Things got pretty uncomfortable inside a Detroit, Michigan church recently when a well-known pastor called out a member mid-service for not donating as much money as he expected. The awkward moment, caught on video and shared on Reddit, had everyone online talking and not in a “hallelujah” kind of way.
In the now-viral clip, the congregation at Perfecting Church of Detroit can be seen lining up to bring their donations to the front. It all seemed like a standard fundraising event until the pastor, dressed in a sharp pleated grey suit, stopped one Michigan woman, Roberta McCoy, as she offered her contribution.
“I, Roberta McCoy, give in faith and stand in unity with the vision of Perfecting Church, sowing this seed of $1,000 plus $235 and receiving the blessings to come,” McCoy said, reading her donation statement aloud.
Michigan Pastor Shocks The Internet After Shaming Member Of Congregation For Not Donating Enough Money
Apparently, that wasn’t quite good enough for the pastor. “That’s only $1,200,” he replied, prompting McCoy to confirm the amount. He then doubled down: “You’re not listening to what I’m saying. If you have $1,000 plus $1,000…”
The insinuation was clear; he expected more. McCoy tried to smooth things over by saying she’d raise the remaining $800 soon, but the pastor, smiling the whole time, told her that wasn’t what he meant. The woman kept her composure, smiled politely, and left the line, but the damage was done.
The man in the video was later identified as Bishop Marvin Winans, leader of Perfecting Church, a prominent Michigan ministry that’s no stranger to headlines. According to Atlanta Black Star, the church is currently raising funds for a long-delayed construction project on Woodward Avenue near 7 Mile, a development that’s been stalled for years.
The project originally broke ground back in 2004, but when the 2008 financial crisis hit, progress came to a screeching halt, per Atlanta Black Star. Things got even more complicated in 2023 when the city of Detroit sued the church, calling the half-built structure a public nuisance. Now, Winans is reportedly trying to get things back on track with a massive redesign of 164,800 square feet of space, 3,365 seats, and nearly 660 parking spots. The church says it hopes to complete construction by spring 2025.
The Internet Is In Shock
Michigan residents and people online weren’t thrilled by how the bishop handled his congregation. Some saw it as spiritual manipulation, while others viewed it as a tone-deaf display of pressure during a time when many families are already struggling financially.
“Beyond disgusting. Any institution that begs for money is not looking out for your best interest,” one person commented. “It was offensive and it should be a crime to delude people out of their money,” another stated. “Didn’t you hear? The pastor wants $2000!! $1000 isn’t enough to get into heaven,” a third person wrote. “I hope she cancels the check,” a fourth comment read.
No matter which way you slice it, the video paints a strange picture of what was supposed to be a faith-filled moment. Instead, it sparked debate about money, power, and priorities within modern churches. One thing’s certain: the Michigan pastor’s call-out left more people talking about his delivery than his message.
Kendra Quinn 
Dylan Cook 
