Pastor Marvin Winans Faces Backlash After Fundraising Clip Shaming Member Over Sunday Offering Goes Viral
Written by b87fm on 10/21/2025
Detroit pastor Bishop Marvin Winans is once again under public scrutiny after a video from his Perfecting Church service went viral, showing him confronting a church member over her donation amount.
According to Atlanta Black Star, the incident took place during the congregation’s annual “Day of Giving” event, when Winans asked participants to contribute a “$1,000 plus $1,000” offering.
In the viral clip, a woman approaches the pulpit with her young son and tells the bishop she’s donating $1,235 “in faith.” Winans interrupts, clarifying, “That’s only $1,200,” before explaining that his request was for two separate thousand-dollar gifts. When the woman assures him she’ll provide the rest later, Winans replies, “That’s not what I asked you to do.”
The exchange quickly spread online, with many criticizing Winans for embarrassing the woman in front of the congregation. Others defended him, saying the pastor was simply holding firm to the terms of the church’s fundraising challenge.
Watch the viral clip below:
Bishop Marvin Winans goes viral after criticizing a woman and her son in front of the entire church for donating $1,200 instead of $2,000 during a fundraiser đź‘€
— My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) October 20, 2025
Perfecting Church has been fundraising for nearly two decades to complete its massive worship center. Construction began in the early 2000s but was halted following the 2008 recession, which cut off financing. The project later drew city complaints — with Detroit officials calling the unfinished structure an “eyesore” in 2023. A revised development plan has since been approved, with completion now targeted for 2025, according to Atlanta Black Star.
Gospel singer and bishop #MarvinSapp is under fire for his unorthodox way of asking church members for donations … because he’s on video telling ushers to close the doors until a huge goal is met. Full story in bio! pic.twitter.com/uvM3QPdFfv
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 27, 2025
The moment has also reignited conversation about money and transparency within churches. Comparisons were drawn to Marvin Sapp, who faced backlash in 2024 when footage resurfaced of him asking for $40,000 in donations and instructing ushers to “close the doors” during collection. Sapp later said his words were about safety, not coercion, and even released a song titled “Close the Doors” in response.
As the video of Bishop Winans circulates, debate continues among churchgoers and critics alike about accountability, faith, and the fine line between fundraising and pressure.
