‘I Prefer Settling Hospital Bills To Paying Monthly Tithes To Church’, Says Toke Makinwa

Nigerian media personality, Toke Makinwa, has explained why she no longer pays monthly tithes to the church, saying she now channels the money to hospitals, widows and individuals facing urgent financial needs.

Makinwa disclosed this in a video shared on her YouTube channel on Saturday, where she spoke during a podcast session about her evolving views on tithing. She said she “kind of stopped paying tithe to the church” after concluding that many churches were already financially comfortable.

“I kind of stopped paying tithe to the church because all the churches I know are rich. And I decided that no, no, no, no, I ain’t doing this anymore. I would rather go to hospitals, widows’ homes,” she said.

According to her, most churches she is familiar with were already well-funded.

“All the churches I know are rich. Every Sunday, there’s a building fund envelope. You guys have so much money, and it’s not taxed. It’s a business, if I’m going to be real, because if that pastor dies today, either his wife or his child becomes the next pastor,” she said, alleging that leadership succession in some churches often remains within families.

She, however, clarified that she still gives offerings and supports church programmes, but no longer pays a regular monthly tithe to religious institutions.

“I give an offering in church. And if the church needs anything, I would support the house of God for programmes, anything. But that monthly tithe.”

Makinwa said she now redirects her tithe to charitable causes, including settling hospital bills and assisting people with pressing needs.

“I would rather go to hospitals, take a maternity ward, and pay all the bills there. I would rather when strangers come to meet me, I would tithe my tithe to them because they are telling me their actual needs,” she said.

Questioning the logic of prioritising church payments over human needs, she added:
“How can I say I love God? I have the money this person is looking for to pay rent, and I’m carrying it to a church?”

Anticipating criticism, the media personality urged people to act based on personal conviction.

“Do whatever it is in your conviction to do,” she said, noting that interpretations of biblical teachings on tithing vary.

Reflecting on her past, Makinwa recalled that she once donated an entire brand endorsement fee to the church as tithe.

“Ten years ago, I was the girl who got a brand endorsement deal, didn’t touch one naira double digits, and carried everything to church. I said I will tithe this to God so that my life will never be tight,” Makinwa stated.