- An ongoing heated exchange between Apostle Femi Lazarus and Timi Dakolo over gospel ministers charging for ministration has taken a new turn with receipts being displayed by both parties
- Apostle Femi Lazarus released an invoice of an unidentified gospel artiste charging $10,000 for a ministration, criticising the practice
- In response, Timi Dakolo fires back at the founder of Sphere of Light church for being guilty of what he preaches, releasing emails to back up his claims
- The exchange has ignited reactions from netizens, with some supporting Apostle Femi Lazarus, others backing Timi Dakolo, and some taking a middle-ground approach
A controversy has been brewing in the Nigerian gospel music ministry, with a heated exchange unfolding on social media. At the centre of the debate are Apostle Femi Lazarus and musician Timi Dakolo, who have been going back and forth over whether gospel ministers should charge for their services.
The debate began on March 17, when Apostle Femi Lazarus, in a video, criticised gospel ministers for charging fees. He expressed concern about the growing commercialisation of worship ministrations in Nigeria and Africa and stated that many have become more about performance than genuine worship.
However, Timi Dakolo quickly responded, arguing that gospel musicians have bills to pay and need to meet, just like anyone else.
The debate took a new turn on March 23, when Apostle Femi Lazarus shared an invoice from an unidentified music minister charging $10,000 as an honorarium.
The minister of God stated, “The mistake on that is the word honorarium used. Just tell them the price. And I said it, and I did again, when they pay you this kind of money, you have to act drama to justify the amount paid. You have to roll on the floor, you'll scream, you'll shout, but those who know God knows he's not there.
“This is the trick, many charlatans like this don't bill big pastors, because they use them for endorsement.
“People say things like people like Nathaniel Bassey don't charge because they already know their worth.”
He continued,
“There is honour that growth brings, there is honour that God gives, you can't demand for such without growing. Demanding is you trying to attain what God confers on men with your own mouth.”
In a subsequent video, Apostle Femi Lazarus further clarified who a music minister is. He defined a music minister as someone who uses music as a means of edification for the local assembly or the body of Christ.
He highlighted that a music minister should be traceable to a local church, where they are under the guidance of a pastor and learning doctrine because their role is to serve through music, communicating doctrine through lyrics and melody, and prioritising scriptural accuracy over the sweetness of sound.
“A music minister is given the same training we give pastors, and instrumentalists fall under this category. As a pastor teaches, expressing my ministry through teaching and preaching, you express yours. It is service to God, who is using you and you are serving. That is ministry!” Apostle Lazarus concluded.
Timi Dakolo however, responded by sharing an email from Apostle Femi Lazarus' ministry school, showing that he charges fees for his services.
His caption read, “All this was said in love and with respect sir. I am not a gospel artist but a Christain raised in church. Let's not shift the goal post..
“By your definition, if anyone charges to minister, they are not Gospel artist, they performers.
And by that definition, if any preacher charges to teach and minister, they are merchants of hope and motivational speakers and performers too,
“Sir, you are charging as low as 150 dollars per person for your school of ministry. Teaching and preaching Jesus. Probably having as much as 1000 students. Let's do the maths. You even have premium and standard for God house?
“Are you not selling the Gift and revelation freely given to you? Again, let's not keep shifting the goal post.”
Netizens have been weighing in on the debate, with some supporting Apostle Femi Lazarus' stance and others backing Timi Dakolo's argument. Some have taken a middle-ground approach, suggesting that both sides have valid points.
Netizens weigh in on Apostle Lazarus, Timi Dakolo’s exchange
TheRadar compiled some reactions below,
@wendy_adammaaaaa wrote: “Hahahaha!! Aura for aura. Remove the log in your own eyes before you come for others.”
@superkunle wrote: “What we should kick against in life is double standards,”
@jake_etso wrote: “Sometimes I don't want to believe that Nigerians are this dumb! How are they even the same thing?? When you go to school don't you pay your fees??? Is he charging members coming to church on Sunday before he preaches the word?”
@titothewriter wrote: “I don't see anything wrong in charging for a school of ministry. It's time, running expenses, overhead costs, contingencies etc. THE SAME WITH A MUSIC MINISTER!!! There are a few who overcharge; both parties included. Most of the ministers who are publicly against people charging for their service/craft will not fly economy, they won't stay in B-C class hotels, there are certain churches they won't attend or even respond to, they don't fly alone and because they do their profiling well, their honorarium is bigger than the charges of other people. Go figure. So it's not comparison, it's compassion and common sense. Also, "unto the LORD shall the gathering of His people be," not unto your opinions, vox populi, emotions or whatever else. Stay with the Gospel!!”
@khelechi wrote: “This is baseless! A school is an institution for learning and of course it's expected to have teachers and I'm sure that fee covers for study materials which you don't expect to fall from Heaven. The only counter is if you can prove he charges for Ministration.”
@aparatunmise commented: “How come people who went to SCHOOL don't know the meaning of SCHOOL????”
@olukonyo wrote: “This is why Jesus said Judge not, that ye be not judged.... The measurement wey PST Lazarus used them don use am for am....”
@nkemuc wrote: “Don't be deceived even this is wrong, instead of charging, it's better people don contribution to the program instead of charging people for the program.”
@tee_zed_22 wrote: “This would be the last generation of religion craze people in Nigeria, It's gradually whining down.”
@sefanpawsi wrote: “Timi your point is baseless like seriously you will this guys have sense until they open their mouth.”
@mannequin_lordess wrote; “Who is now paying God for all the free investments He's made into his people?”
@mr_jjess commented: “What we want to see is a letter of demands by Pastor femi to a church who invited him not a school of ministry tuition.....Oga Timi dis one no enter.”
@tushsuzzy commented: “Wo, TIMI you ain't a gospel singer, go take a seat and sit down. He is speaking to GOSPEL SINGERS NOT ENTERTAINER.”
@chinyereugch commented: “Please don't throw stones if you live in a glass house.”
@Ololadesadiq But his own is a school nau... shey you don't pay school fees when you go to school ni?? i am a Muslim but i love pastor femi lazarus preaching.”
@elandel_essence wrote: “Thank you!!!! @timidakolo I wonder why this is such a big issue! Why don't these Pastors use their church choir in peace? you Dey eye popular singer, to come with band from different part of the country... they charge you, then you say they are not ministers but artistes, But when pastor charges people he is still pastor.”
“Pay gospel artistes”: Netizens defend Moses Bliss for allegedly charging N7 million per performance
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Nigerians defended gospel singer Moses Bliss, who came under fire on social media for allegedly charging N7 million as a performance fee.
While some dragged the gospel singer for not ministering for a lower price, others defended him, claiming he has bills to pay like secular artistes.