He walks slowly, is relaxed, and has a gentle sense of humour with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eyes. He does not dominate, nor has he accrued power to himself. He is not tall, and does not have a larger-than-life character. In this way he was not only concerned with some kind of personal holiness, but also genuinely seeking the wholeness and harmony of the community at large, where truth, honesty, and justice should be the predominant characteristics. While stressing the high moral tone which is one of the virtues of most African cultures at their best, he was at pains to specify those aspects of local culture which were unchristian and even evil. He dealt sensitively with African culture, but also made a firm stand in highlighting the points where local culture was incompatible with the will of God. He spoke clearly and authoritatively to the Nigerian situation. He always gave a wide range of cross-references which were read in their context, supporting, clarifying and expanding his main points. In Alan Isaacson’s own words, he “preached Deeper Life into existence.” His sermons were captivating, wrote Isaacson, “I would classify him as one of the greatest living preachers, giving a straightforward Bible-based message,his sermons thorough, and always personally challenging. Pastor Kumuyi’s own Christian life developed because he took the Bible so seriously, and so the Deeper Christian Life Ministry has developed in the same way. Poor street traders who can barely read sit next to university professors, all equally captivated by the way Scripture becomes suddenly relevant to them. When he preaches, his message is clear, simple, and profound. As he shares that struggle and his love for the word of God, so people have been drawn to him for advice, or simply to listen. He knows the Scriptures inside out, and has struggled to understand and apply them. Since he was a young man, Kumuyi has devoted his time to reading and studying the Bible. He is a dedicated Christian and deserves the title “the man of God,” which his followers have given him. He is a gifted man, clear-thinking and humble. We take Christian living and holiness seriously.”Īccording to Isaacson, The history of Deeper Life is very much the personal story of W.F. In Pastor Kumuyi’s own words: “God, in the growth of Deeper Life Bible Church, has strategically and prudently used miracles to make all men come to Him’ (John 3:26). Journalist Alan Isaacson provides a helpful study of this phenomenal ministry in his book Deeper Life, talking with many members of the church who told him how Christ has miraculously intervened and changed lives in response to prayer and the proclamation of the Gospel. On a recent Sunday I saw 74,000 adults worshipping together, with 40,000 children meeting in a separate building across the street.” (Apostolic Team Ministries, Intl., Newsletter 09). In Lagos, Nigeria, it would be the Deeper Life Bible Church, pastored by William Kumuyi. Chances are it will be one of these new post-denominational churches’. “Go to almost any metropolitan area and ask to visit the largest Christian Church. Perhaps one title that would fit is the term ‘post-denominational.” Missiologists have recognized its presence for some time, but it is such a recent phenomenon that they have not yet agreed on a name for it. Peter Wagner, in an article titled ‘Those Amazing Post-Denominational Churches’ wrote: “By far, the most rapidly growing segment of Christianity on all six continents is a type of church that does not fit traditional categories or classifications. Johan Combrinck reports that the Deeper Life Bible Church not only has an attendance of 120,000 every Sunday, but has planted 500 churches in Lagos, 5,000 in the rest of Nigeria (with an independent estimate of more than 800,000 members in Nigeria alone), and 3,000 elsewhere (with missionaries to 40 countries of Africa) as the movement missionary contribution. By the early 1980’s that small group had grown to several thousand, at which time Deeper Life Bible Church was formally established.īy 1988 the congregation had grown to 50,000, and now numbers 120,000 members, making it the third largest Christian church in the world. Kumuyi started a Bible study group with 15 university students who had come to him requesting training in the Scriptures. In 1973, while serving as Math Lecturer at The University of Lagos, W.F.

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