Pastor Shames Black Mother and Son in Public for Refusing to Donate $2,000 to Church

Nationwide — Pastor Marvin Winans of Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan, is facing backlash after a viral video showed him correcting a member during a fundraising service for giving less than the requested $2,000 donation. The moment reignited online debates about church donations and leadership.

According to Atlanta Black Star, the clip came from the church’s “Day of Giving” event, where Winans invited members to step forward with a “sacrificial seed” of “$1,000 plus $1,000.” Many congregants donated $2,000 or more, reading short messages about faith and unity. But when one woman offered $1,235, the exchange quickly turned awkward.

As she spoke, Winans interrupted her and said, “That’s only $1,200.” When she explained she would give the remaining $800 later, he responded, “That ain’t what I asked you to do.” The moment, which was later edited out of the church’s livestream, spread fast across social media.

Social media users criticized the pastor’s tone and questioned the purpose of the fundraiser. “Just say $2,000 then,” one person commented, while another said, “I would’ve took my money back so fast and would never set foot in that building again.” Others linked the incident to ongoing concerns about megachurch culture and financial accountability.

Many pointed to Perfecting Church’s unfinished building on Woodward Avenue, a massive project that started in 2004 but stalled after the 2008 recession. Photos of the half-built site resurfaced online, with users asking what happened to years of collected donations.

Supporters of Winans defended him, saying the clip was taken out of context and that he was simply reinforcing the importance of faith-based giving. Some argued that critics misunderstood his message about sacrifice and unity.

“People of faith don’t function based on fear of what might happen,” one supporter posted. “This is one pastor at one church. This is not the ‘attitude of so many pastors.’ That is such a tired cliche.”

According to recent reports, construction on the long-delayed church resumed after a 2023 settlement with the city. The updated design includes a 164,800-square-foot sanctuary expected to be completed by spring 2025.