Pastor Marvin Sapp Goes Viral AGAIN — This Time for Scolding a Church Member Over Their $1,200 Donation!
Welp, Pastor Marvin Sapp is back in the headlines — and once again, it’s not for his music. The Detroit mega pastor, who went viral back in March after demanding that ushers lock the church doors until his congregation came up with $40,000, is trending again … this time for shaming a church member who didn’t meet his donation request.
The Viral Moment — “I Asked for $2,000, Not $1,200!”
In a clip making the rounds on social media, Pastor Sapp can be seen addressing a member of his congregation who had just given $1,200 during offering time. But instead of celebrating the contribution, Sapp took the mic and said something that had church folks’ jaws on the floor.
According to the viral footage, Sapp told the congregant that he’d asked for $2,000, not $1,200 — implying that the member’s gift fell short. He visibly rebuked the woman, then turned his back on her and walked away in disgust. But he didn’t give her back the money though ….
And then, in what fans are calling “another money-over-ministry moment,” he used the opportunity to tell the church about “obedience in giving” and “sacrifice.”
Social media wasn’t feeling it. One person tweeted, “You don’t humiliate people who give. That’s not ministry.” Another wrote, “At this point, the church offering is starting to look like a reality show challenge.”
This Isn’t His First Offering Controversy
Back in March, Media Take Out reported that Marvin Sapp went viral for ordering ushers to “lock the doors” until the church raised $40K. That clip sparked outrage, with many accusing him of “holding people hostage for tithes.”
Sapp later defended himself, claiming that the video was taken out of context — saying he only locked the doors “for the safety of the givers and those handling the money.”
But now that another video has surfaced showing him calling out a member’s $1,200 donation, churchgoers aren’t buying the “taken out of context” excuse anymore.
Media Take Out’s Take
Marvin Sapp may be an award-winning gospel icon, but he’s starting to build a reputation for turning the pulpit into a paywall.
Whether he’s asking for $40K or scolding someone for giving “too little,” folks are wondering if the spirit of giving is getting lost in translation.
One thing’s for sure — the congregation might want to keep their wallets (and cell phone cameras) ready next Sunday.