‘Deeper Life Is Not My Church’ - Pastor Kumuyi Reveals Why None Of His Sons Will Succeed Him

‘Deeper Life Is Not My Church’ - Pastor Kumuyi Reveals Why None Of His Sons Will Succeed Him 

Founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, William Kumuyi has disclosed why he has no intention of handing over the leadership of the church to any of his biological sons, saying that the ministry belongs to Jesus Christ and not to him. Kumuyi said many people wrongly assume that church leadership should automatically remain in the family of a pastor on the issue of succession. But he said Deeper Life was not a private or family institution that could be inherited like a business or private property.

According to the respected cleric, no individual has the right to transfer ownership of God’s work to their children simply because they are related by blood. He emphasized that the church belongs to Jesus Christ, who remains its true head, and that leadership decisions must be guided by divine direction rather than family ties.

“The reason why I will never hand over Deeper Life Church to any of my biological sons is because the church doesn’t belong to me. It’s Jesus’ church. Nobody has the right to hand it over to his son.”

Kumuyi’s comments have drawn wide interest, particularly in a country where leadership succession of religious organisations often turns into a matter of public discussion. Many Nigerians, however, praised the pastor’s stance, saying it was a display of humility and a commitment to keeping the ministry’s spiritual integrity. Some said his comments sparked fresh discussion about succession planning in large churches and whether leadership should be decided by calling, competence and spiritual guidance, rather than family ties.

Since then, the veteran preacher’s statement has gone viral on social media with supporters applauding his belief that religious institutions should stay focused on their spiritual mission and not become family dynasties. His comments have further ignited wider conversations about leadership, legacy and the future of some of Nigeria’s largest churches.