William Kumuyi

Kumuyi was born into a Christian family in Erin-Ijesa, Osun State, in the western part of Nigeria. He completed his secondary school education in 1961 at Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State, from where he proceeded to the University of Ibadan and in 1967 graduated with a first-class honours degree in mathematics where he graduated as overall best graduating student in that year. He subsequently took a post-graduate course in Education at the University of Lagos. He became a born-again Christian on Sunday, 5 April 1964 at 23. On his upbringing, Kumuyi was quoted to have said Kumuyi was influenced by John Wesley, Charles Finney and Charles Spurgeon. His father was a member of the Anglican Church. ==Teaching career==

Kumuyi began teaching mathematics in 1962 at Mayflower School, his alma mater. He specialised in pure mathematics. He taught at the University of Lagos becoming a Professor in August of 1973. Teaching and researching complex variables. Kumuyi had his doctoral studies in USSR together with five other Nigerian students. He had been at the University of Birmingham United Kingdom for post doc. He has also been to the USA for sabbatical. ==Christian ministry==

In 1973, while a Professor of mathematics at the University of Lagos, Kumuyi began a Bible study group with 15 students who had come to him for Bible training. This training led to the foundation of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry. In 1975, Kumuyi was expelled from the Apostolic Faith Church for preaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. As at 2005, the Christian ministry is said to have over 800,000 affiliates. ==Place of worship==

The Deeper Christian Life Ministry founded by Kumuyi has headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos. The church auditorium at the headquarters could seat up to 30,000 worshippers; it was described by experts as the fourth largest in the world. The auditorium was inaugurated on 24 April 2018; the Vice President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo, and other important dignitaries attended the inauguration. Other places of worship of his Christian ministry include: the Deeper Life Conference Centre in Ogun State at Kilometer 42, Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and the International Bible Training Centre (IBTC) at Ayobo, Lagos. ==Published books==

• The Hour of Decision, 1990, • ''How to Know God's Will in Marriage'', 1990, • Have Compassion on Them, 1991, • The Spirit Controlled Family: W.F. Kumuyi, 1996, • ''The Lord's Prayer'', 1997, • The Truly Liberated Woman, 2000, • Supernatural Supply in All Situations, 2009, • Daily Manna, Volume 1, 2011, • Daily Manna: A Daily Devotional Guide, 2014, • Higher Everyday: A Daily Devotional Guide for Successful Youths, 2014, • Kumuyi: Defender of the Faith ==Personal life==

Kumuyi met Abiodun Olowu in September 1972. She became one of his Bible study students and a member of his fledging Christian ministry. They married on 13 September 1980 in Lagos, and had two children, Jeremiah and John. Abiodun Kumuyi died on 11 April 2009. On 13 October 2010, Kumuyi married Folashade Adenike Blaize in London. Folashade was the administrator of the Deeper Life Bible Church, London. He was said to have commended Trump for "his bold commitment to defending Christian values and championing international religious freedom throughout his first term in office". ==Recognition==

In 2013, Foreign Policy magazine listed Kumuyi among the "500 most powerful people on the planet". In 2018, Kumuyi received an honorary PhD from the University of Abuja. == Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK) ==

Kumuyi began conducting a series of Global Gospel Crusades in April 2021, starting in Abuja, Nigeria. Subsequent editions were held in June, July, and August 2021 in Abuja, Calabar, and Enugu, respectively. These events were broadcast globally, with participants joining via social media and dedicated Zoom connections. The August 2021 edition featured gospel artist Don Moen, who ministered alongside Kumuyi. In July 2022, the crusade series was officially branded as Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK). The launch event was attended by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Zambian Vice President Nevers Mumba, among others. Since 2022, the GCK has expanded internationally, reaching locations across the Global South, including India, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and Vanuatu. During the Vanuatu crusade, Kumuyi was hosted to a breakfast by President Nikenike Vurobaravu, government officials, chiefs, and State House staff. In March 2025, the GCK held its first conference in the Global North, with events in three Canadian cities: Granby (Quebec), Hamilton (Ontario), and Toronto (Ontario). == Invitation to Trump's Inauguration ==

In January 2025, Kumuyi was specially invited by the White house chaplain to the U.S. President Donald Trump to attend his second inauguration on 20 January 2025. Kumuyi commended Trump for his commitment to defending Christian values and promoting international religious freedom during his first term in office. == Biography ==

A book-length biography of Kumuyi was written and published in 2021 by Banji Ojewale. The biography of 325 pages is entitled, Kumuyi: Defender of the Faith. The foreword was written by Enoch Adeboye. Former Nigeria's vice president, Yemi Osibanjo and Lagos state governor BabaJide Sanwo-olu were among prominent world leaders that launched the book. ==References==