Pastor William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church has warned against agitations over who will take over the reins of leadership from him, stressing that no one has the authority to push him out of office.
Speaking during a Bible study programme, later shared online, the 83-year-old leader addressed the congregation directly, challenging any attempts to influence the timing of his exit as he give an idea on how his successor will emerge.
This was contained in an August 7 report by Church Times Nigeria, obtained on Saturday.
“Are you tired of me?” he asked, drawing a loud “Nooo” from the audience.
Kumuyi expressed concern over remarks from an unnamed young preacher in the church who, during a teaching session the previous week, repeatedly said, “There is no leadership without a successor.”
“The brother who taught the other Tuesday kept saying there is no leadership without a successor.
“He said it twice. I felt that was too much, more so since your father is still here. God will give a successor at His own time,” Kumuyi stated.
Citing biblical examples, he insisted that the appointment of leaders is a divine matter, not one for members to dictate.
“You are not going to fight your shepherd, your pilot. I reject any member of the church, whether you are a worker, choir member, or security person, who tries to control me.
“I won’t even take that from my wife because I am the head of the home… I stand where I stand and nobody will put me under pressure,” he said.
Urging members not to interfere with his calling, Kumuyi warned that resistance to his leadership would only strengthen his resolve.
“Don’t try to kill my conviction. It will only make me resist you so that when you get to the other side, you won’t say I did not tell you.
“I will keep on telling you that under your resistance until I go,” he declared.
He explained that he has intentionally given numerous gifted ministers the platform to preach but insisted that the choice of his successor “is in the hands of God.”
“If God gives you a pastor that is still very active at this age, with a good voice running everywhere to preach the gospel, and you are asking for a successor, it makes me think you are tired of seeing me around. You don’t want to make me feel I’m imposing myself on you,” he said.
While admitting that leadership transition is inevitable, Kumuyi maintained it will happen only when God decides.
“When the time comes, God will choose a man after His own heart. Don’t try to drive me away, even though I know you cannot,” he added.
