Righteousness Exalts a Nation: The Life and Ministry of W.F. Kumuyi

For a nation to be exalted, the Lord requires that its inhabitants be righteous. Proverbs 14:34 says, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

Pastor W.F. Kumuyi has labored throughout his life to shape a righteous society where men and women reverence God, fear Him, and keep His commandments. He is an apostle of holiness, a teacher of sound doctrine, and the founder of one of the largest churches in Africa—the Deeper Life Bible Church.

He was born on June 6, 1941, into the family of Mr. Gabriel Kumuyi Akinfenwa and Mrs. Comfort Idowu Kumuyi Akinfenwa, an Anglican family in Erin-Ijesa, Osun State, Nigeria.

He completed his secondary education in 1961 at Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State. In 1962, he began teaching Mathematics at the same school. From there, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan, and in 1967, graduated with a first-class honours degree in Mathematics as the overall best graduating student of the year.

Although Kumuyi had a Christian upbringing, he lost his way during secondary school. He explained that his principal taught him atheism, which caused him to lose interest in church.

In 1963, a group of singers and preachers came to minister at his school. Their message touched him deeply and planted the seed of salvation in his heart, but he did not give his life to Christ immediately.

That gospel seed remained in his heart until April 5, 1964, when he made a personal decision to follow Christ fully while studying at the University of Ibadan. He was 23 years old at the time.

Later, he pursued a postgraduate certificate in Education at the University of Lagos. In 1973, he became a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at the university.

That same year, he started a Bible study group with 15 university students who had approached him for scriptural training. The group grew steadily, and by the early 1980s, it had expanded to several thousands. In 1982, it was officially established as the Deeper Life Bible Church.

As of 2025, the Deeper Life Bible Church has planted over 500 branches in Lagos and more than 5,000 across the rest of Nigeria. It has an estimated membership of over 800,000 in Nigeria, and thousands more across other African countries, Europe, North America, and Asia.

The church's headquarters is located in Gbagada, Lagos. The 30,000-seat auditorium was inaugurated on April 24, 2018, with the then Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, and other dignitaries in attendance. Experts say the auditorium is the fourth largest in the world.

Kumuyi's messages center on holiness, righteousness, and godliness. These were influenced by his foundational experiences at the Apostolic Faith Church, a denomination that emphasizes holiness, evangelism, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. He also read books by John Wesley, Charles Finney, and Charles Spurgeon, all of whom played a role in shaping his line of ministry.

He has published several books, including:

The Hour of Decision (1990)
How to Know God’s Will in Marriage (1990)
The Truly Liberated Woman (2000)
Supernatural Supply in All Situations (2009)
…and many others.

W.F. Kumuyi married Abiodun Olowu on September 13, 1980, in Lagos. He met her in September 1972 as one of his Bible students at the University of Lagos. They had two children, Jeremiah and John.

Sadly, Abiodun passed away on April 11, 2009, after a period of illness.

On October 13, 2010—exactly 18 months after the death of his first wife—he married Folashade Adenike Blaize in London. Folashade had served as the Administrator of the Deeper Life Bible Church in London.

W.F. Kumuyi’s life is a profound testimony of unwavering commitment to the call of God. His ministry has impacted millions across nations, shaping lives and inspiring Christian values. Through his compelling sermons on holiness and righteousness, countless souls have been awakened to the pursuit of godliness and the transforming power of God's grace.