Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another
This blog will explain why after I gave my life to Jesus Christ I choose to become a member of Deeper Life Bible Church a branch of Deeper Life Bible Churches under Deeper Christian Life Ministries. Those who may know me personally and are reading this blog are probably saying, “Janet, weren’t you always a member? You basically grew up in the church”. This may be true, although in my teenage years I was given the option to go to church or not, so I didn’t go a majority of the time. One’s membership to a church does not ride on those of your parents or because you stumbled upon it one day and wanted to go; Church membership comes only when you:
1. Are Born-Again, given and surrendered your entire life to Jesus Christ.
2. Have Prayed, consulted your Father God and are being led to attend that church. Prayer is so crucial and I will explain why below.
While it is OK to watch some church events streamed online, God encourages us to not forsake the assembly of believers. Assembly means a physical contact with one and another. Some Christians I have encountered have told me it’s OK to watch church on the computer continuously, stay home, and fellowship by themselves. We should seek to not isolate ourselves.
Finding and going to Church permits us to know:
- There are other believers running the Christian race. It should give us comfort and provide us strength.
- It helps us not to isolate or keep any problems you may have to yourself. At church the Spirit of God may lead someone to come to you, or may lead you to go to a person for prayer and conversation that may be the push you need to remove that mountain.
- It helps you showcase and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. How can we grow in patience and love unless we are around others? Your immediate family can only help you grow so much. Your job and school-mates may not exhibit the same grace or correct you as needed to grow more into the ways of the Lord.
- Lastly the church takes you as a family. Not to wish this upon anyone but, if you didn’t have any family on this earth, the bible tells believers the church is supposed to take all members as members of their own family, calling each other brothers and sisters (Ephesians 2, Galatians 6).
My church Deeper Life Bible Church was founded alongside members of a bible study being taught by a then member of the Anglican Church of God, William F. Kumuyi. Now known as Pastor Kumuyi, whom gave his life to Christ at the age of 23 on April 5th 1964, started a bible study in his dorm room at the University of Lagos. In short the Bible study started to grow and the members decided they wanted to leave their own churches to establish an actual Church with Pastor Kumuyi as the lead pastor. It was given the name ‘Deeper Life’, ordained by God because the revelations being received were deeper than all the denominations they congregated from.
It’s important to know the church is still a NON-Denominational church, despite what others may say. We are not associated with any denomination, whether Pentecostal or whichever. We follow the Bible as word for word as we can because it is inspired by God Himself. There are no denominations in heaven which is the goal of every believer.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The church now has over 1 million documented members in over 60 countries worldwide; including my current nucleus family, my mother and some of my closest friends.
According to http://www.foreignpolicy.com Deeper Life Bible Church is the largest congregation worldwide with the largest sitting congregation on a Sunday Service at the international headquarters church in Lagos, Nigeria with approx. 74,000 adults worshiping together and with 40,000 children in the children church; not to mention the other members sitting in Sunday service all over the world.
But honestly although I grew up in the church, I knew my church was big, but I didn’t know the magnitude. I didn’t even know the Lord touched the founder, Pastor Kumuyi to know of the REAL Him at the age of 23, two years after I came to know the Lord at 21. I was talking to a Sister in my church and she articulated how many of us felt/and still feel growing up in a church like Deeper Life. She stated growing up she felt boggled down by what we felt were so many rules. The females weren’t allowed to wear weave ons, pants because the church believes the word of God says women are not to wear ‘what pertaineth to men’ (Deut. 22:5), we couldn’t get our ears pierced, we couldn’t do so many things children of the world could; same with the boys and dressing to church, as well as not saying or acting in certain ways of boys in the ‘World’. Stated more in my Lost Virtue Blog, I would wear skirts and no jewellery to church, but outside I would completely rebel; wear fake hair, pants, and jewellery. I and many of us children, with parents that became Born Again and followed the teachings of Deeper Life but, didn’t understand spiritual things, nor ever really read the Word myself with any understanding from the Spirit from God.
But the amazing thing was the second I decided to yield myself to the Lord and choose to follow Him on my own, becoming Born Again, God started to expound some of the same revelations that Pastor Kumuyi himself was hearing from God in terms of outward and inward appearance. I have also witnessed this transformation with many children that have surrendered their lives to Christ, who grew up in Deeper Life, or were brought to the church by their parents.
Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
It’s important to know as believers we don’t follow a Pastor, we follow Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith but, we do know Pastor’s are set apart from God to watch over us and give us instructions.
Ephesians 4:11
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Jeremiah 3:15
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
I am convinced that since the founding of this church in 1973, the Lord has used Pastor Kumuyi’s to expound on messages that have been consistent, teaching on salvation, sanctification, restitution, holiness, following peace with all men, restitution, Holy Ghost Baptism, evangelism, Christian appearance, forgiveness, heaven, the Christian Family, marriage and more.
This shows the true mark of a Man of God, like Paul in the bible.
We are to test every spirit and the messages have not changed in this church. The messages have stayed true to the Word of God no matter the changing of cultures and trends (i.e. homosexuality and the role of woman). As the Bible worked for the days of Old, the Bible WILL work for us living in the 21st Century. God is constant and never changes.
So in looking for a church to go to, I considered famous churches founded by other Nigerian Pastors, and even some churches locally here in New Jersey and in the U.S. via online streaming. But the Lord established me in Deeper Life, and since I have been going I have grown tremendously and others around me have seen the change. I can’t give you the amount of testimonies I have received for mere obedience to the Word of God spoken through the vessels in this church.
It’s important to note that the Church and administration you sit under, will be held against you come judgment day.
Although there are no church’s in heaven, whom you decided to follow without taking it to the Lord in prayer and reading the Word yourself to see if it’s true will be counted against you. Not to scare you, but there are many false prophets in our generation, that many are falling victim to. (Matthew 7)
“Deeper Life Bible Church is not a church of rules, nor a place for certain type of People”. It is for sinners, believers, young old, Nigerian, and non-Nigerian. It is for ALL.
Whether you have certain convictions of outward appearance or not it doesn’t matter. God invites all into the church with hopes all whom attend come to truly know Him and receive salvation.
It was when I received salvation I was expounded about the many truths of the Word of God, from the church, through the Holy Spirit within me. The Spirit of God quickens all believers and I can truly say that was the case for me from teachings I have heard in my New Jersey Church and headquarter Church in Nigeria.
I recommend you read a full list of our doctrinal beliefs here: www.dclmhq.org The church emphasizes that once Born Again, YOU are a child of God that has the Holy Spirit within you, so therefore God has given you the power to pray directly to Him (John 14:13-14, 15:16, 16:23-26) not through any source like a man or object, and that the Bible are His words and to know it is to have Life through it!
For my current YOUNGER Deeper Life members. Don’t be deterred by other youths in and out of the church whom say Deeper Life is this and that. YOU know the truth so follow it. Jesus was persecuted and so will we. Continue to show them about the love of Christ, preach Jesus and God will expound the Word of God unto them.
Disclaimer: I cannot say this for all other branches of the church because I don’t attend them, but I believe the same God that planted the churches in those locations will perfect the work He has started.
It was important I write this blog to encourage those on the fence of either leaving or joining the Church. Yes there is no church in heaven, but you need to make sure you are under a congregation helping you grow and teaching the truth of the Word.
Many people have also asked me why I choose to go to this church, despite the misconceptions they have heard or feel.
I need to add this. If there is no true church around you, preaching the truth. It’s important you do NOT go. It’s better for you to seek the face of the Lord and pray for direction in what you should do in this time. By God’s grace Deeper Life Bible Church as well as other Bible believing churches now have their sermons online to keep you till you can congregate with a congregation. You do not want to be found in a place of error come rapture, and the Word of God tells us rapture can come at any time.
I pray I was able to encourage you to find a church where you can come to know the Lord and grow in Him.
God Bless you for reading. May the truths found in this Blog be expounded unto you so you can live an exemplary Christian Life with Heaven as your goal. Grace and Peace.
We as a family now attend Deeper Life Bible Church, Ipswich UK under the Woolwich region. This does not stop us from fulfilling our ministries outside the church. We love our community and as God says move or remain we listen.
From your Sister in Christ,
Other Sources:
1. http://www.elifeonline.net/elife12-may-june/interview-kumuyi.htm
2. Deeper Life by Allen Issacson
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deeper_Christian_Life_Ministry
4. The HOLY SPIRIT
