The General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has reflected on the tragic death of his first wife, Abiodun Kumuyi, describing the experience as a painful but spiritually transformative moment in his life.
Abiodun passed away on April 11, 2009, at the age of 57, after a brief illness. The couple had been married for nearly 29 years, having wed on September 13, 1980. Their union was blessed with two sons, Jeremiah and John. Pastor Kumuyi later remarried in London on October 13, 2010.
Speaking during the recent Global Workers’ Conference at the Deeper Life International Conference Centre, Pastor Kumuyi opened up about the circumstances surrounding his wife’s passing. He said he was ministering at a church retreat the day she died and believes that his absence left a spiritual gap that the enemy exploited.
I was preaching here on Saturday, 11th April 2009, and the devil worked on my absence,” Kumuyi recalled. “My wife was at home because she had a challenge. I was driving out, the devil came, but I did not remember to close the spiritual door… When I finished the Faith Clinic that morning, I received a message that my beloved wife was gone.”
Upon returning home and finding the news confirmed, Kumuyi said he received divine assurance to let go of the grief and not allow it to derail his mission.
Rather than succumb to sorrow, he chose to channel his pain into a renewed spiritual commitment. He described this new phase of his ministry as a form of “revenge” against the forces of darkness.
Since that time, for me to revenge on the devil, I have gone to many places… I have covered most of the local governments in Nigeria, gone to almost all the nations of Africa, and all the continents of the world. Blind eyes have opened, deaf ears have opened, the lame have risen to walk—and now, even the dead have been raised.”
Kumuyi said the tragic loss marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another—one defined not by loss, but by victory and spiritual authority.
Those that have gone, have gone. Water under the bridge has passed. Now, in your family, you will be in charge… Nothing will be allowed to steal anything away again.”
His message was one of hope, resilience, and renewed purpose—urging believers to turn personal tragedies into platforms for greater impact.
