MegaChurch Pastor In Texas Holds Congregation Hostage For Money

If there’s one thing megachurches never fail to do, it’s finding creative ways to get into their congregation’s wallets. The latest example? Gospel singer and pastor Marvin Sapp, who is currently facing backlash over a resurfaced 2024 video where he took the phrase "passing the plate" to a whole new level.

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Close the Doors, Open the Wallets

At the 109th Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, Sapp delivered a sermon that took a sudden turn into a high-pressure fundraising campaign.

"How am I going to preach up here and not lead by example?" Sapp said before explaining that he had personally spent $2,000 to renew his ordination and licensing. Then, without missing a beat, he instructed the ushers—firmly—to "close the doors" multiple times, ensuring no one could leave before he issued his financial challenge.

According to Sapp’s calculations, there were 1,000 people in the sanctuary and another 1,000 watching online, so he decided everyone should donate $20 each to hit a $40,000 target. Not content with that, he then told the preachers to fork over $100, adding, "It costs to sit up here."

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A Bad Look for the Church

Predictably, social media was not impressed. Many users accused Sapp of essentially holding the congregation hostage—because, let’s be real, when someone is physically preventing people from leaving while demanding money, that’s not exactly a voluntary donation.

In response to the backlash, Sapp defended his actions on Facebook:

"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."

He further justified his actions by saying that financial collections during worship are "one of the most vulnerable and exposed times" and that limiting movement was about security, not control.

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The Bigger Problem

Now, let’s be clear—churches have expenses, and donations are a normal part of religious gatherings. But there’s a massive difference between inviting people to give and making them feel like they have to. This isn’t just about Marvin Sapp; it’s about a culture in many megachurches where financial coercion is dressed up as faith.

Forcing contributions under the guise of "leadership" or "reverence" isn’t just questionable—it erodes trust in religious institutions. People should feel inspired to give, not guilt-tripped, pressured, or, in this case, quite literally locked in.

So while Marvin Sapp may insist he meant no harm, the reality is that his approach sends the wrong message. If a church’s finances rely on theatrics and forced generosity, maybe it’s time to rethink the business model.