‘Pray for Marion or leave her alone’ - Gospel artiste tells public to ease up on Minister Hall

Gospel singer Omari says people should cut Minister Marion Hall some slack after she announced that she will be discontinuing her sermons as a result of relentless scrutiny.

"People should just allow her to grow into her space," Omari told THE STAR. "All of us have been through that and if most Christians would be completely honest, they've been down that road where they're at a crossroads saying, 'God, can I really do this? Do I have the capacity to do this?'. All of us have spoken out of turn when it comes on to certain things and have views on things that is going to have a different effect because you are now embracing Christianity."

He recalled a time when he received backlash for not living up to people's unattainable expectations of how his Christian walk should be.

"I remember when I just put out [the single] Help; the amount of criticism I went under. ' Help is not a gospel song', 'He wants to be a secular artiste' and 'All these sinners love him and he's not of God'. I went through hell and sometimes I felt like I wanted to give up because I was sick and tired of people talking about me and talking about what I am and what I'm not. So I completely understand where she's at," he said.

"If God calls her and qualifies her, she should not disqualify herself because of people's opinions because they tried to disqualify Christ but God already qualified Him," he added.

Omari, who also uses his social media to minister to people, has been observing Hall's critics for some time.

"The other day they were coming down on her because she started to wear make-up and I'm like why you guys just don't leave the woman alone? What is wrong with make-up? And some of the people criticising are wearing more make-up than her. It's almost like she has no room anymore to be Marion. She's always under scrutiny. If you're not praying for her, leave her alone," he said. Omari believes this trial is God's way of giving her thick skin which he said is necessary to do His work.

"Just preach whatever God tells you to preach and don't be fearful of people's opinions because the Bible says the truth is going to bring offence," he said.

Fun in the Son organiser Tommy Cowan believes that whatever decision Hall makes is between her and God. Quoting verses from the book of Ecclesiastes, he said, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. A heavy responsibility is on mankind, according to Ecclesiastes 3:10."