Ghanaian actor, comedian, and spoken word artist, Jeffrey Nortey has opened up about the level of preparation he puts into church performances, revealing that he takes them more seriously than his regular entertainment gigs.
In an interview with Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, Jeffrey said that ministering at church events requires a different kind of dedication; both spiritually and professionally.
“I’ve been on church stages that had bigger crowds than some secular ones. Even at my church CYC, [we fill the place],” he said.
While both gospel and secular events offer financial compensation, Jeffrey noted that his motivation for performing in church goes beyond money.
“Both the gospel and secular stages pay. When it comes to the gospel, I am not looking at the physical money. It’s giving my quota to the whole ministry. I don’t always go to God asking for something. What have you also done for him. So it’s my tithe. It’s doing something for the kingdom, so they both pay. And it comes with some level of fulfilment,” he said.
He also highlighted the spiritual discipline he observes when preparing for church events.
“The preparation towards church events is different. I fast when I am doing it because if I am on any entertainment show and I am doing my thing and I make a mistake, sometimes you might not know or I don’t really care if I make that mistake. But if I am m a church platform, and I am supposed to say 1st Peter 2:2 and I say 1st Peter 2:3, and the rest of the likes don’t tally, you’ve passed the wrong message,” he added.
Jeffrey further noted that “on the gospel stage, you’re doing it for the soul. On the entertainment stage, you’re doing it for the show.”
Known for his versatility in comedy, acting, and poetry, Jeffrey Nortey continues to make his mark in the creative space.
His upcoming event, 3 Faces of Jeffrey Nortey, showcases three of his alter egos in one performance. The 2025 edition is scheduled for June 14 at the National Theatre.