₦airaland Forum

THIS WEEK - LET'S INTRODUCE PASTOR(DR) W. F. KUMUYI -3

A Math Professor(Lecturer) is Called to Preach!
In 1973, while serving as Math Lecturer at The University of Lagos, W.F. Kumuyi started a Bible study group with 15 university students who had come to him requesting training in the Scriptures. By the early 1980’s that small group had grown to several thousand, at which time Deeper Life Bible Church was formally established.

By 1988 the congregation had grown to 50,000, and now numbers 120,000 members, making it the third largest Christian church in the world. Dr. 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. (Source: AFNET).

Dr. C. 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. 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. Perhaps one title that would fit is the term ‘post-denominational.”

“Go to almost any metropolitan area and ask to visit the largest Christian Church. Chances are it will be one of these new post-denominational churches’. In Lagos, Nigeria, it would be the Deeper Life Bible Church, pastored by William Kumuyi. 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).

How Did It Happen?
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. 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). We take Christian living and holiness seriously.”

According to Isaacson, The history of Deeper Life is very much the personal story of W.F. Kumuyi. He is a gifted man, clear-thinking and humble. He is a dedicated Christian and deserves the title “the man of God,” which his followers have given him. Since he was a young man, Kumuyi has devoted his time to reading and studying the Bible. He knows the Scriptures inside out, and has struggled to understand and apply them. 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. When he preaches, his message is clear, simple, and profound. Poor street traders who can barely read sit next to university professors, all equally captivated by the way Scripture becomes suddenly relevant to them.
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. 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. He always gave a wide range of cross-references which were read in their context, supporting, clarifying and expanding his main points. He spoke clearly and authoritatively to the Nigerian situation. 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. 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. 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.

AboutUs_GS standing
A Man With a Great Heart For God!
He is not tall, and does not have a larger-than-life character. He does not dominate, nor has he accrued power to himself. He walks slowly, is relaxed, and has a gentle sense of humour with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eyes. He dresses simply, eats simply… and… could have assumed titles to himself. As the Deeper Christian Life Ministry developed – most people enjoy the trappings and regalia of status which followers gladly give. But he calls his followers brothers and sisters, and treats them as colleagues.

W.F. Kumuyi was born in 1941 into an Anglican home. It was a very strict Christian home, he told Isaacson, “We would get up in the morning, read the Bible, sing hymns, and go to church regularly. When I went to secondary school I lost interest in the church because our principal taught us atheism. But after a while I thought again and started going to various churches in town. Eventually, in 1963, a group of singers and preachers from a Gospel church got permission to come to the school. I understood the Gospel message, and was born again on April 5th, 1964. I read John Wesley, Charles Finney, Spurgeon, and lots of other books. I got involved with the Scripture Union, and I grew.”

From Professor to Preacher!
He gained a first-class degree in Mathematics at the University of Ibadan; then went back to Mayflower School to teach. After five years he went to the University of Lagos to do a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and became a lecturer there in 1973; and that was when he started a small Deeper Life Bible Study group.

In speaking to a group of Pastors under his leadership as General Superintendent, W. F. Kumuyi said: “Our emphasis should be on the practical side of going out. If the Lord comes, let him meet us working for him. Now every time I preach I try to mention evangelism. I have told all the Lagos District Coordinators and Zonal Leaders to spend half their time on evangelism and only half their time on their members. There will always be problems in the church: don’t let them take up all your time”.

Concluding his book, Isaacson writes, “And, of course, Deeper Life are self-governing. Kumuyi is the founder & General Superintendent, and he carries a tremendous weight in pastoring the Gbagada (Lagos) church alone, quite apart from the (now thousands) of other congregations across Nigeria and the rest of the world. He is a remarkable leader, one of God’s people for this generation. Kumuyi has received a great deal from God, but he is adept at passing along what he receives. My feeling is that what God has given his people through Kumuyi will be kept and developed long after Kumuyi is gone. This has been God’s work, and to Him be the glory.

