The Deeper Christian Life Ministry is arguably one of the most popular Christian church in Nigeria, founded by Williams Kumuyi in 1973, and it’s located at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria. The church is known for their strict doctrine that made them different from others Pentecostal church.
Over the years, the church doctrine has being questioned in several times that led to the general overseer of the church Pastor Williams Kumuyi to remove some of the church strict doctrine recently. The ministry, motto is “Your Spiritual Welfare is Our Concern”, and it has 22 doctrines, according to the church official website, while their beliefs are all based on the Bible.
Here are everything you need to know about the doctrines of Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi’s church — Deeper Christian Life Ministry.
The Holy Bible
For Pastor Kumuyi’s church, this Holy Book is the final authority when it comes to everything concerning Christians. See 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Proverbs 30:5,6; Revelation 22:18,19.
The Godhead
Deeper Life believes in the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. For this church, these three, although perfectly united in one, are different persons. This is based on Mathew 3:16, 17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Mathew 28:19,20.
Virgin birth of Christ
Based on Isaiah 7:14; Mathew 1:18–25; Romans 1:4; and 1 Corinthians 15:3,4, this church believes that Jesus Christ was born by a virgin.
Total depravity
With Psalm 51:5; Job 14:4; Romans 3:23; 5:12–17; Mark 7:21–23 and Ephesians 2:1 as a scriptural reference, Pastor Kumuyi’s church believes that all human beings have sinned. This makes them guilty.
Repentance
Despite the previous doctrine, this church believes that redemption is possible if the sinner abandons sin. Once this happens and the person really believes in Jesus, then he/she is saved.
See Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 55:7; Ezekiel 18:21–23; Mark 1:15; Luke 24:46,47; Acts 2:38; 3:19,21; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Hebrews 6:1–3.
Restitution
Members of Deeper Life believe that redemption is not compelete until confessions, apolgies, amends, e.t.c are made. See Genesis 20:1–8; 14–18; Exodus 22:1–7; Leviticus 6:1–17; Numbers 5:6–8; 2 Samuel 12:1–6; Proverbs 6:31; Ezekiel 33:14–16; Mathew 23:24; Luke 19:8,9; Acts 23:1–5; 24:16; James 4:17; 5:6.
Justification
Once the above has been done, then the person gets justification, also known as regeneration. This is only made possible by God’s grace and through faith. Now, the person is righteous before God.
See Psalms 32:1,2; Isaiah 1:18; Micah 7:19; John 3:3–8;; Acts 13:38,39; Romans 3:24–30; 4:6–16; 5:1,2; 2 Corinthians 5:17–21; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23.
Water baptism
This is followed by baptism done “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Based on Mathew 28:19; 3:13–17; Mark 16:15; Acts 2:38,39; 19:1–6; Romans 6:4,5.
Lord’s supper
Members of this church are expected to partake in the Lord’s Supper, which consists of “unleavened bread” and the juice of “fruit of the vine”. This is done to “shew the Lord’s death till He comes”. Based on Mathew 26:26–29; Luke 22:17–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–30.
Sanctification
This ministry believes that sanctification is obtained by faith and by God’s grace. See Luke 1:74,75; John 17:15–17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3,7,8; 5:22–24; Ephesians 5:25–27; Hebrews 2:11; 10:10,14; 13:11,12; Titus 2:11–14; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:14–16.
Holy Ghost baptism
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost is seen as “the promise of the Father,” accompanied by speaking in tongues. Based on Mathew 3:11; Acts 1:88; Luke 3:16; 24:49; John 1:30–33; 7:37–39; 14:16,17,26; 16:12–15; Acts 1:5–8; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:1–18; 10:44–46; 19:1–6, 1 Corinthians 12:1–31; 14:1–40.
Redemption
This is based on Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:15; Psalms 103:1–5; Proverbs 4:20–22; Isaiah 8:16,17; 1 Peter 2:24; Mark 16:15–18; Luke 13:16; John 14:12–14; 10:10; Acts 10:38; James 5:14–16; 1 John 3:8; 3 John 2; Galatians 3:13,14.
