What Happened at Perfecting Church’s Fundraising Event?
A video from Detroit’s Perfecting Church went viral this week, and folks online wasted no time making assumptions. The clip, showing Bishop Marvin Winans seemingly stopping a member during a “Day of Giving” event, set off a wave of criticism and confusion across social media.
The “Day of Giving” was meant to help raise funds to finish the church’s new sanctuary and keep community programs running. During the event, Pastor Winans asked those donating $2,000 or more to come up first, followed by others in order of their pledged amount. The goal? Keep everything organized while celebrating everyone’s generosity — even those giving as little as $1.62.
But in the short clip that went viral, church member Roberta McCoy was seen walking to the front with her donation, only for the pastor to call her back. That tiny moment exploded online, with users accusing Winans of embarrassing her publicly. McCoy, however, says that’s far from what actually went down.
“He absolutely did not rebuke me,” McCoy explained. “Now there’s a difference. There was a correction because let me clearly state that pastor gave instruction on the lines to get into.”
Roberta McCoy Speaks Out About the Viral Backlash
Once the video spread, McCoy found herself at the center of unwanted attention. The internet can turn a misunderstanding into a headline before anyone can blink, and that’s exactly what happened here.
She shared that people online accused her of being “humiliated” or “kicked out,” when in reality, it was nothing like that. McCoy made it clear that Pastor Winans never disrespected her, and that his tone during the moment was rooted in structure, not shade.
As she said in her own words, “There was a correction, not a rebuke.”
The viral moment, she says, made her reflect on how quickly the internet jumps to conclusions — especially when it comes to the Black church community. She’s been attending Perfecting Church since 2013 and called it her spiritual home. Despite the online noise, she remains loyal to her church family.
McCoy also revealed that Bishop Winans personally reached out and apologized to her afterward — a gesture that spoke volumes about his character. For her, that was enough confirmation that her pastor meant no harm.
Pastor Marvin Winans Clarifies His Intentions
Meanwhile, Bishop Marvin Winans, known not just for his preaching but for his music legacy, took the time to set the record straight. He explained that the entire “Day of Giving” was meant to celebrate everyone’s contributions while keeping things smooth for the elders in attendance.
“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 said. “And we had someone that had given out of before, and I corrected it, and I told everybody to listen and come when you call, and that’s all that was.”
That clarification put things in perspective. It wasn’t a reprimand — it was crowd control. Church events can get hectic, and Winans simply wanted to make sure things flowed properly, especially for the elderly.
The Bigger Picture: Church, Social Media, and Misunderstanding
This situation highlights how fast stories can spiral online. A 10-second clip can turn into a national debate before anyone gets the full story. What should’ve been a beautiful moment of giving became fuel for online outrage.
But both Winans and McCoy handled the backlash with grace and understanding. Instead of feeding into negativity, they used the opportunity to clarify and educate others about respect, communication, and faith.