Marvin Sapp recently joined Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell to clear the air about a viral video that sparked controversy over a fundraising moment at a church conference. The gospel singer and bishop addressed the misinformation that led to backlash, including false claims that he locked churchgoers inside until they raised $40,000.
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Sapp explained that the event took place nearly a year ago at a convention center in Baltimore, not at his own church. “People said I locked my people in my church until they gave me $40,000. That’s not true. You can’t even lock doors in a convention center,” he clarified. He also pointed out that the money raised went to the organization hosting the event, not to him personally.
The controversy, fueled by social media, led to an outpouring of negativity, with Sapp revealing he received death threats and harassing calls to his church. “People have called my church and cussed me out. My staff is frazzled. My children were afraid. I had to calm everybody down,” he shared, adding that as a widower, his children were especially concerned for his safety.
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Despite the backlash, Sapp emphasized his long-standing financial independence. He noted that he pastored for 16 years in Grand Rapids, Michigan, without taking a salary. In fact, for nine of those years, he personally donated $30,000 a month to the church to keep it running. “I don’t know anybody who would work 16 years for nothing. But I did it because I wanted to make sure the people God called me to cover were taken care of,” he said.
While the criticism has been overwhelming, Sapp found humor in some of the memes circulating online. He laughed about the one comparing him to Teddy Pendergrass with the phrase “Close the Door,” and another where someone joked their car doors locked automatically when his song came on Pandora.
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Ultimately, Sapp hopes people will stop spreading misinformation and focus on the truth. “I never locked the doors. I just said, ‘shut the doors.’ Hopefully, now that people know the truth, they’ll share that instead.” He also expressed gratitude to the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World for giving him a platform that helped shape his career. “If they let me, I’d raise a million dollars for them. That’s how much I appreciate what they’ve done for me.”
With the controversy behind him, Sapp remains focused on his ministry and music, standing firm in his faith and integrity.
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