- www.dclm.org

THIS WEEK - LET'S INTRODUCE PASTOR(DR) W.F. KUMUYI -2

What a grace!
At 75, he still stands for one and half hours behind the pulpit every Monday to take Bible Study. Pastor Kumuyi will be on duty today again as he has always been every Monday, since that Monday on August 1973

What a grace!
He has suffered desertions from very close associates in ministry. He has suffered bereavement of his first love, Mummy Biodun. He has suffered deviance of his own biological son on wedding brouhaha. He has suffered misrepresentation and misconception from outsiders and even from members of his immediate constituency, Deeper Life. He has suffered preaching tour mishaps and multiple health concerns. Yet, he has remained strong, resolute, heaven-minded and focused.

What a grace!
He has fought the temptation of materialism and greed for mundane things of this world, he has fought the temptation to live larger than life in ministry, he has fought the temptation to be lousy and noisy in ministry, he has fought the temptation to become politicians' friend or their prayer contractor. He has combined humility with success, he has combined focus with achievement and has proved that even today, one can keep to the standard of holiness and of the unchanging word in this changing world.

Today, I celebrate the epics: I celebrate ADULTERY FORBIDDEN, I celebrate TEKEL, I celebrate THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT (and the choir rendition preceding it), I celebrate PURITY WITHIN A MUST. I celebrate consistency

This week, we your children all over the globe, both within Deeper Life and outside, celebrate you and we pray in unison: the grace that has seen you this far will see you through!
- Copied and edited

