Dr. La'Boris Cole-Sapp makes debut as First Lady and addresses wedding criticism: 'I bought the helicopter'
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
In the days following one of the most talked-about weddings in the gospel community this year, Dr. La’Boris Cole has stepped forward to address public commentary surrounding her marriage to renowned gospel artist and pastor Marvin Sapp.
Her highly publicized wedding to Pastor Sapp captured attention across social media, with many praising its beauty and showcase of new-found love.
Afterwards, however, the wedding sparked debate over who paid for the lavish ceremony, including its inclusion of a helicopter.
Dr. Cole, in a message that has now gone viral from this Easter Sunday at Chosen Vessel Church, she made it known that the decision to include such a luxurious element was both intentional and personally funded.
In her response, Dr. Cole resolved a key point: the helicopter was her purchase.
Interestingly, the union of Dr. Cole and Marvin Sapp highlights a growing debate within ministry- the intersection of public ministry with individual financial success.
Some critics questioned whether the lavishness of the ceremony aligned with traditional expectations of modesty often associated with church leadership, especially given Pastor Sapp's viral "lock the doors" moment where he instructed ushers to stop congregants from leaving while he raised $40,000.
Others, however, viewed the wedding celebration as a reflection of God’s blessings and the couple’s personal journey. For Marvin Sapp, the marriage represents a new chapter that follows years of emotional healing after the unexpected passing of his first wife.
Dr. Cole’s remarks have triggered questions around the appropriateness of addressing the issue on stage during Easter. Moreover, the viral "clapback" highlights a growing topic within the faith community: How church leaders' personal wealth create a blindspot that hinders them from recognizing the struggles of others.
This blindspot incidentally creates a wedge between the "haves" and have-nots" within an enterprise designed to help others, where humility and altruism should trump privilege and ego.
For example, in her remarks to the audience, Dr. La'Boris stated that she would be hesitant to serve in ministry if she was broke.
Does this mean that those who are less fortunate financially should not serve and have nothing to contribute to the Body of Christ?
By addressing the topic, the new First Lady clarified misconceptions about who paid for her wedding, but ignited a broader conversation about how wealth is talked about (and celebrated) and how the lack of material wealth is disparaged within the modern church.
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