On June 6, 2026, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi turns 85. If that number brings to mind images of rocking chairs, early bedtimes, or fumbling with a smartphone, you haven’t met the man behind the Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK). As a member of his digital strategy team, I’ve seen a side of him few get to witness: a man whose pace would leave most Gen Z users breathless. We don’t worship him—he’d be the first to stop that—but we can’t help but marvel at the grace and energy packed into this octogenarian.
Working with him is a masterclass in discipline. It’s not unusual to call him at 1:00 AM or 2:00 AM to sync on a project and find him wide awake. His voice is sharp, and in the background, you’ll never hear a TV or idle chatter. Instead, it’s the sound of a lecture, a leadership resource, or a Christian podcast. While the world sleeps, he’s crafting messages, reading new materials, and sharpening his mind. His study habits would put any night owl to shame.
His commitment to the Great Commission is relentless. Earlier this year, after a grueling two-week crusade spanning Port Harcourt, Bori, and Ahoada, our team met him backstage, exhausted just from looking at his itinerary. We pitched an idea born from concern: cancel an upcoming crusade in Thailand. The physical stress seemed too much, and geopolitical tensions—the US-Iran conflict—made flights over Qatar risky, with airlines shutting down operations. He cut us off before we could finish. “Sort out the travel logistics for Thailand,” he said. With a Christian population under one percent, millions there have never heard the gospel. For him, the math was simple. Risk, war zones, fatigue—none of it mattered. It was “anywhere with Jesus,” and that was that.
For our digital team, a one-hour delay in posting content might seem minor. For Pastor Kumuyi, it’s a matter of life and death. Once, we missed a 6:00 AM content drop and published it at 7:00 AM. He didn’t lecture us about algorithms or branding. Instead, he spoke about souls. People are lost every minute, he reminded us, and that one-hour delay could mean someone missing the chance to hear about Christ before they face the Chief Judge. Every strategy is about the soul. He doesn’t care about applause or fame. When I asked him his ultimate vision for the GCK brand, his answer was short and clear: “To reach every creature on earth with the gospel.”
You’d expect a minister of his vintage to lean on decades of experience, but conversations with him are never shallow. He stays ahead of trends because he reads deeply and refuses to stop learning. I’ll never forget the day he caught me off guard by asking about SEO—Search Engine Optimization. He wanted to know exactly how we could use search algorithms to boost the visibility and reach of the gospel online. He digs into everything, ensuring the ancient message is packaged with the sharpest modern tools.
Despite the weight of a global ministry, his personal warmth is extraordinary. When I was courting my wife, he’d check in, encouraging me to call her even when we were busy on the mission field. When my late father was gravely ill, he told me to put the phone to my father’s ear so he could pray for him. And when my baby girl was born, he and Mummy Kumuyi called together, pouring out heartfelt prayers for mother and child.
In Psalm 90, Moses prayed that the Lord establish the work of our hands. As this servant of God and apostle par excellence steps into his next season, let us raise our voices in earnest prayer. May the Lord confirm and establish his work—every digital strategy, every frontier crusade, every soul won—as an enduring monument to God’s glory. We pray for supernatural vitality that defies age, greater digital multiplication of his messages, and a new generation catching his fire for the lost. Our greatest desire is to see the GCK vision fully realized, with his best, healthiest, and most impactful days still ahead.
At 85, Pastor Kumuyi remains a leader, a model, and a true spiritual father. We don’t celebrate him to build a monument around a man. We celebrate him because we see the reflection of Jesus in his tireless stride, his deep wisdom, and his urgent love for people. Happy 85th Birthday, Daddy. Thank you for showing us how to run the race without ever hitting the brakes.
