Founder and General Overseer of Lighthouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, has openly criticized the practice of church musicians and workers demanding payment for their service to God.

In a sermon that has since gone viral on social media, the renowned preacher made it clear that he does not support the idea of financially compensating church members for singing or playing instruments during services.

“Watch out for people who do things for money,” he cautioned. “In my church, I said I am not going to pay people to play instruments, because I play all the instruments. I play drums, piano, and guitar.”

Driven by what he sees as a growing commercialization of service in the church, Heward-Mills said he took steps to tackle the problem by starting a music school within his church, where children are trained to play instruments from a young age.

“I got all the children in the church and set up a music school where every child must learn how to play the piano. So now, all the children in my church can play the piano,” he shared.

The bishop stressed that service in the church should be born out of love for Christ, not monetary gain.

“Here, we don’t pay, because you love Jesus. If not, go,” he declared. “Nobody can come and bully us in church by asking to be paid before singing. It’s nonsense.”

His remarks echo similar views recently shared by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy, who also questioned the commitment of secular musicians who began their careers in the church but later distanced themselves from it.

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