Biography, age, wealth, and ministry of pastor William F. Kumuyi
Early Life
William Folorunso Kumuyi, who was born on June 6, 1941, is the organization’s founder and general superintendent. The ministry is based in Gbagada, Lagos, Nigeria. He is the author of numerous devotionals and books for Christians. On June 6, 2021, William Folorunso Kumuyi turned 80 years old.
Background
In Erin-Ijesa, Ogun State, in the western portion of Nigeria, Kumuyi was born into a Christian family. His secondary education was completed in 1961 at Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State. He then transferred to the University of Ibadan, where he earned a first-class honors degree in mathematics and was named the year’s top graduating student overall. The University of Lagos then offered him a post-graduate program in education. At the age of 23, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior on Sunday, April 5, 1964.
Regarding his upbringing, Kumuyi was reported as saying
We would wake up, study the Bible, sing songs, and attend church on a regular basis. My interest in religion faded when I entered secondary school because of the atheism our principal instilled in us. But after a time, I changed my mind and began visiting different churches in the area. Eventually, in 1963, a group of singers and preachers from a gospel church received permission to come to the school. On April 5th, 1964, I accepted the gospel message and became a Christian. I read a lot of literature by John Wesley, Charles Finney, Spurgeon, and other authors. I became involved with the Bible Union and grew.
John Wesley, Charles Finney, and Charles Spurgeon had an impact on Kumuyi. His father belonged to the Anglican Communion. The Sun (Nigeria) said that Kumuyi had formerly belonged to the Apostolic Faith, Celestial Church of Christ, Scripture Union (SU) movement, and Anglican Church (now Anglican Communion) before severing ties to found Deeper Life.
Teaching profession
In 1962, Kumuyi started instructing math at his alma mater, Mayflower School. He later went on to work as a mathematics lecturer at the University of Lagos, beginning in the early 1970s.
Pastor Kumuyi was scheduled to speak to more than 50,000 youths in Lagos State during a one-day program in September 2016. The program’s goal was to encourage the youths to instill the highest virtues in them and steer clear of antisocial and push-pull tendencies, which can distract them—especially in this social media age.
Christian service
When Kumuyi was a mathematics instructor at the University of Lagos in 1973, he started a Bible study group with 15 students who had come to him for Bible instruction.
This education served as the Deeper Christian Life Ministry’s cornerstone.
For preaching about the Holy Spirit’s baptism in the Apostolic Faith Church in 1975, Kumuyi was excommunicated.
He continued his independent ministry, which in 1982 became the Deeper Life Bible Church. As at 2005, the Christian ministry is said to have over 800,000 affiliates.
Place of worship
The Deeper Christian Life Ministry founded by Kumuyi has the international headquarters of its church in Gbagada, Lagos. The church auditorium at the international headquarters could sit up to 30,000 worshippers; it was described by experts as the fourth largest in the world. The auditorium was inaugurated on 24 April 2018; the Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, and some other dignitaries attended the inauguration.
Other notable places of worship of his Christian ministry include: the Deeper Life Conference Centre in Ogun State at Kilometer 42, Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and the International Bible Training Centre (IBTC) at Ayobo, Lagos.
Published books
- The Hour of Decision, 1990, ISBN 978-2367-70-2
- How to Know God’s Will in Marriage, 1990, ISBN 978-9-78236-713-6
- Have Compassion on Them, 1991, ISBN 978-9-78236-700-6
- The Spirit Controlled Family: W.F. Kumuyi, 1996, ISBN 978-9-78236-742-6
- The Lord’s Prayer, 1997, ISBN 978-1-85424-370-6
- The Truly Liberated Woman, 2000, ISBN 978-978-2908-25-4
- Supernatural Supply in All Situations, 2009, ISBN 978-0-88144-416-2
- Daily Manna, Volume 1, 2011, ISBN 978-1-90549-379-1
- Daily Manna: A Daily Devotional Guide, 2014, ISBN 978-1-46759-809-5
- Higher Everyday: A Daily Devotional Guide for Successful Youths, 2014, ISBN 978-1-46759-810-1978-1-46759-810-1
- Kumuyi: Defender of the Faith
Personal life
In September 1972, Kumuyi met Abiodun Olowu. She joined his fledgling Christian ministry and became one of his Bible study participants. Their two children, Jeremiah and John, were born on September 13, 1980, in Lagos, where they were married. On April 11, 2009, Abiodun Kumuyi passed away.
Exactly 18 months after the passing of his first wife, Kumuyi wed Folashade Adenike Blaize in London on October 13, 2010. The administrator of the Deeper Life Bible Church in London was Folashade.
Awards
In 2013, Foreign Policy magazine listed Kumuyi among the “500 most powerful people on the planet”
In 2018, Kumuyi received an honorary PhD from the University of Abuja.
Global Gospel Crusades
Since April 2021, Pastor Dr. W.F. Kumuyi has been leading a number of global gospel crusades in Abuja, Nigeria. Global Crusades were held in Nigeria’s Abuja, Calabar, and Enugu in the months of June, July, and August of 2021. Both dedicated Zoom connections and social media links allowed people to connect to the Crusade. Don Moen ministered with him in the August 2021 crusade. Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, and Nevers Mumba, the former vice president of Zambia, among others, were present for the brand launch of this crusade series, which was dubbed Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK) in July 2022.
Biography
Pastor Kumuyi’s first biography was authored by four authors and released in 2021. Pastor Enoch Adeboye sent the biography Kumuyi: Defender of the Faith to us. Several well-known world leaders attended the book launch, including the governor of Lagos State, BabaJide Sanwo-Olu, and Nigeria’s vice president, Yemi Osibanjo.