Personal Evangelism
This ministry believes that this is important for every believer in order to bring others to Christ. See Mathew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46–49; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 8:1–4; Psalms 126:5,6; Proverbs 11:30; Daniel 12:3; Ezekiel 3:17–21.
Marriage
Marriage is a big deal for this church. This particular doctrine says that there is no room for divorce, polygamy and the union of a believer and an unbeliever.
See Genesis 2:24; Deuteronomy 7:1–4; Joshua 23:11–13; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; Proverbs 31:10–31; Malachi 2:14–15; Romans 7:2,3; Ephesians 5:31–33; Mathew 5:31,32; 19:3–9; Mark 10:2–12; Luke 16:18; John 4:15–19; Genesis 20:3,7.
Rapture
Pastor Kumuyi’s ministry believes that Christ will return for the second time before the Great Tribulation. This will happen “In a twinkling of an eye.”
When “the trumpet shall sound”, “and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” See John 14:1–3; Luke 21:34–36; 1 Corinthians 15:51–58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 5:4–9; 2 Thessalonians 2:5–7; Philippians 3:11,20,21; 1 John 3:1–3.
Resurrection of the Dead
Based on Job 19:25–27; Psalm 71:20; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28,29; 1 Corinthians 15:12–57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–16; Hebrews 6:1,2; Philippians 3:8–11; Revelation 20:4,6,12,13.
Great Tribulation
The church teaches that there will be a time when there will be terrible suffering on earth. This time, the Great Tribulation, is expected to occur after the Rapture. See Mathew 24:21,22,29; Revelation 9:16; Mark 13:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–12; Revelation 13, Daniel 8:23,25; 2 Thessalonians 2:7–12; Revelation 13:1–10.
Second coming of Christ
The belief is that Christ will return to pass judgment and reign on this present earth for a thousand years. Based on Zechariah 14:3,4; Mathew 25:31–46; Mark 13:24–37; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; 2:8; Jude 14,15.
Christ’s millennial reign
According to this ministry, Christ has ruled for 1,000 years on earth, with ten thousands of His saints. Based on Jude 14,15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10, Revelation 20:2,3, Isaiah 11:6–9; 65:25; Hosea 2:18; Zechariah 14:9–20; Isaiah 2:2–4.
Great White Throne Judgment
After Christ’s reign, the church believes that God will pass a final judgment on all (the living and the dead, small and great).
See John 5:24; 3:17–19, Dan 12:2,3; Matt 10:15; 11:21–24; 12:41,42; John 5:28,29; Rom 2:15,16; 14:12; 2 Pet 2:9; Jude 6; 1 Cor 6:1–4; Acts 10:42; Rev 20:11–15.
New Heaven and the New Earth
This will be followed by the New Heaven and the New Earth “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” See Psalm 102:25,26; Isaiah 51:6; 65:17; Mathew 5:18; 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10–13; Revelation 21:1, Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:12,13; 1 Cor 13:12; 1 John 3:2,3; Rev 21:1–7; 22:1–5.
Hellfire
After the Great White Throne Judgment, this ministry believes that all sinners, the Devil, and his angels will be sent to Hell-fire. See Mathew 25:41, Ps 9:17; Mt 25:46; Lk 12:4,5; 16:19–31; Mt 5:22,30; Mk 9:43–47; Rev 14:10,11; 20:12–15.
Man of God gets honorary Ph.D. degree
The ministry began in 1973 after Pastor Kumuyi started a Bible study group. From just 15 university students, attendance grew to about 65000 people by 2016.
The G.O has just received an honorary Ph.D. degree from the Governing Council of the University of Abuja.
The degree was given to him by the Pro-Chancellor of UniAbuja, Kabiru Maikudi. Pastor Kumuyi’s wife, Esther, was present at the event, which took place at the institution’s 22nd Convocation on February 24, 2018.