Photo of Pastor Marvin Winans
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Pastor Marvin Winans Sr. is going viral for chastising Roberta McCoy, a member of his flock, who handed him a $1,235 offering instead of the $2,000 he asked for to build a new church.

Normally, church folk give what they can afford in the form of tithes to the church. But McCoy only had $1,235 to give.

“Now that’s only $1,200,” Pastor Winans scolded her. “Y’all not listening to what I’m saying,” he told his congregants. “If you have a thousand, plus a thousand…”

McCoy told Winans she would “work on the other $800.”

“That ain’t what I asked you to do,” he told her.

Pastor Winans gave clear instructions to his flock to “come when you are called” with $1,000 plus an additional $1,000.

According to Lee Bailey’s Eurweb.com, the incident reflects deeper issues surrounding the pressure to tithe huge amounts of money to Black Megachurches.

With Detroit facing nearly 7% unemployment and national inflation at 3.2%, many questioned the timing and tone. Some saw the moment as emblematic of prosperity gospel extremes, where giving big is equated with receiving divine blessings—even when it strains household budgets.

Perfecting Church, led by Winans since 1989, has faced multiple public criticisms. A $13–15 million construction project has stalled for years, with Detroit suing over the site in 2023.

In 2018, a former housekeeper sued Winans for allegedly firing her over not tithing 10% of her income. The church’s aggressive fundraising history has fueled longtime calls for greater transparency.” Source

Pastor Winans is a gospel singer, and a member of the famed Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit TV show Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne.”

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