Renowned Nigerian Gospel minister, Dr. Panam Percy Paul, has revealed how he turned down a lucrative £24 million (over N7 billion) record deal because it required him to limit the mention of Jesus in his songs.
In an interview with Pastor Emmanuel Iren, Dr. Percy shared that the contract was for three years, but he refused to accept it due to its conditions, which contradicted his faith.
“The catch was—‘Can you reduce the number of times you call the name Jesus in your songs?’” he recounted. According to him, the record label suggested replacing the name “Jesus” with alternatives like “The Righteous One” or “Greatest Lover” to make the songs more commercially acceptable.
Shocked by the demand, Dr. Percy firmly rejected the offer. “I told them, ‘You can keep the money while I keep the name,’” he said.
The Gospel icon also expressed concern over the increasing commercialization of Gospel music, lamenting how the music ministry has become a mere industry where labels dictate what artists should sing. He emphasized the need for Gospel ministers to remain true to their calling and not compromise their faith for financial gain.
He urged fellow Gospel artists to uphold the authenticity of their ministry, stating that no amount of money should make them forsake their integrity.
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