In 1973, while lecturing in mathematics at the University of Lagos, W.F. Kumuyi started a Bible study group with 15 students from the university who came to him for training in the Scriptures. By the early 1980s, this small group had grown to several thousand people, at which time Deeper Life Bible Church was officially established.

By 1988, the congregation had grown to 50,000 members and now has 120,000, making it the third largest Christian church in the world. Johan Combrinck reports that Deeper Life Bible Church not only has 120,000 Sunday attenders, but has also planted 500 churches in Lagos, 5,000 in the rest of Nigeria (with an independent estimate of more than 800,000 members in Nigeria alone), and 3,000 elsewhere (with missionaries in 40 African countries), making up the movement’s missionary contribution. (Source: AFNET).

Dr. C. Peter Wagner, in an article entitled “These Amazing Post-Denominational Churches”, writes: “By far the fastest growing segment of Christianity on six continents is a type of church that does not fit into traditional categories or classifications. Missiologists have recognised its presence for some time, but it is such a recent phenomenon that they have not yet agreed on a name for it. Perhaps the term “post-denominational” would fit.

“Go to almost any metropolitan area and ask to visit the largest Christian church. Chances are it will be one of these new post-denominational churches. In Lagos, Nigeria, it is Deeper Life Bible Church, led by William Kumuyi. On a recent Sunday I saw 74,000 adults praying together, while 40,000 children gathered in another building across the street (Apostolic Team Ministries, Intl., Newsletter 09).