Pastor William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, has voiced displeasure over what he called “subtle agitations” within the church regarding his successor, stressing that no one can control or pressure him into stepping down.
Speaking during a Bible study programme—shared online—Kumuyi addressed the issue directly before the congregation.
This is according to an August 7 report obtained from Church Times Nigeria website by our correspondent on Saturday.
“Are you tired of me?” he asked at one point, prompting a resounding “Nooo” from the audience.
The 83-year-old cleric took particular exception to comments made by an unnamed young preacher in the church a week earlier, who, according to him, repeatedly said “there is no leadership without a successor.”
“The brother who taught the other Tuesday kept saying there is no leadership without a successor.
“He said it twice. I felt that was too much, more so since your father is still here. God will give a successor at His own time,” Kumuyi stated.
He added that biblical precedents show that it is God—not human pressure—who appoints successors.
Declaring his stance firmly, the Deeper Life leader said, “You are not going to fight your shepherd, your pilot. I reject any member of the church, whether you are a worker, choir member, or security person, who tries to control me.
“I won’t even take that from my wife because I am the head of the home… I stand where I stand and nobody will put me under pressure.”
Kumuyi pleaded with members not to undermine his mission, warning against efforts to sway him.
“Don’t try to kill my conviction. It will only make me resist you so that when you get to the other side, you won’t say I did not tell you.
“I will keep on telling you that under your resistance until I go,” he said.
He explained that he has deliberately created opportunities for many gifted people within the church to preach, but insisted that the issue of his successor “is in the hands of God.”
“If God gives you a pastor that is still very active at this age, with a good voice running everywhere to preach the gospel, and you are asking for a successor, it makes me think you are tired of seeing me around. You don’t want to make me feel I’m imposing myself on you,” he noted.
While acknowledging that there will be a successor eventually, Kumuyi maintained that it will happen on divine terms.
He further noted, “When the time comes, God will choose a man after His own heart. Don’t try to drive me away, even though I know you cannot.”
