MARVIN SAPP BIOGRAPHY, MINISTRY, NET WORTH, & LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE
MARVIN SAPP BIOGRAPHY, MINISTRY, NET WORTH, & LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE
MARVIN SAPP BIOGRAPHY
Bishop Marvin Louis Sapp is an American Gospel music minister, songwriter, and record producer who was part of the Commissioned group in the 1990s before he started a record-breaking solo career. He is the founder and former senior pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
He was installed as senior pastor of The Chosen Vessel in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 17th, 2019.
EARLY LIFE AND BACKGROUND
He was born and started his early years in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He started singing at the age of four in the church. His teenage years were spent singing with a number of Gospel groups and music. He attended Aenon Bible College, Indianapolis, Indiana – an unaccredited college.
Sapp dropped out of the college after he was invited by Gospel iconic singer Fred Hammond to sing with Commissioned to fill the spot left by Keith Staten in 1990.
He left the group in 1996 and was replaced by Marcus R. Cole. He featured on the group’s albums Number 7, Matters of the Heart, and Irreplaceable Love before leaving.
MUSIC MINISTRY
The decision to establish himself as a contemporary gospel solo artist came in 1996 and has recorded a few albums. his first achievement came with the release of “Never Would Have Made It” from the album Thirsty in 2007. It was charted on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at No 14, Billboard Hot 100 at No. 82, and also No. 1 on the US Billboard Top Gospel Albums.
The album was certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 copies, making it the best-selling album of his solo career. He won all the seven Gospel Stellar Awards that he was nominated for in 2009.
He recorded Thirsty as a follow-up album, Here I Am, on October 16, 2008, at the Resurrection Life Church, in Wyoming, Michigan, and got to release it on 16th March 2010. He became the all-time highest charting gospel artist in Billboard’s 54years history of tracking album sales. He sold 76,000 copies of Here I Am in the first week of release, and charted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
SONGS BY HIM
- Marvin Sapp (1996)
- Grace & Mercy (1997)
- Nothing Else Matters (1999)
- I Believe (2002)
- Diary of a Psalmist (2003)
- Be Exalted (2005)
- Thirsty (2007)
- Here I Am (2010)
- I Win (2012)
- You Shall Live (2015)
- Close (2017)
- Chosen Vessel (Live) (2020)
MARITAL AND RELATIONSHIP STATUS
He is a widower of MaLinda Sapp. She served as the administrative pastor at Lighthouse Full Life Center Church during her time on earth. She went to be with the Lord on the 9th of September, 2010 from complications of colon cancer.
The couple has three children namely – Marvin II, Mikaila, and Madisson.
He was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from two non-accredited institutions, a Doctor Degree from Aenon Bible College and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Friends International Christian University.
Sapp and his wife founded the Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but he was installed as Senior pastor of the Chosen Vessel in Fort Worth, Texas on 17th November 2019.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Top Gospel Song, 2021 – Nominated
- Best Gospel Artist, 2008 – Won (BET Awards)
- Best Gospel Artist, 2010 – Won (BET Awards)
- Male Vocalist of the Year, 2008 – Nominated (GMA Dove Awards)
- Artist of the Year, 2009 – Nominated (GMA Dove Awards)
- Male Vocalist of the Year, 2009 – Nominated (GMA Dove Awards)
- Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year, 2011 – Won (GMA Dove Awards)
- He was nominated for eleven Grammy Awards
NET WORTH
He is estimated to be around $5 million as of this post.
LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE
One of the greatest lessons every believer should learn from his life is to have God do things His way. Whatever He has called you to do, He will make a room for you there. God bless you. Shalom!
