Daniel Regha Calls Out Pastor Femi Lazarus on Training Fees

Social commentator, Daniel Regha has spoken up about Pastor Femi Lazarus’ tiered pricing for his ministry training programs. This comes after gospel singer Timi Dakolo called out Pastor Lazarus for his stance on gospel artists collecting fees for church ministrations.

Pastor Femi Lazarus of Light Nation Church recently introduced ministry training sessions that cost over $150. More controversially, these sessions are categorized into Standard and Premium packages.

Daniel Regha in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter) said:

“Timi Dakolo calling out Pastor Femi Lazarus for charging over $150 for his ministry training is one thing, but I am more concerned on why there are Standard and Premium Training Packages; Doesn’t this breed discrimination? And Timi Dakolo is kinda right, you can’t fault Christian public figures for using their gift to make money, then do the same with the church. Let’s call a spade a spade.”

According to him, this is not just about the pricing but the ethical implications of having different training based on payment tiers in a religious setting.

The background to this is Timi Dakolo’s recent response to Pastor Lazarus who criticized gospel artists for collecting fees for church performances. Pastor Lazarus said worship meetings in Nigeria have become performances, citing instances where artists collect N5m to minister. He said if one can’t rely on God for his needs, then he’s not a minister.

Timi Dakolo reacted by saying gospel artists have the right to collect for their services, and that they are professionals who deserve to be paid for their work. He said if the church can’t or won’t pay these fees, they should use their in-house choir members.

Dakolo also said gospel artists are not beggars and deserve every good thing in life. The tiered pricing for ministry training by Pastor Lazarus adds to this conversation. Others are saying it breeds discrimination within the church, creating hierarchies based on who can pay more which raises the issue of commercialization of the gospel and alienating members who can’t pay premiums.

Regha’s post sparked lots of reactions.

@Emmaekpa55 said, “The truth is that in theology class they is level to it, they is diploma and they is degree, the charges are made because u must pay lecturers that will take the classes”

@Reborn_baeby noted, “We tend to mix things up in the country but everyone with their opinion Sha… “Training” more like a school if different from performing just like saying you want to go to a theology school free of charge. Charging when invited to minister should not be a thing…”

@simplicity596 said, “The church in Nigeria has always been a business enterprise…many will find out late that they have been wasting their time and life listening to and worshipping their pastors”

@soloempire12234 said, “Church is a business controlled by selfish group of leaders. I’m no longer surprised when I hear news like this.”

@OmotayoSolomo10 wrote, “Femi lazarus dey charge for ministry training ke. Shey Jesus charge am when he make am pastor? All these yahoo pastors. Don’t even know who is to be feared more between pastors politicians and women”

See the post below: