Gospel singer and pastor Marvin Sapp is under fire after a video of him asking his congregation to raise $40,000 went viral. The clip shows him speaking during a church service, urging members to donate money.

At one point, Sapp even directed ushers to close the church doors, preventing people from leaving. He explained that there were about 1,000 people present and another 1,000 watching online. According to him, if each person gave $20, they could quickly meet the $40,000 goal.

“This is a small seed,” he told the congregation, insisting that $20 was not a big amount. He even compared it to what he used to spend on a date with his late wife.

For those sitting in the front rows, he asked them to donate $100 each, saying that sitting close to the stage came with a cost.

The video has sparked backlash, with many criticizing the approach he used to raise funds.