Babatunji Wusu –
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Double Standards? Dakolo criticizes Apostle Lazarus for charging students $150 for his School of Ministry while condemning gospel artists for requesting payments to minister at church events.
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Music Costs Money: Dakolo argues that music production, marketing, and promotion require financial investment, just like running a church or ministry.
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Pastor’s Criticism: Apostle Lazarus recently shared an invoice from a gospel artist demanding $10,000, a 50% non-refundable deposit, first-class flight, and premium accommodation, calling it contrary to true gospel ministry.
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Dakolo’s Response: He accuses Lazarus of hypocrisy, stating that preachers who charge to teach are no different from musicians who charge to sing.
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Ongoing Debate: The controversy has reignited conversations about the commercialization of gospel ministry and whether artists should be compensated for their services.
Popular Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo has openly criticized Apostle Femi Lazarus, the Lead Pastor of Light Nation Church, for condemning gospel musicians who charge fees for performances at church events, while simultaneously charging $150 per student for his own School of Ministry.
The debate started after Apostle Lazarus expressed disapproval of gospel artists who request financial compensation, stating that worship should not be treated as a business. During a recent sermon, he shared an invoice from a gospel artist, allegedly requesting:
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$10,000 honourarium
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50% non-refundable deposit
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First-class flight and premium accommodation
Lazarus criticized such demands, stating:
“Those who know God know He’s not with ministers like this… When they pay you this amount of money, you will shout and roll on the floor, but those who know God know He’s not there.”
Dakolo’s Response: Hypocrisy?
Reacting on Instagram, Dakolo called the pastor’s statements hypocritical, arguing that gospel artists invest heavily in music production and deserve compensation for their work.
“This gaslighting has to stop. Gospel ministers want good things too; they are not beggars. The best of architects are called to build big churches, large sums are disbursed for promoting big programmes. No one should diminish another person’s ministry.”
He also questioned how Lazarus’ $150 per student fee for his School of Ministry was different from gospel musicians charging for performances:
“Sir, you are charging as low as $150 per person for your School of Ministry, teaching and preaching Jesus. Probably having as much as 1,000 students. Let’s do the maths. You even have premium and standard for God’s house? Are you not selling the gift and revelation freely given to you?”
Dakolo further highlighted the financial burdens of producing gospel music, including studio fees, marketing, and promotions, implying that compensation is necessary.
“The School of Ministry has expenses, but music creation doesn’t? Running cost is important, but production and promotion costs are unimportant? Most of you don’t know how much a producer charges, the marketing, the promotion, the amount of hours it takes to finish a song. Keep shifting the goalpost, guys.”
Public Reactions and Ongoing Debate
Dakolo’s comments have sparked a heated discussion on social media, with some supporting his stance and others backing Apostle Lazarus’ call for gospel artists to focus on ministry over money.
The debate raises larger questions about the commercialization of religious services and whether gospel music is purely ministry or also a profession.
Should gospel artists be paid for their performances at church events? Should pastors charge fees for ministry schools? The discussion continues.
