I was once embarrassed in a church but that became my motivational factor — Joe Mettle

Renowned Ghanaian gospel singer, Joe Mettle has recounted his most embarrassing moment in his struggling days in the music industry.

The award-winning singer narrated how his friend took him to a certain church to perform but met a cold welcome from the host pastor.

The moment he was introduced, he said the pastor could not say anything after looking at him from head to toe but asked if the friend thought they were joking in the church.

Speaking to Doreen Avio on Accra-based Hitz FM’s Daybreak show, the former VGMA artist of the year said he felt embarrassed but decided to use it to develop himself.

“A friend of mine invited me to his church and I hadn’t even sung yet. He introduced me to his pastor as a talented gospel musician blah blah blah. As he was talking, the pastor looked at me from head to toe and didn’t say anything to me but he asked my friend ‘do you think we are joking here’?

“For obvious reasons, I won’t disclose the pastor’s name or the church but it really hurt me. It encouraged me to do more. It was like fuel to me, it was the motivation I needed. Maybe if I hadn’t heard those words, I wouldn’t have pushed harder and gotten where I am today,” he said.

By God’s grace after he contained the embarrassment and decided to make something positive from it, the same pastor after seeing his popularity approached him for a program.

“Just three or four years ago, I had a call from the pastor. The moment he mentioned his name I told him I knew him. He was very happy, but he didn’t know the circumstances under which I recognized him. He’s an encourager for me, so I never forgot him,” he stated.