Mercy Chinwo’s N10m saga: Should gospel artistes be paid for ministration?
The argument on whether gospel ministers should be paid for their services or not has been on for years. The dust around the subject resurfaced again recently when Mercy Chinwo, the gospel musician, was accused of charging N10 million to minister in churches.
The claim — which has now been debunked — surfaced during a sermon by Rev. Father John Chinenye Oluoma, the Abuja-based Catholic priest.
The allegation initially elicited backlash, with many calling out the musician.
But Pastor Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Nation came to her defense saying “Mercy Chinwo sang at our service at Lekki … and the honorarium we gave was at our discretion. She made no formal charges”.
George Onyedikachukwu Nnadozie also stated that when Mercy ministered at House on the Rock in Asaba, she did not ask for a fee and was given an amount significantly below five million.
In spite of this, the question continues to linger: Should gospel ministers be paid?
Commenting on this, the Pastor of Life Giving Church International, Chukwuemeka Elekwachi, said gospel ministers should be paid.
The cleric said contend that since pastors get salaries and allowances for ministering, the same should apply to gospel artistes.
This, according to him, is because “it is a profession that many take as a full-time job. They have people they work with; managers, backup singers, and the likes, they pay for studio sessions and other things, so they deserve to be paid”.
He also stated that some churches employ people in administrative offices as full-time jobs and pay them, so this should be no different for gospel ministers. In his words
“God bless you cannot pay their transport fare,” he submitted.
He, however, said that there shouldn’t be a price tag, adding such should be an honorarium.
In defense of Mercy @Iconic _remi twitted “Father Oluoma can go and take several seat, studio session isn’t free, PR isn’t free. Did you see her last video shoot. That quality isn’t cheap. The band members sef go chop. If you can’t pay let your regular choir lead praise and worship.”
@Mima_Gift lending her voice to the issue said, “Why won’t she be paid sef, she has expenses, she pay to get her songs recorded. The music maybe her calling, yes but it’s also her career.”
Many others with opposing views did not fail to speak up. @Paul_Desii said “This man (Father Oluoma) is 100% correct in every sense. We have turned churches into entertainment that’s why we need to pay millions to someone to come and ‘minister’; something Christ literally said, “freely you received, freely should you give”. Let them rather say they are entertainers.”
@OdeySolly twitted “Why will she be charging the church to be paid in the ministry she claimed God has called her for?? I blame the church Sha…so their choir members can no longer sing or there’s no anointing again.”
@Nnamike786 Oga George, also said “Ur telling me ur comparing a minister and worship of God Nd acquired materials used in worship? Nothing justifies her demands. The word says, freely u HV received, freely u shall give.”
Apostle Paul quoted in 1 Corinthians 9: 9&11 said For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn…If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
With this being said the gospel ministers just like the pastors being referred to in this bible verse nourish the souls of the people and therefore deserve to get a reward for that, they should not have to wait to get to heaven before they receive their due reward.
These ministers do these professionally mostly on a full-time basis, as it stands a studio session costs between 15 to 20,000 naira and 200,000 naira for well-established producers.
Joey Akan
According to Joey Akan, the average cost of working on a single for established artists and record labels is N16.1 million ($35,000) and it covers song promotion via radio stations, TV, digital marketing, influencer campaigns on social media platforms, etc. While the average cost for video shootings is N4.6 million ($10,000). These gospel artists work with talent managers, PR managers, lawyers, distributors, publicists, songwriters, backup singers, instrumentalists, and the like to produce good songs, they do not work with these people for free, so they deserve to be paid.
Christians call for championing Christ in every sphere which includes music so if these musicians fail to get a pay for their work how long will it take before they go bankrupt and are no longer able to pay for studio sessions if they aren’t paid?
How long will it take before they give up and switch the circular songs since there would no longer be a question of getting paid? These are the things that should be critically considered. To bring a balance to this from a Christian perspective, in a true sense, one should be paid to give God pleasure through songs or any other means.
So, a posture of humility and ‘doing as unto God’ should remain seared in the heart when rendering service to God, this being said one shouldn’t demand a fee for services, nevertheless, churches shouldn’t take advantage of this privilege.
When you look at inviting a minister of God you should know the value of that minister and honour that minister as should. Give how to whom and honour is due and how due.