Kumuyi at 83: Beyond the preacher’s cassock

Kumuyi at 83: Beyond the preacher’s cassock

There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor polite, not popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him he is right.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

In But as Pastor Kumuyi turns 83 on June 6, 2024, a look at his life brings up a man whose plea is that we are free to strip him of his ecclesiastical trappings and assess him on the basis of what we find. In other words, he’s saying, ‘Don’t spare me because I’m a pastor or denominational founder; don’t also go cultural by being awed by my age.’

If we accept the challenge, what do we get? We would be facing a man feeding on a credo that his relationship with Jesus Christ has taught him that a leader in society must be so disciplined and committed to selfless service that he must seek the comfort and welfare of the led above his own person or family. He can’t go to sleep until his subjects have first gone to bed.

He teaches us to disregard those who mask their villainy with their position in religion and politics. They believe they are above the law once they’re cloaked in authority. They remind us of a job-seeker who had his pastors as his guarantors. His prospective employers told him that they wanted assessment from those who knew him outside the Church. They wanted to know his character without religious props.

There are lessons from Kumuyi. Our land will come out of the woods when leaders take to the way of integrity not derived from shallow religion (cant cassock, hollow hood) but from God, Who reciprocates with answers to their prayers for healing for the nation. In this wise, Kumuyi’s ministry has recorded spectacular marvels. Inveterate sinners have been saved; the dead have been brought back to life; a child born without genitals had these vital members created by Heaven following the prayers of Kumuyi at the just-concluded Douala GCK. There’s more: a watchful followership gets the message of their mentor, and bonds with their leaders to deliver a godly and prosperous society.

That’s what’s been happening in the Church Kumuyi pastors. Years ago when he visited the fledgling Deeper Life Bible Church in Ghana, Kumuyi sold his car to support the assembly. He recalls, “…because of the sacrifices I made in those early days, our pastors and other workers also followed suit and made sacrifices…sometimes when a leader does somethKumuyi at 83: Beyond the preacher’s cassocking, and even without compelling others… they just do it.”

Happy Birthday, beloved Pastor Kumuyi!