Gospel Singer Burns Cheque After Church Ministration
Renowned Nigerian gospel minister and leader of the Sounds of Salem music group, Prophet Joel Ogebe, has sparked conversations online after revealing that he deliberately burnt a cheque presented to him following a church performance citing spiritual reasons for his action.
The incident took place at The African Praise Experience (TAPE) Overflow 2025, held at House on the Rock Church, Lagos. The event, hosted by Pastor Paul Adefarasin, featured an array of prominent gospel artists including Dunsin Oyekan, Onos Ariyo, Nathaniel Bassey, and the Sounds of Salem team.
Following their ministration, the church offered Prophet Ogebe and his team a cheque as an honorarium. However, in a now-viral video, the gospel singer disclosed that he chose to burn the cheque, viewing the event as a divine assignment rather than a commercial engagement.
“After the ministration, the man of God, a father figure, honoured us with a cheque,” Ogebe said. “I collected it, placed it somewhere, and later burnt it. I told myself I would never cash the cheque.”
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He explained that prior to the event, he and his team had already resolved not to accept any form of payment for their service. Instead, they viewed the opportunity as a spiritual offering and a moment of divine impartation.
“This is not a payment; it’s an oblation unto God,” Ogebe stated. “There are certain Kairos moments in life that are meant for growth, not gain. This was one of them.”
He went further to distinguish between temporary material gain and lasting spiritual impact: “A man with a needy mindset will take the cheque and say, ‘God has prospered me.’ But the truth is, that money will finish. What you really need is the mantle, not the money. If you’re not spiritually sensitive, you’ll miss the impartation while chasing the payment.”
Ogebe’s decision has stirred mixed reactions across social media, with many praising his conviction and others raising questions about the practicality of declining financial support in ministry.
Content Credit: Ohidah Oluwaferanmi
Image Credit:legitng.com
