Marvin’s journey hasn’t been easy, but through it all, like the song says, ‘he’s stronger, wiser and better.’
“Coming to a place that I’d never been before, to start over from scratch was scary—really, really, scary,” he shared. “And I know this can sound cliché, but that’s where trusting in God really comes into play.
When he belts out the first chorus of “Never Would’ve Made It,” it’s clear that 57-year-old Marvin Louis Sapp is more than just another great singer. This is a man drawing from a deep well of emotion and experience. The aforementioned song was the breakthrough of a career that has had its share of “seasons.” Rather than describing his journey as one of “ups and downs,” the idea of “seasons” is most appropriate, because the expectation of seasons is that they change. And that’s Marvin Sapp’s story.
In 2010, after an 18-month fight with colon cancer, Marvin’s 43-year-old wife, Melinda passed. The couple had three teenagers at the time, and although the entire gospel community mourned and prayed for him, it was a painful transition. “Strangely enough,” he shared, “I remember God having a conversation with me. He asked me what did I learn from this? At first, I thought it was the devil, so I immediately began to cast down imaginations and all that kind of stuff. But after the third time, knowing the voice of God, I just yelled out, ‘W_h_a_t_ _s_h_o_u_l_d_ _I_ _h_a_v_e_ _l_e_a_r_n_e_d_?_’ And God said, ‘If you haven’t learned anything else, you ought to have learned that every relationship outside of your relationship with me is seasonal.’”
It was a life-changing lesson, but Marvin had experienced “seasonal relationships” before. When he first came to the attention of the gospel community, it was as a member of the award-winning contemporary gospel group, Commissioned. In 1991, original members Keith Staten and Michael Brooks left the group and Marvin stepped in. His brilliant tenor vocals quickly established him as “one to watch.” Five years later, he stepped out on his own as a solo artist.
In 2003, in obedience to God’s call, Marvin founded Lighthouse Full Life Center ministries in his hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. The church started like most, with a handful of dedicated souls. However, the handful quickly multiplied, and Marvin found himself with two fulltime careers (pastor and artist).
Then came the blockbuster. In 2007, he released the album, “Thirsty” and the floodgates opened. The album’s hit song, “Never Would Have Made It,” jumped to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart, where it stood firm for a historic 47 weeks! (A biopic followed in 2022). But Marvin’s season was about to change again…drastically. Melinda was a major key to his life, artistry and ministry. She was fiercely efficient as a wife and mom, plus, she made sure that the business of the church and Marvin’s career were in order. After she passed in 2010, Marvin had to pick up the pieces. First, he dedicated himself to the job of being a father, followed by pastor and artist. But a new season was about to emerge.
Nine years after Melinda passed, on June 2, 2019, Bishop Marvin Sapp resigned as pastor of Lighthouse to become senior pastor at Chosen Vessel Church in Fort Worth, TX. Most onlookers surmised that he must’ve been offered a sweetheart deal, but he confirms that it was just the opposite. The church’s pastor had been sick for a number of years, and the aging ministry (which celebrates 104 years of existence this year) was in dire straits. There were significant challenges,” Marvin noted. “The church had $3 million worth of debt. They probably had an active membership of about 100, and the average age was 70.”
The situation called for someone who had the energy, stamina and divine mandate to build. Unlike many gifted preachers who aren’t necessarily great pastors, or great pastors who aren’t gifted preachers, Marvin Sapp is an anomaly. He is both a great pastor, great preacher and an amazing visionary. He reflects that the transition was transformational, both personally and professionally.
“I realized that I really needed a change of scenery,” he shared. “Not only that, but it gave me an opportunity to really reimagine, re-envision and recalibrate my life. I was doing exceptionally well in Grand Rapids. Matter of fact, I burned the [church] mortgage and announced a new pastor the same day.” Marvin has remained connected and although he has no active duties, he still serves as chair of the church’s board.
Now, going into his fifth year at Chosen Vessel, he reflects, “It’s been fun, and our members are extremely excited. It’s been transformational for them as well.” Marvin says the church’s membership has blossomed to over 1500 members, “with an active membership of about a thousand, and the average age is about 45.”
“One of the things that I’ve learned was that God was there all the time. And He literally comforted, guided and directed. To anyone who is dealing with transition, just trust God. He knew the transition was going to happen and you were going to be in that particular space. God never brings you to a place and leaves you there. If He brought you to it, he’s gonna bring you through it.”