Fresh Vision

Pastor C. S. Kwelle

 INTRODUCTION: A spiritual revolution or revival started in Nigeria immediately after the civil war 1967­­-1969. The horrors of the war with its attendant sorrows and suffering ignited men and women to hunger and seek after God. The reality of heaven and life beyond the grave  dawned on many that witnessed the war. Churches, Christian fellowships and hitherto despised Scripture Union (SU) were filled with both young and old desiring to know more about God. Even in those parts of the country that did not see the war it was as if the Holy Ghost was poured down “upon all flesh”.  More gospel and pentecostal groups started growing up everywhere. Hitherto, it had been the traditional colonial missionary churches like the Anglican Communion, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodists, Assemblies of God, Apostolic Faith etc. But indigenous church denominations began to spring forth. Men and women of God like late Archbishop Benson Idahosa , Bishop Oyedepo, Evangelist A. A Iyang, Bro. Jonathan Ombo Amakiri, Pastor W.F Kumuyi, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Apostle Okonny, Apostle Numbere, Rev. Mark Nwulu and several others began to be mightily used of God.

THE YEAR 1970 AND BEYOUND

From the year 1970 many of the universities and higher institutions in Nigeria started catching the fire. It appeared that God had moved to the citadel of knowledge to “confound the wisdom of the wise”.  Particularly, Universities of Lagos, Ife, Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello, Nsukka , Yaba Collage of Technology, P & T Training Institute Oshodi, Federal School of Science Lagos,  became nuclei of great revival movements through their various Christian Unions. Vibrant and exuberant youths sought the Lord in bible studies, prayer meetings, conferences and retreats. Christianity was no longer for the “frustrated and ne’er do wells.” One program called “ Jesus Compassion Explosion” at University of Ife drew brethren from all over the higher institutions. The aftermath was really an explosion of revival fire all over the country. The visit of Evang. T. L. Osborne reinforced the fire and glory came down. Professors and staff of institutions, Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, ordinary & top Nigerians professionals etc who hitherto had ridiculed Christianity “the born agains” and those “carrying the bible” gave their lives to Christ. Many of them baptized in the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. It was in the midst of this revival that Deeper Christian Life Ministry sprang up.

REVIVAL IN THE THEN CAPITAL CITY; LAGOS

During this time, God raised up a young man, who was a tutor at May Flower Secondary School, Ikenne, under a well known Nigerian atheist, late Dr. Tai Solarin.  His name is Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, then he was not yet a pastor. He had worked with Scripture Union and was an ardent member of the Apostolic Faith Church. He obtained a First Class Honours degree in Mathematics from the University of Ibadan. Around 1971, he was invited to deliver a talk in the Christian Union (CU) of the University of Lagos, on one Sunday afternoon. The effect of the message which bordered on Holiness and Heaven, sent almost every member of the group on their knees praying afresh for salvation. He knocked out the hitherto held belief that we could never be free from sin, but will be trying and trying until we get to heaven. Even the then President of the CU came to the pulpit after Pastor Kumuyi had left to make few remarks that seemed to slightly water down the effect of the message, which most people considered as “hard message”.  Nevertheless the truth was that a “fire” had been lit despite arguments and counter arguments that followed about being free from sin on planet Earth. He was never invited again that year.

The following year, the same “man of god” surfaced in the University as a Post-graduate Diploma in Education student. At the end of his PGDE he became a lecturer in the same university. He identified with the Christian Union and the protestant Christian church. Once in a while he would be invited to deliver a talk either in the CU or in the protestant church. His messages were unique and so powerful that some students tagged them ” hammer”. Actually they were hammering sins out of the lives of sinners, complacent believers, and back sliders. Pastor W. F. Kumuyi began a series of teaching sessions which was called “Digging Deep” in a room upstairs at the College of Education UNILAG, for hungry and thirsty genuine seekers. These sessions were rich and rewarding with handouts given out occasionally and some books recommended for further reading. The spiritual fire which was lit at his very first appearance in the university started smoldering and soon became a conflagration.

Having seen the need of the people and the genuine desire of the brethren, Pastor Kumuyi formally began a Bible fellowship group in his flat in the year 1973 every Monday with less than twenty people.  Invitation was expanded to the university community and those outside. The message was sound, although ”hard”. The initial response was quite impressive, and the number started growing, but soon afterwards it appeared some people started withdrawing as the “hard” messages were never mitigated. But the messenger maintained the tempo and was unruffled, and soon after as if heaven was opened there was more increase and then multiplication. The number then overflowed the flat premises. People came from the higher institutions, and the nooks and corners of Lagos. It was evident that the place could no longer contain the people and the venue was shifted to a Baptist Church at Yaba. From then to the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Oyingbo. The number of people attending the bible study grew so much at this time. Every Monday there was mass movement of people from every part of Lagos and the neighboring states to Oyingbo. The ministry witnessed phenomenal growth. A permanent place had to be sought and soon after a rejected, waterlogged area in Gbagada was found. The ministry accepted the place and with hard work of the brethren the area was sand filled after clearing. A temporary structure was erected and fellowship continued there. The Deeper Christian Life Ministry later negotiated and acquired large hectares of land at Ayobo village where the permanent headquarters of the ministry was moved to.

IMPACT IN LAGOS AND BEYOND

The teachings of Deeper Life bothers on true Christian living and how to make heaven. It was embraced by many hungry and thirsty souls while some others tagged them “hard doctrines”.  In fact messages like restitution, sanctification and holiness, love not the world, rapture, etc. were not heard of even in some Christian circles before this time. Those who loved God genuinely and wanted to make heaven embraced the bible doctrines and kept on coming to the Bible studies. The preaching of the gospel became phenomenal everywhere in buses, taxes, market places etc. People who caught the fire went out to spread it. Bible study outlines were mailed out every week to churches, locations or groups all over the country. Young vibrant undergraduates and graduates of higher institutions started making impact everywhere.

Youth Corp Members and other people who came under the fire and those travelling outside the country became powerful instruments in the hand of Almighty God. With all these, the stage was set by the Lord Himself for the establishment of Deeper Life formally in all the states of the federation, and in other parts of the world. Multitudes of ministers of the gospel, apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers were given birth to in the heat of the revival, the aftermath of which is still reverberating despite the obvious declension.

CONCLUSION

There is the need for every genuine believer and church leader to fervently pray for another visitation of the Holy Ghost which will purge the contemporary church of widespread lethargy, and accelerate the accomplishment of the GREAT COMMISSION before the return of CHRIST. “Revive us again that your people will rejoice”.

Pastor (Engr.) C. S. Kwelle

+234(0)7028397749

cskwelle@yahoo.com

Port Harcourt, July, 2011