Marvin Lawrence Winans Sr. (born March 5, 1958) is an American pastor, gospel singer, member of the Winans family, and a member of the Winans, a musical group. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.

Life and career Early life Winans was born in Detroit, Michigan, the fourth of ten children of Delores () and David Glenn Winans Sr., who recorded together as "Mom and Pop Winans". His siblings David II, Carvin (Marvin's fraternal twin), Benjamin (BeBe), Daniel, Michael, Ronald, Priscilla (CeCe), Deborah (Debbie), and Angelique (Angie) also have careers in the music industry as singers, writers and producers. As a pastor, he was influenced by Mother Estella Boyd who was known for her healing, music, and Pentecostal ministry in Detroit.GREENE-HAYES, AHMAD. “Shots of Deliverance: Mother Estella Boyd’s Healing Hands and Global Black Pentecostal Reach.” Journal of Africana Religions, vol. 10, no. 2, 2022, pp. 149–73. JSTOR website Retrieved 19 Feb. 2026.

Musical career Winans sang in the 1970s with his brothers Ronald, Carvin, and Michael as the Testimonial Singers. The group also included others. Their first performance was at a high school talent show. In 1975, the group's name was changed to the Winans. Their musical careers spanned from the 1980s to the 1990s. The Winans, who were discovered by Andrae Crouch, released their first album under the new group's name, entitled Introducing The Winans, in 1981.[ Grammy Awards], Allmusic.com

The Winans were greatly influenced by Albertina Walker and her group the Caravans. An organist and pianist, Marvin also wrote songs and produced for the Winans records, for solo projects from family members, and on other gospel releases. For his vocals on the 1985 song "Bring Back the Days of Yea and Nay", Winans was awarded a Grammy for Best Male Soul Gospel Performance.

He founded the Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan, in 1989.WI, Pastor Marvin L. Winans, Perfecting Church Mark 30th Year, washingtoninformer.com, USA, October 9, 2019 He released an album featuring the church's choir in 1992 entitled Introducing Perfected Praise.

In 1997, he founded the Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts (WAPA). In 2007, Winans released his first solo recording, Alone, But Not Alone, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. His fourth album, entitled Marvin L. Winans presents the Praise + Worship Experience, was released on June 26, 2012, and recorded at his church through MLW Productions. The album features Don Moen, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Mom Winans, Roderick Dixon, and Bishop Paul S. Morton, amongst others.

On Saturday, February 18, 2012, Winans delivered the eulogy at Whitney Houston's funeral at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.Barry Carter, Marvin Winans to lead private funeral for Whitney Houston, washingtonpost.com, USA, February 15, 2012 He and several of his siblings and family members sang The Winans' "Tomorrow" at the service.

On July 11, 2025, Winans appeared on Justin Bieber's album Swag with his song "Forgiveness", a rendition of the 1989 song "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" by Rick Founds. With 163,000 sales and 3.8 million digital streams in the US, the song debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart and number 3 on the Hot Christian Songs.

Personal life Winans was married to gospel singer Vickie Winans () for 16 years until their divorce in 1995. His sons Marvin Jr. (Coconut) and Josiah, and stepson Mario Winans are in the music business. Mario is a producer and R&B singer. Josiah is a producer featured on Marvin Jr.'s first solo project. Marvin Jr., once a member of Winans Phase 2, is a solo artist, producer, and pastor of Perfecting Home Church. Winans married Deneen Carter in April 2022.

On October 20th, 2025, a video of Winans appearing to publicly shame one of his followers, Roberta McCoy, for donating $1,235 to his church instead of the $2,000 he had requested was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by an account named The Daily Loud. Winans garnered criticism and national media scrutiny following the post's disclosure.

Following the backlash from the video, Winans would go on to publicly defend his actions, stating that this event had been part of Perfecting Church’s “Day of Giving”, in which donations were being requested to help finish a new sanctuary in Detroit. He asserted that he had instructed his followers to come to the front in order of largest donations to the smallest, $2000 reportedly being the largest and $1.62 being the smallest amount and said that his reasoning was to maintain order and prevent the elderly from standing for extended periods of time.

He claimed this to be the reason for chastising McCoy, as allegedly, she had failed to adhere to this instruction. McCoy would also defend the pastor’s actions, noting that she had also been the victim of online attacks following the public release of the footage, further remarking that she had been a long standing member of the church and would continue to make contributions going forward.

Discography Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions US USR&B USGospelPeaks on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums:

Perfecting Church (1992): Alone but Not Alone (2007): Introducing the Winans Released: 1981 Label: Light Records Formats: LP — — — Long Time Comin''' | Released: 1983 Label: Light Formats: LP | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| Tomorrow| Released: 1984 Label: Light Formats: LP | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| Let My People Go| Released: 1985 Label: Qwest Records, Warner Records Formats: LP | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| Decisions| Released: 1987 Label: Qest, Warner Formats: LP | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| Return| Released: 1990 Label: Qwest, Warner Formats: CD | — || — || — |- ! scope="row" | Perfecting Church| Released: 1992 Label: Sparrow Records Formats: CD | — || — || 14 |- ! scope="row" | All Out| Released: 1993 Label: Qwest, Warner Formats: CD | — || — || — |- ! scope="row" | Heart & Soul| Released: 1995 Label: Qwest, Warner Formats: CD | — || — || — |- ! scope="row" | Christmas: Our Gifts to You| Released: 2000 Label: Diamante Music Group Formats: CD | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| Friends| Released: 2001 Label: Diamante Formats: CD | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| The Songs of Marvin Winans| Released: 2006 Label: Artemis Records Formats: CD | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| Alone but Not Alone'' Released: January 1, 2007 Label: Pure Springs Gospel Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 85 77 1 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Charted songs +List of charting songs and peak chart positionsTitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbumUSR&BPeaks on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs:

"Just Don't Wanna Know": "Let the Church Say Amen": USR&BAirPeaks on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay:

"Just Don't Wanna Know": "Let the Church Say Amen": USGospelPeaks on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs:

"It's All God": "Send Your Rain": "Let the Church Say Amen": "Draw Me Close (Thy Will Be Done)": "It Belongs to Me": "Able": "Forgiveness": USGospelAirPeaks on the Billboard Gospel Airplay:

"It's All God": "Let the Church Say Amen": "Draw Me Close (Thy Will Be Done)": "It Belongs to Me": "Able": "Just Don't Wanna Know"2008 87 25 —Alone but Not Alone"It's All God"2010 — — 17Soul Seekers II"Something About the Name Jesus"2011 — — —Hello Fear"Send Your Rain" — — 28Release"Let the Church Say Amen" 90 27 1The Journey"Draw Me Close (Thy Will Be Done)"2012 — — 21Marvin L. Winans Presents:The Praise & Worship Experience"It Belongs to Me"2020 — — 7 1 rowspan="2" "Everything Will Be Alright"2022 — — — —"Able"2023 — — 6 1My Truth"Forgiveness"2025 — — 1 —Swag"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

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