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Trailer with hundreds of bibles inside are set on fire and left outside Tennessee church on Easter Sunday

8 months ago 24

A trailer containing hundreds of Holy Bibles were set on fire and left outside an evangelical Tennessee church on Easter Sunday.

Officers from the Mt. Juliet Police and Fire Department responded to a suspicious fire at the intersection of Old Lebanon Dirt Road and Chandler Road outside of Global Vision Bible Church.

Deputies reported that the trailer had been dropped off in the middle of the intersection and 'intentionally' set on fire, WKRN News reported.

Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church, who had returned from Israel a day prior, was shocked when he learned what happened at his church on the Holy Day.

Easter weekend - including Easter Sunday and Good Friday - is the most holy celebration in the Christian calendar. 

The trailer of Holy Bibles that were set ablaze and left outside the Global Vision Bible Church

There were around 200 holy books burned in front of the church. Pictured: A close up image of the charred verses. The incident happened on Easter Sunday - part of the Christian calendar's most holy weekend of celebration

Mt. Juliet Fire Department and police arrived at the scene early Easter Sunday morning. The black, burned trailer is seen being handed by first responders

Locke told its members in a Facebook post that the church's security cameras caught a man at 6am Easter morning dropping off a trailer filled with bibles before setting the trailer and bibles ablaze.

Locke, who lives close to the church, said he was not aware of what happened until he arrived at the church Sunday morning. 

On his social media post, he posted photos of the burnt bibles, fire trucks, and police vehicles that were handling the disturbing incident.

He wrote that a woman, who had driven through the night to get to their church, was in the parking lot at the time the fire was raging, and was able to call police who responded quickly.

'A trailer with about 200 Bibles had been set on fire blocking the entrance from Old Lebanon Dirt Rd. and Chandler Radford Rd. into the main part of our parking lot,' the pastor said. 

He added: 'It was quite the scene to wake up on my first morning back from Israel.' 

Despite the ordeal, he wrote in his post: 'It's going to be a great day in the Lord.'

Locke said: 'It was strange because he [the suspect] had his blinkers on and he scotched the wheels and everything.

'He was very meticulous, so he had to be very courageous to do what he did. We've had people do things to our building, we've been vandalized a number of times, hence why we have to have security, but never 200 Bibles being burned.'

'A trailer with about 200 Bibles had been set on fire blocking the entrance from Old Lebanon Dirt Rd. and Chandler Radford Rd. into the main part of our parking lot,' Pastor Locke said 

He added: 'That's a pretty rebellious statement towards the church.'

Locke also told worshippers of his church to move forward from the ordeal.

'What people think many times is going to stop us, really just encourages us, in a weird way, to know that we're doing what's right,' Locke said.

Some commenters expressed gratitude to the police and firefighters who arrived at the scene, while others thanked Pastor Locke for his service. While others recited psalms from the bible.

'So evil! They will face the Lord on Judgement day! God bless your Church today. He has risen!,' one person wrote.

'The Devil is working overtime,' said another.

'Thank you Lord for the police cars on the spot,' someone quipped. 'Help that pitiful foul man of satan setting Bibles on fire in the intersection. May he know You in a way he didn't see coming.'  

'Declaring Psalm 91 & God's Shalom over you and the household of faith. May God turn around what was meant for evil to good for His glory and namesake,' some posted.

Another prayed on what took place.

'Father God send Your warrior angels to surround and encamp around this family church and city! Lord we plead the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior over each and everyone committed to the Lord coming and going from our church! 

'For Your glory we praise and worship ONLY HOLY HOLY HOLY HOLY HOLY is Your Name on High AMEN Hallelujah Thank You Father we know we are your children. We Love You King Jesus,' they wrote.

Despite, the uproar the incident caused, there were some, who offered compassion for the person responsible.

'Pray for the man who did this! He apparently needs it!!' someone said.

Another person had the same sentiment: 'All I have to say is may God bless the person that did this. Pastor Locke just keep doing the Lord's Work.'

'Let's come together and pray for the person who done this that they will have a 'Paul' moment and repent and come fully to Christ,' said another.

The Wilson County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation and the suspicious fire. No arrests have been made. 

Though they were limited on what they could share, but told its residents that their 'safety and security remains their upmost priority.'

They were unavailable when DailyMail.com reached out to find out if there was a suspect in the case.

Anyone with information or additional camera footage of the incident is asked to contact the Wilson County Sheriff's Office at 615-444-1459. 

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