Gospel singer Chris Appau has remembered a time he was given “coke and pie” for a performance.

“They said: ‘God bless you’, and gave it to me,” he said.

According to the Akpe Kataa singer, he was not “pained,” explaining: “When you love what you do, especially at the beginning, all you worry about is God using you to bless people, which brings you so much fulfillment beyond material gain”.

“For me, that’s the most important thing,” he asserted.

Chris Appau addressed Gospel acts charging handsomely for their performances due to production costs and other logistics.

He said “God deals with each person uniquely,” and outlined two means of funding for Gospel musicians.

One, “someone or a company can give you GHS100,000 or GHS200,000 and ask for profits on that after about five years or whatever you agree on,” he said. In another instance, “you serve diligently at church and people who notice, perhaps at your album launch, give you a donation of GHS5,000, GHS10,000 or GHS20,000”.

The latter, he said, “makes you think in a certain way”.

While he was okay for a Gospel musician to “factor in the cost of your service,” he stressed that ultimately, “ask: ‘How did God take care of the cost?’”

He gave the impression the musician who receives generous donations to work, which, in his view, was God taking care of the cost, may morally waive off event fees for patrons or at least be lenient in fee formulation. 

Chris Appau of the Trinity Baptist Church, Legon, emphasised: “I’m not saying it is right that people are not honoured well because love gives. If you love someone and appreciate what they do, the most profound expression of appreciation and gratitude is to part with something valuable.”

There are special circumstances, however, he was quick to add, explaining with a story.

“My first programme was in Takoradi, that was in 2010/2011. My brothers Joe Mettle and Pastor Isaiah went with me for that programme. After the programme, we were sitting together when we realised we made nothing from it. So, they didn’t charge me, they didn’t talk about money… I made arrangements and had a car bring them back to Accra. When I came to Accra, I went to express my thanks and gave them something small. They, however, understood there was no money made from the programme, but it was only out of brotherly love and support, they came to help me. I say this to say, God has his mysterious ways,” he narrated.

The singer-songwriter and pastor spoke to Taller Dee on No.1 105.3 FM’s No.1 Gospel Showbiz programme.

ABBA is Chris Appau’s latest offering, an album of 10 songs, released on January 7, 2024. Your Word is the opener.