The internet has erupted with both defenses of and accusations against Marvin Sapp—a well-known gospel singer, pastor, and advisor to the presiding bishop of the Global United Fellowship—after he allegedly instructed ushers to lock the doors at a conference until $40,000 was collected.

In a recent statement, Sapp urged viewers to add context to the social media clip.

Citing an example from 1 Chronicles 29, in which David prepares to build the temple and challenges the people to give in return, David gave first, followed by the leaders, and then by the people. “What happened next?” Sapp asked. “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.”

To Sapp, the challenge to give a specific amount is not unbiblical or manipulative. Instead, “It is in order. It is consistent with scripture.”

Sapp’s recent statement is in response to backlash after a July 2024 video clip resurfaced. The video is just shy of three minutes and shows Sapp on stage in a T-shirt, holding a microphone. Behind him, various conference leaders, including choir members, stand.

“Close them doors,” Sapp said in the video. “Ushers, close the doors. Close the doors. Close the doors. We all gonna leave together. Y’all ain’t going no place but to the restaurant.”

Sapp challenged the audience conferencegoers to each give a $20 seed, but to those on the stage, he asked them to “plant a seed of $100.” He challenged each of the givers to come forward and place their tithe, further citing that he needed to see a thousand people moving toward the altar.

“This is easy, saints. This is an easy miracle. We should be able to raise $40,000 tonight just from y’all giving,” he implored. Behind him, churchgoers dressed in suits and ties pulled bills from their wallets; Sapp himself handled an unknown amount of bills from his own wallet.

Although viewers were not privy to the audience’s response as to whether or not they, too, were pulling money out of their wallets and walking toward the altar, controversy stirred as to whether or not Marvin Sapp held the congregation hostage for donations.

He hushed the audience, no sooner repeating the phrase “giving is worship” four times before saying, “This ain’t the time to talk. A thousand people need to give a thousand dollars.”

Some of the comments online suggested Sapp was being an aggressive, mean-spirited church bully. Some took issue with the directive toward the deacons to pay $100 instead of $20 simply because there is a cost to sitting on the stage with him. Others cited economic hardship: Twenty dollars (let alone $100) might not be what people can realistically afford to give right now. Some commenters asked if it should not be free to sit in the church when salvation itself is free.

To others, including Sapp himself, the directive to give—and to reach the $40,000 giving goal— was not only in alignment with Scripture but with the interdenominational and predominately African American Pentecostal denomination, of which Sapp is a part.

As to the directive for the ushers to lock the doors, Sapp explained that “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.” He said he was not trying to control attendees; he was merely trying to create a “safe, focused, and reverent environment for those choosing to give and for those handling the resources.”

Whether or not they understand the movement behind it, critics remain unconvinced.

Sapp, meanwhile, has a net worth of approximately $4 million.