Gospel singer Broda Sammy has called on evangelist Cecilia Marfo to rethink how aspects of her ministry, particularly around dress and appearance, might be affecting church attendance.
In a recent interview with Adom FM, Broda Sammy asserted that the decline in Marfo’s ministry could be linked less to spiritual matters and more to rigid expectations about dressing and lifestyle.
He noted that younger churchgoers today place greater value on personal style and self-expression, and strict rules on appearance can make some feel judged or unwelcome.
Broda Sammy argued that practices often criticised by fellow evangelists, such as wearing makeup or jeans, are cultural and personal choices rather than inherently sinful. Embracing these choices, he said, could make the church more relatable and inviting.
“Cecilia Marfo’s ministry has declined, and this decline isn’t due to any external forces. Her style of dressing is turning people away. If she expects her congregation to dress like that, it simply won’t happen, because those who used to dress like that are no longer around. If she continues on this path, fewer people will attend her church.
“Today’s women prefer to dress up and enjoy life. The makeup some people criticize is simply makeup. Things that could actually help the ministry are sometimes wrongly labelled as sins by some evangelists. They used to say women shouldn’t wear jeans, but during deliverance wearing jeans can even be more appropriate, otherwise certain parts of the body may become exposed,” he said.
He warned that churches risk losing members if they fail to evolve, stressing the need to adapt methods for winning souls without compromising core spiritual values.
“If we don’t adapt our methods for winning souls, people will eventually stop coming to church. So I urge Cecilia Marfo to consider this: if she wants more people to attend her church, she should change her style of dressing and see how it impacts attendance,” Broda Sammy further stated.
