Full Project – EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH USING THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This study was carried out to examine Effective leadership in the Church using the Pentecostal Church- a case study of Foursquare Gospel Church Badagry District. Other objectives were to identify the functions and duties of Effective Church Leadership in a church and also to identify the other factors militating against church growth. The research design adopted for this work is cross –sectional survey and descriptive analysis on a randomly selected sample of the different categories of Effective Church Leadership (Bishops, Priests and Parishioners). A total of one hundred well-structured questionnaires were distributed among the principal leaders of Foursquare Gospel Church Badagry District. The descriptive statistics was used to analyse the research questions while chi-square was employed to test the null hypotheses. Findings from the study reveals that majority of the respondents are of the opinion that Effective Church Leadership plays a vital role in ensuring growth and survival of the church. The finding from the study also reveals that a church will grow if Effective Church Leadership are actively involved in the affairs of the church.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

In a global sense and with respect to leadership, every organization has its system of operation. Nigeria for example, runs a participative leadership. An effective leadership is patterned by its goals and vision which help in achieving positive results. This is because any given organization with a faulty leadership the foundation is prone to collapse. Therefore, leadership remains a fundamental process in every organization in which such an organization builds a style of operation. On this basis, Adam (2003), notes that leadership is a common phenomenon in every facet of life. This implies that leadership is a thing that has captured the attention of many in order bring all pending matters to orderliness. In the same vein, Hybels (2002) states that leader often has impact not only because they are highly gifted but because their leadership styles mesh perfectly with specific ministry needs.

Leadership in the pentecostal churches goes along with high level of responsibility and for any pentecostal church to achieve its primary objective, which is the growth of the gospel, a determinant force (co-operation) from the subordinates must be encouraged. Akpami (2002) asserts that church leadership to some extent is based on what is known as ―divine calling.‖ In a right sense, one may be chosen by God to serve either as a teacher, evangelist, pastor, apostle or prophet. The researcher observed that church leadership is very different with the leadership appointment in professional settings such as medicine, education, governances and finance.

Munroe (1993), asserts that leaders are those who accept or are placed on extraordinary circumstances which bring forth their latent spiritual potentials, such as producing character that implies confidence and trust of their followers or members of God. Nmadu (2010), says that leadership has a great challenge both positive and negative, which depends on the style of its operations. Thus, it is of interest to point out that this study is expository having stated that leadership in the pentecostal churches faces great challenges. In view of the above, this study was designed to examine the impact of leadership styles in the Pentecostal Churches on the Growth of the Gospel in Lagos State.

Leadership is indeed a dynamic reciprocal process of personal influence by which a manager or a leader shapes the attitudes and activities of others towards the achievement or attainment of organizational objectives (Abogunrin, 1986). Even before the modern concepts of leadership came into being, the apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul in the Pastorals lists the qualifications for Effective Church Leadership to ensure sustainable growth and survival (Dairo, 2007). These have remained the model for ages. For any church leader to steer the ship of the church successfully, these qualities must be imbibed. But contemporary experience in Nigeria has shown a marked departure from this Pauline list of qualifications for Effective Church Leadership which has really affected growth and survival of churches. The level of understanding expected from both the leaders and the followers is missing in most cases. This often results in crises within “the body of Christ”.

There are some common features in various definitions of leadership. It will be presumptuous for anyone to attempt a definition that will satisfy the populace especially regarding Leadership. Leadership is nothing if not linked to collective purpose; and the effectiveness of leaders must be judged not by press clippings but by actual social change, measured by intent and by satisfaction of human needs and expectations which on the long term will be visible on the church growth and development.

Leadership is the ability to gain consensus and commitment to common objectives beyond organizational requirements which are attained with experience or contribution and satisfaction on the part of the working group. Leadership could also be defined as the relationship in which one person or the leader influences others to work together willingly on related tasks to attain that which the leader desires. It is a means of direction. Leadership is the ability of management to induce the subordinates to work towards a group’s goals with confidence and keenness. It implies that the leader accepts responsibility for the achievement of the group objectives and it is, therefore, essential for the trust and cooperation from both sides to be evidence all the time (Dairo, 2007).

With respect to Leadership, it implies that the church leader gives direction, motivates, reprimands and develops a set objective along with his group andresolves individual or group needs within the church. This is perceived as the only way towards the church growth.In the New Testament it wasmore often used as Christological title for the exalted Jesus. The results of semasiological and lexicographicalinvestigation of secular Greek indicate an extremely polyvalent spectrum of meaning for the word “church leader”, the basisbeing he who is the first, who stands at the head of, who leads.

