AN ASSIGNMENT ON

THE HISTORY OF DEEPER LIFE BIBLE CHURCH

SUBMITTED BY

ADU, Rebecca Titilayo

(200 Level)

03-06-2022
Date Established

In 1973, while serving as a mathematics 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

The church started as the Deeper Christian Life Ministry. 

Founder

The emergence of Deeper of Life Bible Church is purely a product of evangelistic work of William

Folorunso Kumuyi; which is fully entrenched on the Kumuyi’s style of teaching and preaching the gospel

of Christ

The Name, Background, History, Encounter with God

In 1973, while serving as a mathematics 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. The church started as the Deeper Christian Life Ministry. W.F. Kumuyi was a former Anglican

who joined the Apostolic Faith Church after being baptized. In 1975, he was expelled from the church for

preaching without credentials. He continued his independent ministry, which in 1982 became the Deeper

Life Bible Church. By the early 1980s that small group had grown to several thousand, at which time

Deeper Life Bible Church was formally established. The church has spread throughout sub-Saharan

Africa and then to the United Kingdom, from where branches were developed in western

Europe, Russia, India, and North America. In April 2018, The Deeper Christian Life Ministry had its new

headquarters church at Gbagada commissioned with the Vice President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo among

other dignitaries.
Reasons for Establishment and Geographical Location

Deeper Christian Life Ministry also known as Deeper Life Bible Church is a Pentecostal Christian

denomination with its international headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos. The emergence of Deeper of Life

Bible Church is purely a product of evangelistic work of William Folorunso Kumuyi; which is fully

entrenched on the Kumuyi’s style of teaching and preaching the gospel of Christ. The captivating Christian

Life of Kumuyi had a powerful and positive influence on several converts of the 15 memberships: that

began his Bible Study group in the University of Lagos-where he resided as Lecturer, and that was the

begin of the today mega church which has its presence in several nations of the world today. Therefore, the

Scriptures in Acts 1:7 is fulfilled- “…And you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.” The ministry in 40 years of its existence has become a force to be reckoned

with in many countries of the world with its life changing message. One significant peculiarity of the

sporadic growth of the Church is that, it is not just about increase membership but building a population of

good citizens of the nations because of the beliefs and practices of the Church which is aim towards total

man. As a result, the moral standard emphasized and promoted by the Church is unblinking. The members

are therefore representatives of not just the Church but the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The life styles of

the members are heavily influenced by the doctrines of the Church and that of the founder, which even the

non-members can easily point out pretence. It is therefore, obvious; the Deeper Life Bible Church has

contributed positively to the growth and development of Christianity in Africa.

Doctrines, Beliefs and Theologies

The beliefs and practices of the Deeper Life Bible Church are biblical as 8 of the beliefs are literally

taken from the Book of Revelation on the events of the last days. The Church considers the gospel of

salvation very critical in bringing people to the awareness of the Jesus' second coming.
 The members of the Deeper Life Bible Church are to live according to the beliefs and practices of the

Church as they have their hopes of the rapture and second coming of Christ as their utmost life priority. The

doctrines of the church are listed below as cited in Isaacson, (1990).

Organizational Structures

The organisation of Deeper Life Bible Church is such that William Folorunsho Kumuyi who is the

sole founder and head of the Church is known as the General Superintendent. Next in the hierarchy are the

State Overseers who lead the churches in each state in Nigeria. Within regions, there are Districts, which

are then grouped, and a Group Coordinator heads each Group. A Coordinator heads the individual Districts.

Branches

Deeper Life Bible Ministry was founded in Ghana and now has a presence in 40 countries across

Africa, as well as 20 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The church is expanding all

throughout the world, especially in Europe and America. Because of the huge expansion seen in terms of
membership within a short period of time, several writers have referred to Deeper Life's growth as

"exceptional" (Isaacson, 1990).

Organogram Showing Leadership

Membership

The Deeper Life Bible Church is the third largest Christian church in the world, with an attendance

of 120,000 every Sunday. It 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. According to

foreign policy, this church is the "world's largest megachurch", with millions of members worldwide.

History of Crisis – Causes, Effects and Settlements

Deeper Life Bible Church has refused its members to embrace the on-going cultural globalization

which can be accessed largely through the electronic media. The conservative nature of the church is also a

limitation to the height it would have attained. Issues concerning, not wearing earrings, jewelries, fashion

and other things tagged worldly also account for the limitation of the members. The Deeper Life Bible

Church's attitude towards information technology which also aids in evangelism can play ironically.
Members of the church own television sets but are very discreet in displaying same outwardly for fear of

being scorned or rebuked.

There was an attempt by the Church to carry out evangelism through the television medium, which

was unsuccessful due to the fact that the television is not under church monopoly. The Committee was

tasked with the responsibility of counseling intending couples and prescribing the mode of courtship, which

requires intending couples to stay under the supervision of another senior couple. During the process, the

couples are expected to plan their future together including the number of children they hope to have when

they are eventually joined in holy matrimony. Other older couples that do encounter problems during the

course of their marriages are also given necessary counseling and admonitions to live in peace. Gender bias

exists in the Deeper Life Bible Church as women are not allowed leadership positions or the pastorate of

any of its Districts or Headquarters.

Findings reveal that this policy is meant to keep the women members in subordination and as usual

the assertion was backed up by biblical verses. The church should not only be gender sensitive but because

of the challenges of contemporary times, women should be empowered in the affairs of the church.

Names of Current Leaders

W.F. Kumuyi is the current general superintendent and leader of Deeper Life Bible Church.

Personal Comments

Deeper Life Bible Church has and continues to endure numerous problems both inside and outside

the ministry, yet they have always emerged victorious and stronger. God has used W.F. Kumuyi to rescue

souls and proclaim the gospel to nations all over the world. His teachings and philosophies have had a huge

impact on Christianity around the world, and the church has won innumerable people for Christ.

References

Winifred Akoda (2012): “May His Will Be Done: A History of the Deeper Life Bible Church, 1973-2006”
International Journal of Asian Social Science, Vol.2, No.4, pp.402-410.

Ankomah, B. (2006) “Special Report on Deeper Life Bible Church” in the New African Magazine”, October
edition, p.4.
Erukanure, G. (2007) The District Coordinator, Deeper Life Bible Church. Personal Communication, Lagos.

Kumuyi, W. F. (2006) “Living to Please the Lord at all Times” being a Sunday Worship Service Message

Isaacson, A. (1990) Deeper Life: the Extraordinary Growth of the Deeper Life Bible Church. London: Hodder
and Stoughton.