Bishop Marvin Winans of Perfecting Church in Detroit, in the United States, has revealed that media mogul, Tyler Perry, donated $100,000 to the church following a viral fundraising video that stirred widespread online criticism.
“When the devil went crazy, folks started calling up from other states, saying, ‘I got to give on this,’” Winans told his congregation on Sunday in a clip later shared by Rolling Out. “We have received, one person called, and he said, ‘tell my name!’ He said ‘because I know God is in this. Tyler Perry sent $100,000.’”
“Why don’t you give God praise because what the devil meant for evil, God turned it around,” he added.
Perry’s alleged donation came amid a storm of reactions following Perfecting Church’s annual “Day of Giving” service on October 19, during which Winans encouraged members to contribute “$1,000 plus one.”
The phrasing sparked confusion among worshippers, some believed he was asking for $1,001, while others interpreted it as two separate $1,000 offerings.
During the event, longtime member Roberta McCoy and her son approached the altar with a $1,235 donation, explaining that she was giving “in faith” toward the church’s building project. Winans responded by saying, “That’s only $1,200,” and when McCoy added that she would “work on the other 800,” he replied, “That ain’t what I asked you to do.”
The congregation laughed and applauded at the moment, but once the footage circulated online, critics accused Winans of embarrassing McCoy over her contribution.
In response to the backlash, both Winans and McCoy clarified that the interaction had been taken out of context. Winans explained that his comments were meant to maintain order during the service, not to shame anyone.
“I was calling because the whole church was giving, and it was our day of giving, and the whole church was coming, and we didn’t want people standing, the mothers and all that, so I was calling them by increments,” Winans explained. “And we had someone that had given out of [order], and I corrected it, and I told everybody to listen and come when you call, and that’s all that was.”
McCoy, a member since 2013, also confirmed to WXYZ-TV Detroit that Winans later apologized to her personally.
“He absolutely did not rebuke me,” McCoy said. “There was a correction, because pastor gave instruction on the lines to get into.”
Founded in 1989, Perfecting Church has been working for years to complete its new worship facility on Seven Mile and Woodward Avenue, a project that has been ongoing since 2002. The “Day of Giving” is part of the congregation’s effort to fund that development.
Perry, known for his faith-driven career and his start marketing plays in Black churches, has often spoken about the role of faith in his success.
In 2024, Tyler Perry Studios partnered with producer DeVon Franklin under a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce faith-based films.
“I just want people to know that no matter how dark, no matter how bad, no matter how dismal the scene or situation you’re in, there’s still hope,” Perry told The Christian Post in a 2020 interview. “I say that even from my own life, realizing that I was in some of the darkest times in my life and didn’t even know if I was going to make it. But as long as it held my faith and held on to hope and prayer and God and believing, it all came together.”
Both Winans and Perry have faced controversies in recent years. In 2018, Winans and his church were sued by a former housekeeper who claimed she was fired for refusing to pay tithes, a case that was dismissed with prejudice in 2021.
Meanwhile, Perry was sued in August by actor Derek Dixon, who accused the filmmaker of sexual assault and creating a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” while working on The Oval and Ruthless. Dixon is seeking $260 million in damages.
