Kumuyi: defender of the faith

Deeper life bible study pdf

By the congregation had grown to 50,, and now numbers , members, making it the third largest Christian church in the world. Johan Combrinck reports that the Deeper Life Bible Church not only has an attendance of , every Sunday, but has planted churches in Lagos, 5, in the rest of Nigeria with an independent estimate of more than , members in Nigeria alone , and 3, elsewhere with missionaries to 40 countries of Africa as the movement missionary contribution.

Missiologists have recognized its presence for some time, but it is such a recent phenomenon that they have not yet agreed on a name for it. On a recent Sunday I saw 74, adults worshipping together, with 40, children meeting in a separate building across the street. Journalist Alan Isaacson provides a helpful study of this phenomenal ministry in his book Deeper Life , talking with many members of the church who told him how Christ has miraculously intervened and changed lives in response to prayer and the proclamation of the Gospel.

We take Christian living and holiness seriously. He is a gifted man, clear-thinking and humble. Since he was a young man, Kumuyi has devoted his time to reading and studying the Bible. He knows the Scriptures inside out, and has struggled to understand and apply them. As he shares that struggle and his love for the word of God, so people have been drawn to him for advice, or simply to listen.

When he preaches, his message is clear, simple, and profound. Poor street traders who can barely read sit next to university professors, all equally captivated by the way Scripture becomes suddenly relevant to them. He always gave a wide range of cross-references which were read in their context, supporting, clarifying and expanding his main points.

He spoke clearly and authoritatively to the Nigerian situation. He dealt sensitively with African culture, but also made a firm stand in highlighting the points where local culture was incompatible with the will of God. While stressing the high moral tone which is one of the virtues of most African cultures at their best, he was at pains to specify those aspects of local culture which were unchristian and even evil.

In this way he was not only concerned with some kind of personal holiness, but also genuinely seeking the wholeness and harmony of the community at large, where truth, honesty, and justice should be the predominant characteristics.