The founder of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has addressed concerns raised by a member of the church on the welfare of the 15 people who were with him when the church began in 1973.
He addressed the issue at a question-and-answer forum in the church’s headquartres in Lagos recently.
It will be recalled that 15 people, some of them students, approached Pastor Kumuyi, who was a mathematics lecturer at the University of Lagos, requesting Bible training in August 1973.
This small group marked the beginning of Deeper Life Bible Church. The church has since grown to become a global phenomenon.
At the event, the lady asked, “What I want to ask is based on the 15 people that started this church with our daddy. I want to know if there is any benefit for them as a church. Is there any care for them as a church because most of them are old enough (sic) in the church. Is there any way the church has fixed them?”
Responding, Kumuyi first disabused the mind of the inquirer, urging her to major on what is important. He, however, ended up responding to her concern in concrete terms.
Alluding to Jesus’ time on earth, Kumuyi said, “When Jesus was leaving his disciples, he said his hour had come. Knowing he was going back to heaven, he said the people that God had given him, he gave them eternal life. And then he began to pray for them.”
He went ahead to explain that Jesus did not pray for them to have mundane things. But rather, he prayed for the most important thing.
Kumuyi noted that Jesus did not talk about material things while urging members of the church to pay attention to the most important thing when they come to church.
On the question, he said, “God is taking care of the founding fathers. Look at that national overseer, we started together. Look at that state overseer there and there all over, as God is making use of me, he is using all of them. And one or two that may not be state overseer or national overseer, God has built houses for them. God has educated their children. They have gone overseas. They have had grandchildren. I cannot think of anyone faithful to God that God has not taken care of.
“He is taking care of me and taking care of them. And the most important, they are saved and still remain saved. They are sanctified and they are following peace with all men, without which no man shall see the Lord. God is taking care of his people.”
He reflected on Jesus’ departure from the world, noting that what he gave the disciples was faith.
He added, “Faith will inherit everything. And we have given them faith. We have given you faith. We have not given you houses or buildings. Faith will get you shelter. It will get you food. It will send your children to university. The faith we have given you is more than money.”
There is no clear list of the 15 people who were founding members of the church. But some of them, from all indications, are no more in the church, while some have passed on like the first wife of Pastor Kumuyi
