Founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has declared that no church leader has the right to hand over a church to his son, stressing that the Church belongs solely to Jesus Christ.
Kumuyi made the statement while addressing growing public speculation over who would succeed him as the leader of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry.
Speaking in a video that has since gone viral on social media, the respected cleric dismissed suggestions that any of his sons could inherit leadership of the church after his tenure.
According to him, the church is not a personal property that can be transferred from father to son, emphasizing that Jesus Christ remains the true owner and builder of the Church.
“Many people are speculating, asking if I am going to hand over the church to any of my sons. They are searching for my first son and my second son and asking where they live and whether they will take over the church,” Kumuyi said.
He continued, “It is not my church. Jesus said, ‘Upon this rock, I will build my church.’ It is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and nobody has the right to hand it over to his son.”
Drawing references from biblical figures, Kumuyi noted that the apostles did not establish family dynasties within the early Church.
“Peter did not hand over the church to his son. Paul had no son or wife. John did not hand over the church to his son. The people who stood firmly for the Kingdom of God never treated the Church as personal inheritance,” he stated.
The renowned preacher further maintained that leadership succession in the Church should be guided by God's will rather than family ties or personal interests.
“I am not about to hand over the church to any son. The will of the Lord be done in Jesus' name,” he added.
Kumuyi's remarks come amid ongoing discussions about hereditary succession in some Nigerian churches, where leadership positions have often been passed from founders to their children.
His comments have since generated reactions among Christians and religious observers, with many describing the statement as a strong reaffirmation of biblical principles regarding church leadership and stewardship.
The Deeper Christian Life Ministry, founded by Kumuyi in 1973, remains one of Nigeria's largest and most influential Pentecostal ministries, with branches across the country and in several nations around the world.
See the video Here! 👇