A Bible-centered church family in Lewisville.

A Mathematics Lecturer Is Called to Preach! 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. By the early 1980s, 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. It later reached 120,000 members and was described at the time as the third-largest Christian congregation in the world. Dr. Johan Combrinck reported that the Deeper Life Bible Church not only had an attendance of 120,000 every Sunday, but had 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’s 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, 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. Isaacson wrote, “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.”

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 humor with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eyes. He dresses simply and eats simply. As Deeper Christian Life Ministry grew, he could have taken titles for himself and enjoyed the trappings of status that followers gladly give, as most people do. Instead, 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 Lecturer to Preacher!

He earned 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. That was when he started a small Deeper Life Bible Study group.

Speaking to a group of pastors under his leadership as General Superintendent, Pastor 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.”

Pastor Thompson Aderemi is a missionary, church planter, and seasoned servant of God whose life has been wholly committed to rescuing the perishing and advancing the gospel.

In the early 1980s, while raising his young family, Pastor Thompson and his wife pioneered the Deeper Life Bible Church in the United States. Through his obedience to God’s call and unwavering dedication, Deeper Life Bible Church was planted across numerous states, including Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, California, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Arizona, and Alabama, among others.

A man willing to give anything for the salvation of souls, Pastor Thompson has, by God’s grace, led multitudes to Christ during his 36 years of ministry in the United States. Many have also experienced miraculous healings and divine intervention through his ministry. His missionary passion and readiness to go anywhere and take on any assignment for the Master brought him to Texas in 1997. There, by the power of the Holy Ghost, God used him to transform a small house fellowship into what is now a regional headquarters.

Though advised by some to slow down, Pastor Thompson—following the example of his spiritual father and mentor, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi—refused every distraction. To this day, he continues to plant churches where none exist and to train and mentor younger pastors for effective ministry.

A graduate of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, Pastor Thompson previously ran a successful print shop business. However, when God called him through the ministry of Pastor W.F. Kumuyi into full-time ministry in 1987, he did not confer with flesh and blood but responded in complete obedience.

Pastor Thompson currently serves as the Overseer of the Southwest Region of Deeper Life Bible Church, comprising 14 states. The region is headquartered in Texas, with the ministry’s reach extending to the Dakotas and neighboring countries, including Mexico.

A gifted Speaker, Teacher, Preacher, and Evangelist, Pastor Thompson has ministered extensively across the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, and Mexico.

He has been happily married to his wife, Sister Selina Aderemi—affectionately called Mommy—for 46 years. Their union is blessed with four children and several grandchildren.

Pastor Joseph Agbo grew up in a deeply religious home as the son of a minister in an orthodox church. However, he was not born again until 1988, when he surrendered his life to Christ during his university years.

Having laid “his hands on the plough” (Luke 9:62), he went on to “put his neck to the work of the Lord” (Nehemiah 3:5). His burning zeal for soul-winning soon distinguished him, leading to his appointment as Evangelism Secretary of the Student Christian Movement (SCM). His growing hunger for God, holiness, and sound doctrine led him to Deeper Life Bible Church, where he has faithfully served the Lord in various capacities for over 34 years.

In 1997, Pastor Joseph joined a small core of believers in Carrollton, Texas, meeting in a house fellowship to pioneer Deeper Life Bible Church in Texas. What began as a “little beginning” has, by the power of the Holy Ghost, grown into the headquarters church of the Southwest Region.

As the church expanded, Pastor Joseph was sent forth under the leading of the Holy Ghost to pioneer another Deeper Life branch in Denton, Texas. There, he faithfully labored and led the church for over ten years, witnessing God’s power in growth and spiritual establishment.

In obedience to the Lord’s instruction through his Regional Overseer, Pastor Thompson Aderemi, Pastor Joseph went on to pioneer yet another branch of Deeper Life Bible Church in Lewisville, Texas, where he has now served as Pastor for over five years.

An author and preacher, Pastor Joseph holds a master’s degree in engineering and maintains full-time secular employment while faithfully serving his Master in pastoral ministry.

He has been happily married to his wife and sweetheart, Folake, for over 25 years, and their union is blessed with three children.