Pastor Kumuyi Sends Powerful Warning to Deeper Life Marriage C'tte: "We're Losing Members"
- Pastor William Kumuyi has warned Deeper Life’s marriage committees against rigid rules, stressing that such practices are pushing members away
- He clarified that the marriage committee is a church creation for guidance, not a biblical institution, and should not exercise undue authority
- Kumuyi urged members to prioritise God’s Word over man-made rules, emphasising that only the law of God leads to heaven
The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has issued a stern warning to the church’s marriage committees nationwide.
This, the revered cleric cautioned against rigid practices that he says are driving members away.
Source: Twitter
The holiness preacher sent the warning during the church's 2025 family and marriage conference held nationwide and monitored by Legit.ng on Sunday, August 31.
Expressing concern, Kumuyi revealed that several members had left the church due to difficulties linked to marriage rules rather than biblical teachings.
“I’ve met people who left the church because of marriage challenges, not because of the Bible, but because of our rules,” he admitted.
He further stressed that spiritual priorities must outweigh human regulations.
“I’d rather people don’t obey me and still walk into the kingdom of God than cling to laws that drive them away.”
Focus must remain on heaven, Kumuyi says
Pastor Kumuyi emphasised that the ultimate goal of believers should remain heaven, not strict adherence to man-made principles.
“The law of God is what takes us to heaven. If anything we say has no chapter or verse, it is just our principle. Follow what you know will lead you to heaven,” he urged.
Kumuyi clarifies role of marriage committee
Source: Twitter
Addressing the scope of the church’s marriage committee, Kumuyi clarified that it was not a biblical institution but a creation of the church to offer guidance.
“There’s no marriage committee in the New Testament. We created it to help you, not because we can give you a chapter and a verse. It is church administration,” he explained.
He went on to warn against abuse of authority within the system:
“Marriage committees should not exercise an authority that God has not given them. This is just church organisation, not divine law.”
Recently, Kumuyi announced that such a law as banning a lady from visiting a man whom she intends to marry is nullified.
He further explained that intending couples can freely visit themselves during courtship, but only on the condition that she or he go with an elder.
Fixed courtship rules unrealistic, says theologian
Dr. Benard Andrew, a theologian and marriage counsellor, has urged church leaders to replace rigid courtship restrictions with structured teaching and mentoring.
“On the matter of courtship duration and or restrictions, I will still suggest that the church leadership take time to develop a premarital relationship school,” he told Legit.ng.
He warned against blanket timelines for relationships, noting that personal circumstances vary widely:
“With the high rate of divorce among Christian couples these days, I don’t think we can afford to continue to play pöķęr with our members’ lives and trust. No two persons are the same. Putting a mandatory fixed duration for how long a man and a woman should court is not realistic.”
Courtship thrives on time, space, and guidance
According to him, distance and work schedules often limit how frequently couples can meet:
“For example, if they are not living in the same city, or one of them works offshore, they are likely to see each other just once a month or once in two months. How many hours will they spend in such a short time of meeting, especially with someone keeping an eye on both of them?”
He also stressed that deeper connection and personal trust take varying amounts of time.
“Even if they talk on the phone often, it will never be the same as being in the same space and seeing each other and personally evaluating each other. Also, a lot of people like to get very acquainted with you before they share their personal story with you.”
Instead, he recommended mentorship by experienced couples during courtship.
“But if the couple is well taught and is entrusted to the wise guidance of an older married couple for mentoring during their courtship period, however long or short that may be, I think they will get the most from it.”
Kumuyi warns Lagos govt against church demolition
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the Deeper Life Bible Church led by the general superintendent Pastor William Kumuyi, has condemned the alleged demolition of its properties in various parts of Lagos State by government agencies.
The church, in a statement signed by its legal representatives, Nojim Tairu & Co., on Thursday, June 5, accused the agencies of targeting its properties for demolition without due process.
The church said its branches in Yaba, Olorunishola, and Lawanson were demolished by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Lagos State Building Control Agency, and the Surulere Local Government, respectively.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a theologian for this report.
Source: Legit.ng
