| Deeper Christian Life Ministry | |
| Imagewidth: | 300px |
| Main Classification: | Evangelical |
| Orientation: | Pentecostal |
| Associations: | Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America |
| Founder: | William F. Kumuyi |
| Headquarters: | Gbagada, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Area: | Worldwide |
Deeper Christian Life Ministry 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]
In 1973, while serving as a mathematics lecturer at the University of Lagos, W.F. Kumuyi started a Bible study group with 15 truth seekers 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 Vice President of Nigeria 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.
The denomination has a Pentecostal confession of faith.[13] The church has 22 core beliefs.[14]