THIS WEEK - LET'S INTRODUCE PASTOR(DR) W.F. KUMUYI - 1

HEROES DIARY - W.F. KUMUYI (1941-Date)
William Folorunso Kumuyi was born on June 9, 1941 into a
Christian family in Erin-Ijesha, Osun State, Nigeria. He was
born into an Anglican family that knew the Bible was very
important as the word of God; they would rise up early in the
morning to sing hymns, read the Bible, and pray. However,
it was not until he left home to attend high school in another
part of the region that young W.F. Kumuyi got an
experiential knowledge of who Jesus Christ was, and what
radical changes He could effect in lives surrendered to His
lordship.
While teaching mathematics at his alma mater in 1962, after
graduating from high school in 1961, Pastor Kumuyi was
introduced to the Apostolic Faith Church. He heard the
Gospel, and believed the word of God on righteousness,
temperance, judgment to come, and salvation from sin:
Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi became born again on
Sunday, April 5, 1964.
In his early Christian days, as he still does many good
writers, Pastor Kumuyi read John Wesley, Charles Finney,
and Charles Spurgeon, among others. He got involved with
the Scripture Union (SU), and he grew spiritually.
Education
Formal education for Pastor William Kumuyi started in his
home town; he went on to attend Mayflower School in
Ikenne, near Ijebu-ode, whence he graduated with a high
school diploma in 1961. After teaching at his alma mater for
a brief period, Pastor Kumuyi gained admission to study
mathematics at Nigeria’s premier institution of higher
education, the University of Ibadan, obtaining a first class
degree in 1967.
Pastor Kumuyi went back to teaching mathematics at
Mayflower School, Ikenne, before going for a postgraduate
course in education at the University of Lagos, Lagos,
Nigeria. On the completion of his postgraduate study
program, Pastor Kumuyi became a lecturer in the
Department of Mathematics at the University of Lagos in
1973.
Ministry
The Deeper Christian Life Ministry along with its church arm,
the Deeper Life Bible Church, which now has over one
million members in more than sixty countries around the
world, started as a fifteen-member Bible Study group in
Pastor William Kumuyi’s official quarters (Flat 2) at the
University of Lagos in August, 1973.
While doing his postgraduate work at the University of
Lagos, some people who knew Pastor Kumuyi as a member
of the Scripture Union (SU) would approach him to ask
questions about the Bible and Christian living. Some of
these enquirers would come at odd hours, so the Pastor felt
it was better they gather as a group to study the Bible, on
Monday evenings in his apartment, instead of spending so
much time dealing with them as individuals.
Soon enough, the time came when Flat 2 could no longer
hold the Bible Study participants, so they spilled outside and
occupied the front of the building. In due course, as more
people came and the Bible Study Group grew, it became
necessary in 1976 to find a more commodious place outside
of the university campus. Because the Group was non-
denominational, people were happy to come from various
churches to study with Lecturer Kumuyi, as the Pastor was
still called at that time. Soon, the Bible Study Group
membership went over 1,500.
By 1988 the congregation had grown to 50,000, and now
numbers over 120,000 members, making it the third largest
Christian church in the world. Dr. Johan Combrinck reports
that the Deeper Life Bible Church not only has an
attendance of 120,000 every Sunday, but has planted more
than 500 churches in Lagos, and over 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.
“The history of Deeper Life is very much the personal story
of W.F. Kumuyi. He is a gifted man, clear-thinking and
humble. He is a dedicated Christian and deserves the title
‘the man of God,' which his followers have given him. Since
he was a young man, Kumuyi has devoted his time to
reading and studying the Bible. He knows the Scriptures
inside out, and has deep love for the word of God, so people
have been drawn to him for advice, or simply to listen. When
he preaches, his message is clear, simple, and profound.
Poor street traders who can barely read sit next to university
professors, all equally captivated by the way Scripture
becomes suddenly relevant to them.
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.
His sermons were captivating. In fact, "I would classify him
as one of the greatest living preachers, giving a
straightforward Bible-based message, his sermons
thorough, and always personally challenging. He always
gave a wide range of cross-references which were read in
their context, supporting, clarifying and expanding his main
points. He spoke clearly and authoritatively to the Nigerian
situation.
A Man With a Great Heart For God!
He is not tall, and does not have a larger-than-life character.
He does not dominate, nor has he accrued power to himself.
He walks slowly, is relaxed, and has a gentle sense of
humour with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eyes. He
dresses simply, eats simply... and... could have assumed
titles to himself. As the Deeper Christian Life Ministry
developed - most people enjoy the trappings and regalia of
status which followers gladly give. But he calls his followers
brothers and sisters, and treats them as colleagues.
Kumuyi remarried in October 2010 in London about 18
months after the death of his first wife.

I have always been a huge fan of this cerebral engineer, imagine a brilliant man like this wasting away while a clown like Fashola is in charge of Power Ministry

Skillbobralph:
Was going through nairaland and I saw a post by one nairalander (cleverly) saying how people reacted in favour of APC to a post on facebook condemning Oshiomole and APC. After confirming from the Facebook source where he got the comments he posted in nairaland, found out he filtered the comments and posted those in favour of APC why most of the top comments with more likes are those of PDP sympathisers he never posted.

His earlier post
www.nairaland.com/3316750/pdp-posts-video-ridiculing-oshiomhole

Why is APC and it's supporters so deceitful.

From this picture you will see the highest liked was for PDP which he filtered out.

My brother free that dude for Christ Sake he is one of the "Sai Buhari chanters" so to him APC is always right.

This is how real men in power behaves and not the sissy silly one at Enugu Government House who deserved to be lynched for allowing those nomadic bastards to kill innocent lives under his big nose

Painful exit of a son to a mother. I can tell that she will be feeling lonely by now.

omenka:
Shut the fvck up. What do you know about "anything"?? Prancing around here disgracing yourself like some sore little kid. I criticise when I have to, when in your life have you ever dared to lift a finger of condemnation against the ignoble idiot whom you worship for God know what.

Keep up with your show of shame- perhaps someday, you'd land the lifetime prize you've so worked hard for- and I sincerely hope a bigger "one" doesn't rob you of that position.

Get the hell out of my face.

