hey, that preacher is embezzling money from his congregation…and here are the receipts.” Or, “This pastor has been sexually harassing every female on his staff and the choir…and here are the filed complaints with the police.” Do that, and people believe you. Don’t, and you’re the Pied Piper of the dunderheads.

And that leads us to the chucklehead known as Pastor Greg Locke.

Pastor Greg Locke and Choosing Defamation Over Discourse

Pastor Greg Locke screaming from the pulpit in his Tennessee church

Greg Locke from his Global Vision Bible Church in Nashville (Image Credit: Tennessean.com via Wikimedia)

Winger begins his 13-minute video saying, “This is not for entertainment. I’m deeply disturbed about what Greg Locke has said about Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland.”

His video, dated April 30, 2026, offers metadata that reads:

“I don’t share this in a lighthearted way. If children are in danger and victims are left undefended, then those who can do something should do something. Now, if Pastor Greg Locke is telling the truth, then he can do something. But if he is lying, he needs to publicly admit it. I’ve learned too much over the past year and a half to just ignore such strong accusations accompanied by claims that Greg has proof to back them up.”

Now, in full transparency, he’s not posing an unfettered defense of Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen. Winger believes there is a problem, only he’s not certain which of the three people involved has it. Yet, the many acolytes of GVBC applaud these bombastic claims without question. Winger notices there’s one concern about truth, so he makes one—a loud and visible one.

“[Locke] says he has evidence of [pedophilia], and I’ve asked him to bring that evidence forth…he seems reluctant to do so.”

Winger, in his words, is trying to bring these windy allegations to the public. His reason is “light disinfects, and if there is something to these accusations, they should be chased down.” If you are a member of Osteen’s Lakewood Church or a partner of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s ministry, you may want to come against that.

However, Winger is right.

No man is above the glory of God. And ever since the Holy Spirit fell in the Upper Room (Acts 1:14), people have been using God’s Word for their own selfish and sinister reasons. All industries need a watchdog reporter, including the holy Church.

It’s just baffling that anyone outside of an unabashed love for God and His children would rather cause a ruckus than solve a crime. Here’s what Greg Locke was screaming about in this video from four years ago:

“Full-blown, demon-possessed Satan worshippers like Kenneth Copeland, the most powerful pastor in America. He’s a demon, and he’s going to hell, and you tell him I said so.“

Well, okay, Greg. Eh-hem. If anyone from Kenneth Copeland Ministries is reading this post… yeah, c’mon, dude! If you’re so big and bad, tell him yourself. Oh, still want to shout some more?

“That low-down, sex-trafficking rapist…I wish to God [Copeland] would take me to court. I wish to God that demon would take me to court! I’ll show the pictures I got!“

Let that sink in. Those are the same photos Locke is “reluctant to show” Winger (or anyone, really).

A Lip-“Locke”d Messenger

Man sitting alone in an empty church (Black and white photo)

This is the cause or the effect of unethical Christian leaders. (Image credit: Stefan Kunze via Unsplash)

While Pastor Greg Locke creates these claims out of the ether, watch Winger’s video below. Everyone in his church seems to applaud this sermon of hate-bait and egregious claims, and no one uses their brain. How can you tell? Easy.

Locke claims that if Copeland or Osteen sues him, then he’ll release pictures.

These are pictures of one of the worst crimes in the world—unmistakable proof of child sexual abuse. Although the heinous nature of these “pictures” reveals both of these two globally recognized leaders of faith in the act of something you would see in the Jeffrey Epstein files, this fool is sitting on them and refusing to release them unless a lawsuit threatens him.

Think about that…because it’s obvious no one in his church is.

Greg Locke admitted he has proof of a crime, but refuses to give it to the police, the FBI, or anyone within reach of the Justice Department. Evidence that could put two people in prison for life, but it’s resting quietly in a storm box next to his Affliction t-shirts and silver-tipped boots.

And now for something Pastor Greg Locke doesn’t know. Under 18 U.S.C. § 4, sentencing for “misprision of a felony” corresponds to the severity of the offense. In layman’s terms, it is a federal crime to knowingly conceal a federal felony and to fail to report it to authorities. For covering up child sexual abuse, that’s three years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000.

And you just admitted that you are committing it. Yet, not one of your church members cares.

In United States v. Olson, 856 F.3d 626 (9th Cir. 2017), “the court affirmed the conviction of a defendant for misprision of a felony (18 U.S.C. § 4), ruling that she knowingly concealed her partner’s submission of false statements to a USDA program. The ruling clarified that the government must prove the defendant knew the underlying conduct was a felony.”

Greg, you know child sexual abuse is a federal crime. And based on your energetic sermon, you have proof of both knowledge and are actively concealing this offense. Yet, you’re the troglodyte who admits to having proof and keeping it under wraps. You see the problem here? It’s you.

Here’s some more food for thought: Tennessee (Locke’s home) is one of the roughly 18 states with universal mandatory reporting. This means any person (not just professionals) who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect is required by state law to report it to the Department of Children’s Services or law enforcement. Failure to do so is a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee.

I don’t know Joel Osteen or Kenneth Copeland. In fact, I’ve never met them. Mike Winger probably hasn’t either. But if Pastor Greg Locke had proof of a crime they allegedly committed, I’m certain federal authorities would want to meet him and ask him why he isn’t saving other children?

There’s a reason: This “crime” doesn’t exist.

If Locke possesses the evidence he claims, either Locke is the best crime sleuth on the planet, or the worst excuse of a pastor and human being for hiding the proof of children being abused by two grown men. My guess? He’s just a horrendous liar looking for likes because he can’t make friends. Neither of which does a genuine Christian make.

Something else to consider if you’re a genuine pastor.

General Christian

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About Shawn Paul Wood

Shawn Paul Wood, Th.D., is an award-winning copywriter, contributor, and content strategist, and ghostwriter of several faith-based articles, speeches, columns, and books who has worked for some of the most admirable brands in their respective industries for over 20 years. As Founder of Woodworks Communications, he leads teams of content strategists and marketing professionals to expand the brands of corporate leaders, serial entrepreneurs, and respected ministers of the Gospel. He aims to help others develop self-discovery through stories and the written word to proclaim the Word to the world. For more information about his portfolio or help telling your story, visit WoodworksCommunications.com. You can read more about the author here.

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