Deeper Life: My sons wont take over from me, Kumuyi speaks on Church succession plan

The General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, has reiterated that leadership of the church cannot be transferred to biological children, stressing that spiritual authority in the church is determined by divine direction and not family ties.

Kumuyi said some individuals had speculated whether he would eventually identify one of his children and hand over the leadership of the ministry to them, but dismissed the idea as inconsistent with biblical principles.

According to him, the church is not a personal asset that can be inherited or managed as a family enterprise, insisting that leadership in the kingdom of God is not a hereditary affair.

“My friend, it is not always the will of God that you pass it to your son. And there are sons that do not understand that; that leadership in the kingdom is not a family affair,” he said.

He added that those making such assumptions fail to understand the spiritual nature of church leadership, which he said is guided strictly by God’s will.

“Many people were speculating, is he going to hand over the church unto his son? Won’t he search for his first son, second son, where are they? Where do they live? Is he not going to hand over the church? Well God will choose, and God will tell who is to have the kingdom,” he stated.

Kumuyi maintained that the Deeper Life ministry belongs to Jesus Christ and not any individual, stressing that only God determines who leads His church.

He further referenced biblical figures to support his position, noting that early church leaders did not pass leadership to their children.

“Peter did not hand over the church to his son. Paul did not have any son or wife, but Paul did not hand over the church to his son. And John did not hand over the church to his son,” he said.