Old man stop feeling giddy, I only called your sorry azz out for your undiluted hypocrisy you are soaked. Look who's feeling funky on Nairaland, you are the only pathetic lot who labelled people around here "little kids" when your babbling here is laced with empty homilies and resort to labelling people here ipob, yoots, Biafra, and other unnecessary name-callings when you are feeling frustrated. If you like continue feeling like a "frustrated superstar" on Nairaland that's your call not mine. Now sod off EMBITTERED SOUL!

Toks2008:
I have asked some questions but people shy away from it.

Marriage is the first step to stopping masturbation...

The problem is that we have become so hypocritical about some things in life.

Is sexual thought a sin?

Is it a sin to have wet dreams

is it a sin to touch your sexual organs?

Is it a sin to defecate and urinate?

Why does it become a sin to ease off sexual tension when your system yearns for fornication proper?

If after marriage you still find yourself doing it then its either your spouse is depriving you of regular sex or you have crossed the line.

I hate it when people use human ideology to suggest what is sinful and what is not...i t is heresy and a grave sin to add or subtract from Gods words.

Do you know that soldiers during war masturbates? intact I saw a documentary where they used a intimacy gadget and I was like this is fair enough.

Do you know that doctors recommend self service to some people?

In fact I don't know what to say.

I hardly comment on sensitive but necessary topics like this, however I have a clear understanding of your disposition to the "topic in question" especially how many Christians tend to use their human doctrinated principles to explain away "Masturbation" without convincing explanations to those who are willing to learn. The hypocritical angle in your debates is well noted and to a large extent very true.

However, I am of the firm belief that "Masturbation is a sin" because of the "silent guilt" that comes with the post actions. You may hink you are deriving pleasures with yourself but deep down its something strange coming from within which is, "I just made love to myself" now go through the Bible from Genesis to Revelations you will agree with me that although "Masturbation" may not have occurred in the Bible as a word but think about you "making love to yourself" to derive pleasure and imagine how God (who created sex between husband and wife and even institutionalized marriage for procreation, love, unity and spiritual bond) will view MASTURBATION! Remember this God frowns seriously against same-sex inter course. God speed bro.

hankkk:
May God grant unto us sound understanding! Amen! I want to believe that if we had understanding about some things we wouldn't have to debate them before we desist. Masturbation is not just the physical thing you think you do by toying with your parts, it acually has a very deep spiritual angle. When you masturbate you are actually having intercourse with spirits (some people call them spirit spouses), I will just call them spirit partners. Now you may be tempted to say, what is the big deal in having sex with spirits? For those of you who have heard about spirit spouses, you'd know that when a person has been espoused to a spirit partner, the spirit partner prevents such a person from making significant progress in life- because it sees that person as it's partner it could prevent one from getting a human partner(husband/wife), if one is already married it could prevent one from child bearing, if one already has children it could bring about confusion in the family to cause separation, etc. In short what spirit partners do is, they cause delay in important areas of ones life. For people that masturbate, try to examine your lives honestly , are there not areas where you are really experiencing significant delays? The only way you can be free is to stop having intercourse with spirits by way of masturbation. With fervent prayer and by starving these spirits of sex you will start making progress in life, because these spirits will no more have power over you and your destiny. Give this a deep thought, please. Shalom!

This is absolutely the whole truth! I perceive you are a MAN OF GOD!

Isaacmacdon:
see guy free that guy joor. His just doing the work of his father the devil.

Are you a born again christian?

musaajebor:
what does he aim to achieve naw by implicating himself.


all these name calling is because he lost his position as appriopriation chairman. this man is not confessing cos of anything other than vendetta

Are you talking at all or just vibrating. This should be a cheering news to well meaning Nigerians.

@ Op you got jokes bro this scenario don't conform to your submissions all the time now

Oh my God I can now exclaim, "this is the Lord doings, and it is marvelous in our (my) eyes"

......and Dogara is still a Speaker?

omenka:
The presidency's media and publicity team is a total disgrace!!

