Deeper Christian Life Ministry[1] also known as Deeper Life Bible Church is an international Pentecostal Christian denomination with its headquarters, Deeper Life Bible Church Lagos, in Gbagada, Lagos. It is overseen by the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi.[1][2][3]
| Deeper Christian Life Ministry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Classification | Evangelical |
| Orientation | Pentecostal |
| Associations | Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America |
| Region | Worldwide |
| Headquarters | Gbagada, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Founder | William F. Kumuyi |
| Origin | 1973 |
| Official website | dclm |
History
editIn 1973, while serving as a mathematics lecturer at the University of Lagos, W.F. Kumuyi started a Bible study group with 15 people who had come to him requesting training in the Scriptures.[4] The church started as the Deeper Christian Life Ministry. W.F. Kumuyi was a former Anglican who joined the Apostolic Faith Church after being baptised.[5] In 1975, he was expelled from the church for preaching without credentials. He continued his independent ministry, which in 1982 became the Deeper Life Bible Church. By the early 1980s that small group had grown to several thousand, at which time Deeper Life Bible Church was formally established.[6][7] The church has spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa and then to the United Kingdom, from where branches were developed in western Europe, Russia, India, and North America.[8]
In April 2018, The Deeper Christian Life Ministry had its new headquarters church at Gbagada commissioned with the former Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo among other dignitaries [9][10]
In 2020, the Lagos Church had over 65,000 people.[11] The denomination as a whole claims to have over 800,000 members in Nigeria with over 5,500 churches. They also state to have over 3,000 churches in 40 other countries.[12]
The Deeper Christian Life Ministry is a member of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America, an interdenominational fellowship of churches with a footprint in North America.
Beliefs
editThe denomination has a Pentecostal confession of faith.[13] The church has 22 core beliefs.[14]
- The Holy Bible[citation needed]
- The Godhead
- Virgin birth of Jesus
- Total depravity
- Repentance
- Restitution
- Justification by faith
- Water Baptism
- Lord's Supper
- Sanctification
- Holy Ghost Baptism
- Redemption
- Personal Evangelism
- Marriage
- Rapture
- Resurrection of the dead
- Great tribulation
- Second Coming of Christ
- Christ millennial reign
- Great White Throne Judgement
- New Heaven and the New Earth
- Hell fire
See also
edit
Bibliography
edit- Anderson, Allan (2001). African reformation: African initiated Christianity in the 20th century. Africa Research & Publications. pp. 172–173. ISBN 0-86543-884-6.
- Neumann, Mikel (1999). Home Groups for Urban Cultures: Biblical Small Group Ministry on Five Continents. William Carey Library. p. 9. ISBN 0-87808-281-6.
References
edit- ^ a b Okoro, Luke (24 October 2009). "Timely Intervention". AllAfrica.com. AllAfrica Global Media. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ^ Eyoboka, Sam (10 October 2009). "Refreshing Times at Deeper Life as Kumuyi Launches Satellite TV, Relaxes Stringent Marriage Conditions". AllAfrica.com. AllAfrica Global Media. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ^ Souter, Janet (25 January 2003). "Deeper Life Bible Church to start offering suburban services Living faith". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA. p. 2. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ^ Laurent Fourchard, André Mary et René Otayek, "Entreprises religieuses transnationales en Afrique de l'Ouest", Karthala Editions, France, 2005, page 254
- ^ J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, page 876
- ^ Korieh, Chima Jacob (2005). Religion, history, and politics in Nigeria: essays in honor of Ogbu U. Kalu. University Press of America. p. 242. ISBN 0-7618-3139-8.
- ^ Idowu, Samuel O.; Filho, Walter Leal (21 December 2008). Global Practices of Corporate Social Responsibility. Springer Publishing. p. 426. ISBN 9783540688129.
- ^ admin (4 September 2017). "Special Commemorative series as Deeper Christian Life Ministry clocks 44". Newsfront Online. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ Ugbodaga, Kazeem (24 April 2018). "Deeper Life unveils billion naira headquarters". PM News. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ Yemi Adebisi, Deeper Life New Auditorium: Demonstration Of Unlimited God, independent.ng, Nigeria, April 29
- ^ Warren Bird, World megachurches, leadnet.org, USA, retrieved February 15, 2020
- ^ "Deeper Christian Life Ministry - About Pastor W.F. Kumuyi".
- ^ Deeper Life Bible Church, WHAT WE BELIEVE, dclm.org, Nigeria, retrieved March 7, 2020
- ^ Bp-Relate (8 September 2016). "History Of Deeper Christian Life Ministry". Believers Portal. Retrieved 19 March 2022.