Amid the ongoing discussion about whether gospel ministers should charge for guest appearances in churches, popular gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey has shared his perspective on the matter.

During a recent sermon, he stated, “When a church invites me to minister, they are doing two things: inviting me to serve God and His people. Let me clarify before I trend on Twitter: in my understanding, when I’m called to minister to God, I can’t charge Him for that service. How much did He charge me for His blood on Calvary? That sacrifice is the very foundation of my ministry. It’s personal for me, and it has worked well for me; so why abandon what is effective?”

This statement comes after Apostle Lazarus went viral for criticizing gospel artists who charge fees for performances at church events. The pastor expressed that ministry should not be commercialized, mentioning a specific instance where a singer demanded 5 million naira to perform for his congregation. His comments have sparked significant debate and reactions within the gospel community and among gospel musicians.

In response, singer Timi Dakolo defended gospel artists in a detailed post, emphasizing the financial investments required to sustain their craft. 

He urged Christians to recognize that, in addition to its spiritual significance, music is also a profession that deserves compensation.

“My dear Christians, a quote or conversation may sound intelligent and profound, yet be untrue. Just like everyone else, you deserve the very best things life has to offer. You should be paid what you are worth. Studio sessions, production, and promotion costs a lot, and you have a family to feed and rent to pay. You have more songs to create. We should stop attacking people’s work. While music is spiritual, it is also an art. If you can’t pay artists, consider using your choir members and compensating them with the amount you would have given to a guest artist.”