Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has described Pastor William Kumuyi as a “sage,” praising the Deeper Christian Life Ministry founder for the reach and lasting influence of his ministry.
Oyedepo made the remarks on Saturday during the August edition of the Global Crusade with Kumuyi in Ota, Ogun State. The programme is being held under the theme, “Total Transformation Through Christ.”
Speaking at the crusade, Oyedepo said he had followed Kumuyi’s ministry since its early years and had watched its influence grow over the decades.
“This man is a sage. Today, I am amazed at the strength, the unction and the impact of this ministry all through these years,” Oyedepo said.
He said his decision to attend the programme was partly motivated by a desire to honour Kumuyi and recognise his contribution to Christianity.
According to Oyedepo, Kumuyi’s ministry has touched lives in different parts of the world. He also prayed for continued increase in the grace upon the ministry.
The Global Crusade with Kumuyi has drawn participants to Ota, while the programme is also being watched by audiences outside Nigeria through its international broadcast platforms. The GCK initiative has expanded beyond its Nigerian base, reaching audiences across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and Australia.
Oyedepo also preached on the topic, “How Shall We Escape, If We Neglect So Great a Salvation?”, using Hebrews 2:3 and 2 Corinthians 13:5 as his scriptural references.
He challenged Christians to examine the reality of their salvation rather than simply identify with Christianity as a religion or belief system.
“Salvation is not an ideology; it is an experience,” he said, urging participants to examine their relationship with God.
The Living Faith founder also spoke about his own conversion, saying he became a Christian on February 19, 1969, at the age of 15.
He described the experience as clear and life-changing, saying genuine conversion should be reflected in the believer’s life through qualities such as love, joy and peace.
Oyedepo further called on Christians to take responsibility for their spiritual lives by obeying the Word of God and remaining committed to their faith in difficult times.
He said worthwhile achievements often require sacrifice and discipline, adding that Christians should therefore approach their spiritual responsibilities with seriousness.
Kumuyi, who founded and leads the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, also spoke about his relationship with Oyedepo during the programme.
He said their relationship dates back to the 1970s and expressed happiness that they were renewing their fellowship.
“We enjoy one another’s fellowship as he and I are going younger at heart, we are re-establishing that fellowship, greater things are yet to come,” Kumuyi said.
Kumuyi’s sermon at the crusade was titled, “The Great Transplanting of Blessings into Your Life.”
The programme also featured testimonies from participants. One of them was Florence Okafor, who spoke about her husband, Sunday, and his reported struggle with mental illness for 17 years before what she described as a transformation.
The crusade entered its fourth day on Saturday, with the grand finale scheduled to hold on Sunday in Ota.
