Amid ongoing discussions on whether gospel ministers should charge for guest ministrations in churches, renowned gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey has explained why he chooses not to charge for his performances.
Speaking during a recent sermon, Bassey stated, “If a church invites me to come and minister, they are doing two things. They are inviting me to minister to God and to His people. Let me just say this before I trend on Twitter—to my own understanding, when you tell me to minister to God, I can’t charge God to minister to Him. How much did He charge me for His blood on Calvary? The blood that is the very reason for my ministry. It’s a personal thing for me, and it has worked for me, so why leave what is working?”
Bassey’s remarks follow the viral comments made by Apostle Lazarus, who criticized gospel artists for charging fees to perform at church events.
The pastor argued that ministry should not be commercialized, citing an instance where a singer demanded five million Naira to perform for his congregation.
His statement ignited a widespread debate within the gospel community.
In response, singer Timi Dakolo defended gospel musicians, emphasizing the financial investment required to sustain their careers. He urged Christians to recognize that, beyond its spiritual significance, music is also a profession that warrants compensation.
“My dear Christians, a quote or conversation can sound intelligent and deep yet be untrue. Just like everyone else, you deserve the very best things life has to offer. You should be paid what you deserve. Studio sessions, production, and promotion cost a lot. You have a family to feed, you have rent to pay. You have more songs to put out. We should stop all these attacks on people’s work. As much as it is spiritual, music is an art. If you can’t pay people, use your choir members and pay the amount you could have given the guest artist,” Dakolo asserted.
The conversation continues to stir mixed reactions, with some siding with the belief that ministry should be free, while others advocate for fair compensation for gospel artists who invest heavily in their craft.
