The well-known pastor from Abuja, Femi Lazarus, recently disclosed in an internet sermon that gospel artists might charge up to $10,000 USD to play in churches.
The gospel performer, whose identity was kept a secret, read from a document known as a “Rider” in the music industry, which required that they bring an entourage of forty people to the church, all of whom needed to be taken care of.
Details like economy seats for his group and first-class seats for the musicians were included in the document.
In a five-star hotel, the artist insisted on having an executive suite, while his four main male helpers were accommodated in a separate executive suite.
For the musicians and crew who preferred regional cuisines, the church was required to supply three square meals.
The honorarium, which included a charge of $10,000 USD with a non-refundable 50% paid up ahead and the remaining amount always paid two days prior to the event, was the section of the document that Pastor Femi Lazarus most startling.
READ ALSO: Timi Dakolo Reacts To Apostle Lazaursโ Comments About Gospel Singers Charging For Appearances
These remarks are the most recent in a series of attacks by Pastor Lazarus on gospel musicians who demand payment before playing in churches.
See reactions bellow…
“I love Femi Lazarus but on this particular issue eehhhh please thereโs no difference between a gospel artist and a circular artist cos theyโre all in it to earn a living. Na we just dy spiritualize those people and start calling them ministers. The gospel music is just a cover๐ฏ Both the pastor and the gospel artists are all doing business ho ha”
“His message is for believers, most people will not understand”
“Pastor Femi Lazarus is shedding light on a growing concern in the Nigerian gospel music scene. Worship should be about genuine connection with God, but for some, it has become a business transaction. While musicians deserve to be paid for their craft, thereโs a fine line between ministry and commercial performance. If the focus shifts entirely to money, it risks losing its spiritual essence ๐ฏ”
“Who even started these things.. inviting people to come and sing .. Where did you all learn it from in the first place.. Is it in the Bible? Or you guys want to use it to for personal reasons. I am trying to understand”
“The difference between a Gospel artiste and an artiste is the Gospel, the only difference is the message. Every other thing applies, expenses, studio rehearsals bills, PR bills. Everybody does not have a heart Like Apostle Femi to know, to treat people right. Majority of them have been scarred by Men Of God who don’t understand the language of honour, what they are simply doing is putting measures in place to ensure that dishonour doesn’t repeat itself. The only place where it becomes a problem is when it becomes money over the voice of God.”
“Just train the singers in your church on how to write songs from the spirit and true worship.”
“Are there no Choristers in these churches anymore ? Can they not sing or use the church instruments? Or their voices doesnโt move God ? ๐What are the ministers coming to sing that the choirs can’t? And you still have to pay heavy and go through all those stores for singing ? Yet you say itโs for the glory of God lol. Seems to me like itโs purely business from both parties and the bringing in of these external singers is not really for God or for the people but to sell or advertise their churches. It has nothing to do with God but a complete business so if you are being charged you should simply negotiate not be upset instead of getting upset itโs just business remember ? Well, both the pastors calling for the services of externals and the externals are mad”
“As someone who used to play for a popular gospel artiste I can tell you this is True and most churches loose members cuz their friendโs church invited a bigger artiste to their own churchโฆ
LETS DIG IN
The cost for band rehearsals,band payments(both rehearsals and show day)
Donโt forget the bands got bills to pay too cuz if you donโt pay they tag unto another artiste.. or (circular)
If youโre a popular artiste with professional 10man band, you got a budget of 3-4million minimum to spend on both rehearsals and band payment till show day. Tell me what their managers and team will share.??? Music is business!
Prayer and fasting wonโt buy fuel at the filling station.. they shared something yโall are still struggling with it..
“The church is not just a building.. itโs the same Nigerians that youโll find in most churches. As a society we need work. Everybody just Dey vex”
ALSO READ: Video of Apostle Femi Lazarus Chasing His Drummer off the Altar for Interrupting Him Goes Viral
The practice is wrong and unacceptable as it puts a price on a gift freely given by God and in whose service it should be used.
Pastor Lazarus regarded the act of paying a gospel artist to perform in church as one that forces these artists to be performative in a bid to justify the huge fee.
He also discussed the honour of performing in church without charge. Some gospel celebrities, like Nathaniel Bassey, who recently disclosed why he doesn’t charge to sing in churches, follow this approach.
Chris Oyakhilome, a well-known Nigerian pastor, has said that the music industry is continuously defrauding the church.
He said that musicians were developing their craft in the church before departing to create secular music, so advancing their interests.
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