[Opinion] Kumuyi’s Call to Women: A Renewed Platform in Deeper Life?

Pst William F Kumuyi 

In a recent message that has begun to attract attention among members and observers of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi made remarks encouraging women to take greater spiritual responsibility in ministry. Speaking passionately, he urged women not to limit themselves simply because of their gender but to recognize the empowerment that comes through the Holy Spirit. 

According to him, the power of the Holy Spirit is not reserved for men alone. In his words, the Holy Spirit “comes to the man, comes to the woman,” emphasizing that divine empowerment is available to all believers. In a striking remark that drew both attention and reflection, he also said the Holy Spirit is not given merely to help women cook in the kitchen, noting that many already knew how to do that before receiving the Spirit. Rather, he stressed that the Holy Spirit comes with power and anointing to enable believers to do great works for God.

His message went further. Kumuyi encouraged women to preach crusade messages, pray for the sick, and minister with confidence. He cautioned against the mindset where a woman might pray for someone and then excuse herself by saying she has done her best “as a woman.” Instead, he challenged women to speak and minister with the same conviction of divine authority that male ministers often express.

The message appears to be more than a simple word of encouragement. It may also reflect a broader emphasis on the role of women in the ministry life of Deeper Life. While the church has long maintained a structured leadership approach, it is also true that women have played important roles in its history.

In fact, Deeper Life already has female pastors who oversee congregations in certain areas. However, these cases are often more common in remote or less prominent locations, and the visible leadership structure of the church is still largely male-dominated. For many observers, this has created the impression that women’s leadership roles, while present, are not always widely highlighted.

Interestingly, those familiar with the early years of the ministry often recall that women were quite active in various aspects of church work. In the formative years of Deeper Life, women participated strongly in evangelism, prayer movements, and organizational activities that supported the rapid expansion of the church. Over time, however, the public visibility of women in certain ministry roles seemed to reduce, even though their contributions within the church remained significant.

Recent developments within the ministry may suggest a renewed emphasis on women’s involvement. In 2025, Deeper Life organized a Global Women Conference where women handled most of the activities throughout the event. From organization to teaching sessions and other responsibilities, women played central roles in the conference proceedings. Pastor Kumuyi himself was present mainly to give exhortations and spiritual guidance, while the women carried much of the operational and ministerial responsibilities.

Seen in that light, his recent statement encouraging women to preach crusade messages and pray for the sick may not be an isolated comment. Instead, it may reflect a gradual effort to encourage greater participation by women in spiritual leadership and ministry activities within the church.

Another interesting part of Kumuyi’s message addressed how women sometimes approach senior female ministers in the church. He noted that when some members call a “Mommy in the Lord,” they sometimes ask her to connect them to a “Daddy” in the ministry for prayer. Kumuyi questioned this mindset, suggesting that the female leader herself carries the same anointing and can minister effectively without needing to pass the responsibility to a male leader.

This statement alone touches on a subtle but important issue within many Christian communities: the tendency to assume that spiritual authority is automatically stronger when exercised by men. By challenging this assumption, Kumuyi appeared to be encouraging confidence among female ministers and believers alike.

Whether this message signals a significant structural shift within Deeper Life remains to be seen. The church has always been known for its strong doctrinal discipline and clear leadership hierarchy, and any major changes would likely emerge gradually rather than suddenly.

However, Kumuyi’s words do raise an interesting question about the future role of women in the ministry. Will this renewed encouragement lead to greater visibility for female ministers? Could it open the door for more women to participate actively in evangelism, crusades, and healing ministries within the church?

For now, what is clear is that Kumuyi’s message challenges women in the church to move beyond self-imposed limitations. His call is not merely about organizational roles but about spiritual confidence—the belief that the power of the Holy Spirit is available to anyone who is willing to serve.

In a faith community where humility and order have long been emphasized, this encouragement may represent a reminder that the work of ministry is not defined by gender alone but by calling, faith, and the empowerment of the Spirit.

Whether interpreted as encouragement, empowerment, or a subtle shift in emphasis, Kumuyi’s message has certainly reopened an important conversation about the place of women in ministry. And as that conversation continues, many will be watching closely to see how it unfolds within one of Nigeria’s most influential Christian movements.