A MEGACHURCH preacher is receiving major backlash after forcing his congregation to donate a total of $40,000.
The gospel singer reportedly trapped 1,000 churchgoers in a church until they donated money.
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In the resurfaced video, Marvin Sapp, 58, tells ushers to keep members at the 109th Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, until they donate at least $20 per person.
“Ushers, close the doors. Close the doors. Close the doors,” Sapp instructed.
Sapp told the crowd they were all going to “leave together,” and jokingly added, “Y’all ain’t going no place but the restaurant.”
“There’s 1,000 of you tonight…and 1,000 of you watching online. This is a small seed,” he said.
“I’m challenging each of you all to give a $20 seed.”
After calling out the general members of the congregation to donate money, the singer turned his attention to the people standing behind him.
“I need everyone standing up here to give a $100 seed…because it costs to sit up here.”
The church leader wasn’t planning on letting anyone get away without paying.
After requiring each member to give a minimum of $20, he asked in-person churchgoers to show him the donation at the altar.
“I need to see a thousand people moving,” he urged.
“I want to see the folk, y’all start moving.”
Organ music could be heard playing as the preacher counted out $100 for his own donation.
Sapp shushed the congregation and reiterated his message: “Giving is worshiping.”
The preacher called the donations “an easy miracle” as he watched over church members dropping their donations at the altar.
Sapp’s big financial ask sparked outrage among social media users who criticized the leader for “hustling” the congregation.
“Marvin Sapp is clearly HUSTLING his congregation for 40k–and using God’s name to do it,” one X user wrote.
“He’s calling for the doors to be locked? That’s not faith, that’s a shakedown and a false prophet.
“Someone had a bill to pay, and it wasn’t the church.”
Others warned others never to follow a church that asks for a “seed.”
“Church red flag: if they talk about sowing a seed, leave immediately and never look back,” another X user posted.
“Seed has nothing to do with money in the scriptures.
“This is a heretic and a hustler.”
SAPP SPEAKS
The leader responded on Facebook to the viral clip saying the video needed more context.
Marvin Sapp’s full statement
Response: Let’s Add Context to the Clip on Social Media.
Recently, a clip has gone viral of me challenging 2,000 individuals(virtually and in person) to plant a seed of $20 during an international gathering held at a convention center, with over 4,000 people in attendance that evening plus virtual viewers. In that same moment, I also challenged leadership to lead by example by sowing $100. That evening, I personally gave much more.
Some have taken issue with a particular moment when I instructed the ushers, rather firmly, to close the doors during the offering. To those unfamiliar with the church context or who may not regularly attend worship gatherings this has been misinterpreted as holding people hostage as well as offensive. That was never my intent.
The truth is, when finances are being received in any worship gathering, it is one of the most vulnerable and exposed times for both the finance and security teams. Movement during this sacred exchange can be distracting and, at times, even risky. My directive was not about control it was about creating a safe, focused, and reverent environment for those choosing to give, and for those handling the resources.
Unfortunately, in this social media age, snippets are easily shared without context, and assumptions are quickly made without understanding the full picture. Conferences have budgets. Churches have budgets. And people have budgets. As the assigned ministerial gift for this international gathering, one of my responsibilities was to help raise the conference budget. That’s not manipulation, it’s stewardship.
Now allow me to give you some biblical context, not opinion, not tradition, but Scripture.
In 1 Chronicles 29, we find a powerful moment where David, preparing for the building of the temple, challenges the people to give. He starts by giving of his own treasure over and above what he had already set aside. Then he calls on the leaders to do the same. What happened next? The people gave willingly and generously. In fact, they gave so much that a record was kept of each gift, and ultimately, David had to tell the people to stop giving because the need had been exceeded.
The Bible says they gave gold, silver, bronze, iron, and precious stones. Specific amounts were recorded not because God needed their money, but because the people needed to show their commitment to the vision and because stewardship demands accountability.
So when someone challenges people to give a specific amount, it is not unbiblical. It is not manipulation. It is in order. It is consistent with Scripture.
But here’s the tension: people’s traditions often conflict with biblical truth. That’s why Jesus Himself said, “The traditions of men make the word of God of no effect.” (Mark 7:13)
So yes, you saw a moment. But I invite you to understand the movement behind it. I felt it was necessary to provide context to this clip, and I hope you’ll share this explanation with the same passion and speed that the original clip was shared.
Honor, clarity, and truth are what I owe the people and I’ll always provide just that.
“My directive was not about control it was about creating a safe, focused, and reverent environment for those choosing to give, and for those handling the resources,” he said in a lengthy statement.
“Conferences have budgets. Churches have budgets. And people have budgets.
“As the assigned ministerial gift for this international gathering, one of my responsibilities was to help raise the conference budget. That’s not manipulation, it’s stewardship.”
The singer further defended his actions by providing biblical context, citing 1 Chronicles 29.
“The Bible says they gave gold, silver, bronze, iron, and precious stones. Specific amounts were recorded not because God needed their money, but because the people needed to show their commitment to the vision and because stewardship demands accountability.
“So when someone challenges people to give a specific amount, it is not unbiblical. It is not manipulation. It is in order. It is consistent with Scripture.”
Sapp invited followers to “understand the movement behind” his actions.
“Honor, clarity, and truth are what I owe the people and I’ll always provide just that.”
The U.S. Sun did not immediately receive a response from Marvin Sapp and the PAW Convention.
