Pastor Who Barred Doors, Refused To Let Congregants Out Of The Room Until They Tithed $40,000, Responds
A ‘pastor’ who went viral after locking congregants in a room unless they gave him $40,000 has responded to the criticism, insisting he’s been misconstrued and was simply trying to be a good steward.
Marvin Sapp is the pastor/bishop of The Chosen Vessel Church in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as a Grammy-nominated gospel singer.
He was subjected to a volley of criticism last week after a video surfaced of him speaking at the 2024 Pentecostal Assemblies of the World conference came to light, where he demanded that attendees tithe $40,000 to cover the event’s costs and instructed the ushers to close the doors until the balance was met.
Marvin defended himself in a Facebook post about the event, writing:
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.
He later noted:
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.
Famous last words.
About Author
Arrest and deport. He belongs in Africa with the rest of his lower primate gangster creatures.