Over 8,000 Youths Converge on Cotonou as Pastor Kumuyi Reveals ‘Master Key’ to Success

COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC — More than 8,000 youths and young adults gathered in Cotonou on Saturday for the Impact Academy of the Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK), where the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Dr. W.F. Kumuyi, challenged young people to make Christ the foundation of their pursuit of success.
The youth-focused programme, held at the Palace Congress, Cotonou, is part of the five-day GCK crusade taking place from September 26 to 30, 2026, with the programme being streamed live to audiences in more than 180 countries.
The Impact Academy, a dedicated youth and young-adult initiative of the GCK, is designed to mentor secondary school students, university students and young professionals in areas of academic, career and spiritual development.
The September edition, themed “Discovering the Key to Success,” drew thousands of young participants and generated significant engagement on social media under the hashtags #GCKinBenin and #ImpactAcademyBenin.
Speaking from Matthew 16:17–19, where Jesus told Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom,” Pastor Kumuyi likened the youths in attendance to Peter, declaring that every young person can discover the key to a successful and purposeful life through Christ.
He identified salvation as an indispensable key to success, stressing that achievements without a solid spiritual foundation cannot provide lasting fulfilment.
According to Kumuyi, discovering Christ opens the way to discovering one's uniqueness, usefulness and purpose. He said the same “key” enables young people to overcome limitations, pursue excellence, unlock opportunities and fulfil their God-given destiny.
He further urged the youths to become ambassadors for Christ in their schools, workplaces and communities, emphasizing that the greatest discovery a young person can make is not merely a career path but Christ.
The programme featured seminars, the Excellentia session, spoken-word presentations, musical performances and other activities led by young participants.
Some attendees also took to social media to share their experiences, describing the academy as impactful and inspiring.
The event was attended by leaders of the GCK Local Organising Committee, senior pastors from Benin Republic and other church leaders.
The Impact Academy forms part of the broader GCK initiative aimed at equipping young people with spiritual, academic and practical tools for purposeful living and leadership.