Ushers are told by Marvin Sapp to keep the church doors closed until the congregation has raised 40k

The gospel musician demanded a large sum of money before members could depart in an undated video.

Social media is questioning Marvin Sapp’s church’s legitimacy in light of his $40,000 target. 

In an undated video that has gone viral online, the 58-year-old told ushers to shut down his church and demanded that worshipers, both online and in person, pay $20 to achieve the high amount before departing the ceremony.

“Close the doors, and we’ll all go together.” “Y’all are only going to the restaurant,” he commanded the assembly. “There are 1,000 of you here, and there are also 1,000 people watching online. It’s a tiny seed. That would be $40,000 tonight if I were to raise $1,000 online and $1,000 in the sanctuary.

He went on to say, “I’m challenging everyone down here to give a $20 seed.” 

Speaking to the congregation that stood or sat next to him in the pulpit, the Bishop said, “Now, everyone up here, we’ve all sown and seeded, but I need everyone up here to sow $100 because it costs to sit up here.” 

He said, “So, put your $20 away.” He went on to say, “That $20 wasn’t for you,” asking that the contributions be carried to the front so he could witness the enormous effort. 

“Worship is giving,” he reiterated. 

The video was uploaded with the remark, “Marvin Sapp is clearly HUSTLING his congregation for 40k— and using God’s name to do it,” by the user who shared one of the incident’s most popular posts on X. He went on to explain, saying, “He wants the doors locked? that’s not faith, that’s a shakedown and a false prophet. someone had a bill to pay, and it wasn’t to the church.

“Like- i thought he was just a singer? Black churches need to STAND UP against mess like this. They be sitting down ‘mhm’ and ‘uhh huh’ing’ knowing this is BS,” they added in the replies.

“‘Shut the doors’, no MF way I’d sit there and be pimped and played. He’s a hustler, not the second coming,” shared one X user. 

“never would have paid it,” joked several people in reference to Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made It” song. 

“I promise I would’ve called the police and screamed I’m being kidnapped,” explained another X account. Marvin Sapp has not yet issued a response to the viral clip. Take a look at additional commentary below.