A resurfaced video of Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, has ignited fresh discussions online as he firmly reiterates the church's longstanding position against celebrating Christmas.
"It Comes From an Idolatrous Background"
In the widely shared clip, Pastor Kumuyi is unequivocal in his explanation. The cleric labelled Christmas as a practice with "idolatrous backgrounds," tracing its historical roots to ancient traditions that the church believes are not supported by Scripture. He stated that since the ministry's inception, it has never organised Christmas retreats or any Christmas-themed programmes.
"Since this ministry started, we have never said we are going to a Christmas retreat. Never. We don't celebrate Christmas. It actually comes from an idolatrous background," Pastor Kumuyi declared in the video. He emphasised that this doctrinal stance has remained consistent over the years, unaffected by changing public opinion or the practices of other churches.
December Retreats, Not Christmas Celebrations
Pastor Kumuyi took the opportunity to clarify the nature of the church's well-known end-of-year gatherings. He explained that these are strictly "December Retreats" designed for spiritual renewal and reflection, and are in no way connected to the Christmas holiday. The distinction is a core part of the church's identity and approach to worship.
Furthermore, the respected holiness preacher issued a stern warning to church members and leaders. He cautioned against any attempts to introduce Christmas traditions into Deeper Life's activities, describing such efforts as bringing in elements of what he termed "Mystery Babylon"—practices he views as contradictory to pure biblical worship.
Nigerians React on Social Media
The resurfacing of Pastor Kumuyi's comments has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media platforms. The debate highlights the diverse perspectives within the Christian community regarding cultural and religious traditions.
Some users questioned the focus on the date. One commenter, @gabriel_bolatit, wrote: "Pastor WF Kumuyi a respected man of God actually shared his opinions if the date is the problem does that change the fact that Christ was born and came to save the world from sins."
Others defended the right to question traditions. User @flamy_eyes noted: "Many Christians are actually finding out the Roman paganism that was associated with their religion. They are questioning many things now... Now, they are slowly opening their eyes."
Conversely, some criticized the public discourse on the matter. @WaleBalogunK responded: "Even you here is not minding your business by bringing this to the fore... No one asked you for your opinion about Christmas."
This incident is not the first time Pastor Kumuyi has clarified Deeper Life's administrative guidelines. Legit.ng had earlier reported that the General Superintendent also addressed other church rules, such as nullifying the previous ban on ladies visiting their intending spouses during courtship, provided they are accompanied by an elder.
The video, originally published on December 26, 2025, continues to circulate, underscoring the ongoing conversation about faith, tradition, and doctrine in modern Nigerian Christianity.