Tufiakwa!

God knows if you can even "STAND FOR ANYTHING" total disgrace ko, total recall ni

omenka:
Imagine the kind of idiotic comment someone as old as you is making on a sensitive matter such as this all because of the worship of one useless oaf called jonathan. I bet they should have allowed Boko Haram fester as well because of fear of "reprisal attacks".

What even runs through you people's minds when you put up such support for criminals??

Let them launch the damn reprisals already. We've seen what happened in the NE, the creeks won't be any different.

Nonsense.

Most times I read your comments here I just laugh them off only the wise here can smell your true odour. I know how you smell - HYPOCRISY! just shift one side please.

[quote author=legaxi post=48851396][/quote]You need to be licked by a goat...

Bloody ostrich....his house is on fire but he is here laughing...

Firefire:
I don't engage sycophants and minions again on this platform.

Na so jare baba....I wondered where MilfAngela was when Jonathan was clearing out those bastards (boko haram) up North through the then galant Chief of Army Staff, Ihejirika, only for some useless leaders up North including this current president to claim that Jonathan was trying to wipe off Northeast off the map of Nigeria. I can't forget that time lailai....awon omo eran jati jati.

Firefire:
|Sorry!

.
I tell you

Firefire:
Dialogue remains the only option.


Forming that you are engaging the people and also engaging in military operations is counterproductive.

Let the military GO & dis-arm Fulani Herdsmen & Boko Haram in the North first.

So the OILYEL Money is more important to the government than the lives of her citizens being killed daily by the Fulani Herdsmen terrorists and the Boko Haram?

God help Nigeria.

May you live long my dear brother jare.......leave those clowns hailing this mumu government alone. Fact is, if military like make dem flatten Delta one thing is sure, it can never be as poor and backward as Northeast.

MILFangela:
it shant be well with those creek boys of they do not retaliate within the next 24hrs. I challenge them to attack any Military formation in the Delta right now

Its not necessary they retaliate within the next 24 hours but wait for it soon. No serious-minded government will do what this wayward government is doing to a region that supplies the main revenue of the entire nation. He (Buhari) is simply embarking on a vendetta to what they (his fellow funky mallams) claimed Jonathan's government did to there God-forsaken Northeast.

These worthless soldiers are only being used to pour more petrol into the burning fire, definitely the reprisal attacks from the creek boys won't be funny.

.....and Dogara is still a Speaker? so much for paiting kwurupsen

TonyeBarcanista:
The suspects are greedy and foolish. After stealing N350m they still returned to work like nothing happened. They'd have made history by surrendering the money to EFCC, get media to publicise it and leave the country for their safety.

You are right bro just that the scheming from those guys (who returned the stolen monies back to EFCC) is to nail Saraki.

Ishilove:
My friend was lamenting yesterday how she works Monday to Saturday, and on public holidays. She also overpaid a customer by 5k, but that 5k is like 500k because her salary is 75k, and by the time she removes logistics and other expenses, the money is gone.

Way back in school I had the opportunity to work with Stanbic but I jumped and passed. A decision I have never regretted.

Banking in Nigeria is akin to slavery.

God bless you for this tactful observations however I am of the belief that almost 95% of Nigeria's private companies are Modern Daycare Slavery School

I love this.....but indeed many of the youths are bunch of retards, what do they really want? Just see how hundreds of millions are being shared by a serving Senate President who has no established companies like Dangote but only access to public funds illegally and some miscreants here will still want a loafing bastard and bloody as this one to be their leaders. I ask again, what do the youths of Nigeria really want for their stolen future?

BlackSeptember:
he was never a pastor

He is!

ROZZAYY:
so wat if she is 50 claiming 39, it's her life, her bizness doesn't concern anyone, because all the celebs r doing it, so my dear carry go
thank God am 22.....

22 indeed!

Uncle Reuben just killed it right there. What a rich article. A dog is man's most faithful servant/friend hence, Buhari should be happy