The Founder and General Superintendent of Deeper Life Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has firmly dismissed suggestions that any of his sons could eventually succeed him as the leader of the ministry.
Addressing members during a recent church programme, Kumuyi spoke against speculation surrounding the future leadership of the church, revealing that some individuals had been actively searching for information about his children because they believed a family succession plan was in place.
“Many people were speculating, is he going to hand over the church to his son? Some were searching for his first son and searching for his second son, asking where they are and where they live,” Kumuyi said.
The veteran preacher emphasized that Deeper Life Church is not his personal property and therefore cannot be passed on to a family member as an inheritance.
“You see, he’s not going to hand over the church. Well, it’s not his church. Jesus said, ‘Upon this rock, I will build my church.’ Jesus said it is His church. It’s not Peter’s church. It’s nobody’s church,” he stated.
Founded in 1973 as a small Bible study fellowship with just 15 participants, the ministry has grown into one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Nigeria and has expanded its presence across several countries worldwide.
Kumuyi Cites Biblical Examples on Church Leadership
Speaking further, Kumuyi maintained that leadership within the church should never be determined by blood ties or family relationships.
“It’s the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and nobody has the right to hand it over to his son,” he said.
To support his position, the respected cleric pointed to prominent figures in the early Christian church who did not transfer spiritual authority to their biological children.
“Peter did not hand over the church to his son. Paul did not hand over the church to his son. John did not hand over the church to his son,” Kumuyi declared.
He urged believers to focus their attention on advancing God’s kingdom rather than engaging in debates about personalities or succession politics.
According to him, the kingdom of God is built on spiritual values and principles rather than personal interests.
“The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost,” he added.
Kumuyi’s comments arrive at a time when succession planning has become a major topic within many large religious organizations, particularly as founding leaders age and questions emerge about who will lead their ministries in the future.
Reaffirming his commitment to divine direction regarding the future of Deeper Life Church, the cleric made it clear that he has no intention of transferring leadership to any of his children.
“I was not about to hand that over to any son. The will of the Lord be done in Jesus’ name,” he concluded.
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Pastor Kumuyi has two sons, Jeremiah (Jerry) Kumuyi and John Kumuyi, from his first marriage to the late Abiodun Kumuyi. While both largely maintain private lives, neither has been publicly identified as a successor to the leadership of Deeper Life Church.
As discussions around succession continue within religious circles, Kumuyi’s latest remarks have effectively put to rest rumors of a hereditary leadership transition within one of Nigeria’s most influential Christian ministries.