According to the New Testament, the terms “bishop,””pastor,” and “elder” are synonymous. Bishop means “overseer,” and the elders had the responsibility of overseeing the work of the church (Acts 20:17,28; 1Pet5:1-3). “Elder” is the translation of the Greek word presbytes, which means “an old man.” Paul used the wordpresbytery in (1Tim 4:14), referring not to a denomination, but to the “eldership” of the assembly thatordained TLagosthy. Elders and bishops (two names for the same office, (cf Titus 1:5,7) were mature peoplewith spiritual wisdom and experience to ensure the survival of the church of God. Also, “pastor” means “shepherd,” one who leads and cares for theflock of God (Vine, 1996:67).

Leadership is an art of getting things done. It can be learnt, improved, developed and perfected. It is the key process of influence and the process always includes a number of key components such as leader and followers, they interact in situations and means of influence which emerge from the leader and from the followers, based on their value system and goals which the leader and the followers seek to achieve.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The various leadership styles emanating from the ever increasing pentecostal churches and their consequences on the growth of the gospel calls for concern. Obiora (1998) asserts that Jesus Christ is the originator of godly leadership. He added that, this was as a result of the sacrifice on the cross and his leading ability in our hearts.

Another central phenomenon in the pentecostal churches is the way in which church funds are handled. Quite a number of church funds in most cases are handled by the general overseers in conjunction with the central working committees, board of auditors and church treasurers. This scenario has in most cases caused disaffection among church members who resort to opening their own pentecostal churches in order to solely handle the church funds. This is the reason the preaching for donations, sowing of seeds, tithes and offerings are the central preaching in the place of true salvation.

Another factor is the rate at which members of pentecostal churches go for discipleship training. In view of this, this study assessed the impact of leadership styles in pentecostal churches on the growth of the gospel. Whether the impact of leadership styles on the growth of the gospel are more of positive or negative.

According to Dairo (2008), many Churches in Nigeria are characterized with false teaching, preconceived ideas and human-formedregulations which have too often undermined the Holy Spirit’s specification and has militated greatly against church growth. According to Apostle Paul, church leader must be kind of man that can carry the followers along. All Effective Church Leadership may not possess these qualities in thesame measure but a leader must have these quality attributes to a degree that is noticeable in his life to ensure sustainable growth. If a man isknown to be harsh instead of being gentle, intemperate instead of being temperate, disgraceful instead of beingrespectable, he has disqualified himself (Harvey, 1996). The work of Leadership is a noble task. Suchan office needs the right kind of people to serve. Accumulation of material wealth, by capitalizing on the “gross ignorance” of the people about the teaching of the Bible on wealth by Effective Church Leadership as also limited growth and survival of many churches because of the increased awareness of these dubious strategies. However, the researcher is examining Effective leadership and impact on Church growth.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of this study:

To examine Effective leadership impact on Church growth.
To identify the functions and duties of Effective Church Leadership in a church.
To identify the other factors militating against church growth.
- RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What is the impact of Effective leadership on Church growth?
What are the functions and duties of Effective Church Leadership in a church?
What are the other factors militating against church growth?

1.5 HYPOTHESIS

H_O: Effective Church Leadership do not have a role in church growth

H_A: Effective Church Leadership do have a role in church growth

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is significant for the following reasons. It is hoped that the findings of this study will help shape the minds of pastors, church members and leaders on how to lead, deriving their leadership example from the Bible. The study should create awareness and discourage greed, power tussle and disaffection among church members. It will also serve as an insight to Christians of today, that the church is not a place to make money rather, a centre of worship of Yahweh. Also, the study will form a basis for further research for academicians and scholars. The study will expose the Pentecostal church leaders to the problems in their leadership styles and proffer solutions to such problems.

Findings from this study will educate the church authorities and the general public in Nigeria on what the Effective Church Leadership need to do or incorporate into the system to ensure growth and survival.

This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.

1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study is on the effective leadership in the church using the Pentecostal Church. The research was carried out only in Lagos State. This study will cover the activities of Foursquare Gospel Church Badagry District, Lagos in Nigeria with special focus on the Effective leadership and impact on Church growth.

Limitations of study

Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

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Full Project – EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH USING THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

Full Project – EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH USING THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY, SEMINARY & CRS RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS

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