Latest news with #ClosetheDoor
Black America Web
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Marvin Sapp Releases 'Close the Door'
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Dallas, TX – May 4, 2025 – Marvin Sapp was recently in the news over a misinterpretation of his words while he was taking up offering at the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 2024 National Convocation. Sapp was vilified on the internet and received threatening messages at his church from people who were angry over a video clip that showed him telling the ushers to 'close the doors.' After appearing on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell, CBS News Texas and WFAA Fort Worth to add context and clarity to the video clip, Sapp is now turning that 'momentary affliction' into an affirming message with a new single titled 'Close the Door.' In the song, written by Sapp and Kolten Perrine, and produced by Rodney East, Sapp recounts the harrowing last few weeks and sings: Close the door on anxiety, on the pain and disdain that keeps chasing me, Close the door on the ridicule and on the noise that tries to make me lose my cool…God has a purpose, He will restore…Though I'm hurting, I'm still hoping, My victory is worth fighting for, So I close the door… Sapp posted about the single on social media, saying ''Close the Door' isn't just a song, it's a soundtrack for survival…I'm closing the door on the noise, the pain, and everything that tried to break me. This song will bless you. I believe with everything in me my assignment through this season through this song is to help you close the door too.' 'Close the Door' in now available on all digital music outlets. SEE ALSO Marvin Sapp Releases 'Close the Door' was originally published on
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Marvin Sapp announces new song 'Close the Door' after backlash from resurfaced clip
Marvin Sapp announces new song 'Close the Door' after backlash from resurfaced clip Grammy-nominated gospel artist Bishop Marvin Sapp announced the release of a new song in response to the widespread criticism sparked by a viral resurfaced video showing him asking for donations and instructing ushers to close the doors at an international church convention. Titled "Close the Door," the single will be released on digital streaming platforms on April 18. Sapp says it "isn't just a song, it's a soundtrack for survival." "I'm releasing it this Good Friday, the day we honor the crucifixion of Jesus Christ," Sapp added in an Instagram post. "Just like He closed the door on death, Hell, and the grave, I'm closing the door on the noise, the pain, and everything that tried to break me." The controversy stems from a viral video in which Sapp speaks in front of the congregation at the 109th Pentecostal Assemblies for the World Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, in July. In the video, he called on churchgoers in the building −and those watching online − to help raise $40,000 by giving $20 each. "Ushers close the doors," the singer said repeatedly. "There's 1,000 of you tonight, and ... it's 1,000 watching online. This is a small seed." After the clip went viral, social media exploded with memes, parodies, and backlash. Some people argued that Sapp was aggressive and held the congregation hostage. However, the singer known for gospel hits such as "Never Would've Made It" and "Praise Him In Advance", has since reiterated that his request was taken out of context. Gospel star Marvin Sapp says he received threats after viral 'close the doors' video resurfaced Sapp describes times as 'tough' In his Instagram post, Sapp admitted that the "last few weeks have been tough." "Misunderstood, misrepresented, misinterpreted, and even maligned," he continued. "But I've learned that when life hands you lemons, you don't just make lemonade… you build the lemonade company. And that's exactly what I've done." During a recent interview on "The Rickey Smiley Morning Show", Sapp − the Senior Pastor of The Chosen Vessel Church based in Fort Worth, Texas − shared that he has received threats, which have led to safety concerns for his family. The bishop addressed his request for donations and apologized for his approach towards the ushers. "I never said lock the doors. I said shut the doors," Sapp emphasized. "Shutting doors mean that people still have the ability to go in and out. They've taken issue with my tone and I can honestly say looking at the video maybe I was a little more assertive than I should have been. I can apologize for that. " On the radio program, Sapp clarified that he didn't pocket any money and was solely fundraising for the non-profit church organization that had supported him for many years. The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. also issued a statement, saying it was "never our intent for our proceedings to be an offense or hindrance for anyone." Sapp said "Close the Door" could help others through a turbulent chapter. "This song will bless you. I believe that with everything in me," he said. "My assignment in this season through this song is to help you close the door too." USA TODAY reached out to The Chosen Vessel Church for comment. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
CBS News
12-04-2025
- CBS News
Gospel singer Marvin Sapp to release new song following viral offering controversy
Bishop Marvin Sapp has prepared his Easter sermon for Holy Week ... unless God changes it. He plans to address the recent controversy in his life. "I was like, well, since they're capitalizing on it," Sapp said. "I'm going to capitalize on it as well. You know, on Easter Sunday, I'm preaching a message called 'Close the Door.'" Sapp said his message would focus on Jesus Christ and Adam, the first man created by God, according to the Christian Holy Bible. "Close the Door" has recently been associated with Sapp raising an offering at the end of a church service during a conference in Baltimore in July 2024. A clip from the Pentecostals of the World Conference went viral last month. "I said, close them doors. Ushers, close the doors. Close the doors. Close the doors. We all going to lead together," Sapp said in the video. Sapp explained that he was trying to maintain order for the offering. He said the implication was never to close the door and hold churchgoers hostage for $20. In the video, he asked 2,000 people to help raise $40,000 for the conference. "Right outside the doors were vendors. So it was loud when the doors were opened," Sapp said. "And, of course, people can't hear that on the video. So they assumed that when I said, close the doors — not lock the doors — but close the doors, I was trying to keep people inside for the purpose of giving. The truth is, offering is a sacred moment." Sapp, 58, said the conference did give him money, but the offering was not for that. He was unaware of complaints until a video of the conference offering targeting him surfaced. The video quickly became social media content and news headlines. Some even claimed he held attendees hostage. "I think it's the desire to believe the worst about the person," Sapp said. "People assume that the preacher is pimping people in the urban community. The saddest thing about that concept is that we're only considered being pimps when we're raising offerings, but not when we're paying light bills, gas bills, and feeding those in the community. The church does a lot of great work." Sapp's team shared vile voice messages they said were called into his Fort Worth church, The Chosen Vessel, following the viral incident. CBS News Texas will not share the messages in their entirety. One message was filled with explosive racial slurs. Another wished death on anyone who respects Sapp. A third offered lewd places for Sapp to find $40,000. "We gonna smoke you. I mean, just all kinds of crazy stuff to the point we had to increase our security here, police presence on the campus now on Sundays," Sapp said. CBS News Texas contacted Fort Worth Police to see if they were investigating. Officers have not received a complaint. Sapp said he told his staff this would all blow over, but he did increase security. The situation also prompted a lesson on social media responsibility. "Everybody is an influencer. It's just, how are you influencing?" Pastor Erick Bowens said. Bowens was in Baltimore the night of the conference. He believes a firestorm of opinions lit social media up without all the facts or context, which is risky. "Sometimes instead of pumping the brakes saying, I will not play a part in this, we jump into it, and we hit one button," Bowens said. Sapp said he's also laughed at many memes. The gospel singer is turning the controversy into a song. He said "Close the Door" was written and would be released on Good Friday.
