Bishop Marvin Winans scolds Detroit church member for donating $1,200 instead of $2,000 during fundraiser [VIDEO]

Clip shows Bishop Marvin Winans publicly rebuking a Perfecting Church member over a donation shortfall, sparking backlash across social media.

A Detroit church service led by Bishop Marvin L. Winans has gone viral after a short video showed him reprimanding a member for donating $1,200 instead of $2,000 during a fundraising drive at Perfecting Church.

The clip, recorded by an attendee and first shared on Facebook on October 19, quickly spread across Instagram, Threads, and X, sparking criticism of Winans’ handling of the moment and raising fresh questions about how far pastors should go in pushing congregations to meet financial goals.

What Happened Inside the Church

The 40-second video, filmed during Perfecting Church’s special offering, captures Winans behind the pulpit as he addresses the congregation. Dressed in a gray pinstripe suit, the longtime pastor gestures firmly toward a woman standing near the front.

According to witnesses, the member had contributed $1,200 toward the building-fund pledge but fell short of the $2,000 goal Winans had called for. His response—delivered into a live microphone—came across as stern and disappointed: a public correction before hundreds of churchgoers.

Attendees can be seen shifting uncomfortably while Winans continues speaking. The woman was dressed in white with a young boy beside her. She stands silently through the exchange. The clip ends abruptly. Thus, leaving no indication of what followed.

The Fundraiser Behind the Moment

The offering was part of a long-running campaign to finish Perfecting Church’s new building on 7 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue—a project that began in 2002 but remains incomplete.

Winans, a Grammy-winning gospel singer and founder of Perfecting Church, has led multiple fundraising drives to complete the site. However, it has faced repeated delays and even a lawsuit with the City of Detroit that was settled in 2023.

Sunday’s service was framed as a major push to revive construction, but the viral clip overshadowed that mission almost instantly.

Bishop Marvin Winans’ Legacy and Leadership Style

Winans, 65, is one of the most recognizable figures in gospel music. A member of the legendary Winans family, he built Perfecting Church from a small Bible study in 1989 into one of Detroit’s most prominent congregations.

Known for his powerful voice and straightforward preaching, Winans has occasionally drawn controversy for his strict tone. Supporters describe him as “old-school and unfiltered.” Critics argue his approach sometimes crosses into humiliation rather than correction.

This latest clip, many say, is another example of that tension between discipline and compassion in church leadership.

Community Reaction: “$1,200 Is a Lot in 2025”

Within hours, the clip drew tens of thousands of views and hundreds of comments. The majority condemned Winans’ tone as insensitive at a time when Detroit families are struggling with layoffs, inflation, and closures.

“This is why people stop going to church—pastors acting like bill collectors,” one commenter wrote.
“If you pledged $2K but can only afford $1,200 now, that’s still generosity,” another added.

Some longtime members defended him, arguing that fundraisers depend on accountability:

“If you pledge it, you should honor it,” one supporter said. “He’s just pushing folks to keep their word.”

Still, the dominant sentiment online leaned toward outrage. Users questioned the morality of confronting a member publicly for giving a substantial amount, calling it “tone-deaf” and “unchristian.”

Economic and Cultural Backdrop

Detroit’s economy remains fragile. Small-business closures and job cuts have left many residents financially stretched, making church fundraising a sensitive subject.

Experts note that Black church traditions often tie fundraising to communal progress—building schools, housing, or sanctuaries—but that modern congregants expect more transparency. The combination of decades-long building projects and digital exposure has made financial accountability a recurring flashpoint across megachurches nationwide.

“Clips like this go viral because people see their own experiences in it,” one commentator on Threads wrote. “We’ve all been in a service where money talk overshadowed the message.”

The Building That Won’t Go Away

The unfinished Perfecting Church complex on 7 Mile and Woodward has long divided opinions. For supporters, it’s a symbol of faith under construction. For critics, it’s an eyesore—two decades of unfulfilled promises.

City records show the church settled a zoning dispute with Detroit in 2023 and received approval to resume building. Winans has vowed to complete the sanctuary, estimated to cost millions.

That pressure may explain his visible frustration during the fundraiser. But the optics of scolding a donor—even one who pledged $2,000 and gave $1,200—hit differently in today’s climate, when inflation and layoffs dominate Detroit’s headlines.

A Debate Bigger Than One Church

While Perfecting Church has not issued an official statement as of this writing, the incident has reignited conversations about church money culture across social platforms.

Faith leaders and everyday members weighed in:

• “The Bible says God loves a cheerful giver, not a shamed one.”
• “Accountability is fine—but not on a microphone.”
• “If this is leadership, I’ll worship from home.”

Others contextualized the clip within Black church norms: public offerings, pledge drives, and spontaneous corrections aren’t new—but recording them for millions to see is. The shift isn’t in the act, it’s in the visibility.

What Happens Next

Perfecting Church continues to host regular services and fundraising events. No disciplinary or follow-up action has been reported.

Observers expect Winans may address the backlash directly in an upcoming sermon—something he’s done before when facing controversy. A measured explanation or apology could reshape the narrative, but silence may allow public criticism to define it.

A Moment That Won’t Fade Fast

Whether viewed as tough love or misplaced pride, Bishop Marvin Winans’ rebuke has become the latest example of how quickly a few seconds of church life can spark national debate. Winans is the source of major backlash.

For longtime supporters, the bishop remains a pillar of Detroit’s gospel legacy. For critics, this clip underscores a disconnect between modern congregations and traditional authority.

Either way, the message is clear: in the current era, even a $1,200 donation can come with a cost—especially when the sermon microphone never turns off.

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