1.1 Introduction
Christian giving refers to the act of offering money, material resources, time, skills, and other forms of support for the work of God and the welfare of others. As described by McInnis (2026), Christian giving and stewardship remain important expressions of faith, obedience, responsibility, and Christian maturity. Giving in the church commonly includes tithes, regular offerings, thanksgiving offerings, donations, pledges, and support for special projects (McInnis, 2026). Similarly, Christian giving is connected with the responsibility of believers to support the activities and mission of the church. Church growth on the other hand refers to the development of a church in terms of membership, evangelism, spiritual development, participation, leadership, outreach, and community influence.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the aim and objectives of the study. Others are significance of the study, scope of work, research questions, limitation of the study and definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Historically, Christian giving is closely connected with the development of the Christian church. In the Old Testament, giving was already established through tithes, first fruits, sacrifices, and other offerings. As cited by Ademiluka (2020), the practice of tithing formed part of Israelite religious life and was associated with the support of religious responsibilities and the needs of the community. The Old Testament records examples of giving before the Mosaic Law, while the Mosaic system later provided specific arrangements for tithes and offerings. Christian giving has a long history within the Judeo-Christian tradition. Ademiluka (2020) stated that tithes and offerings are deeply rooted in biblical traditions and have continued to influence attitudes toward giving in Nigerian churches. Tithing traditionally involves giving a portion of income or produce for religious purposes, while offerings involve additional voluntary contributions.
In the Nigerian church environment, giving remains an important source of financial support for congregational activities. According to Oluwoye (2013), tithes and offerings constitute major sources of church revenue in the Osun Baptist Conference, with church financial records showing a strong dependence on these contributions. Likewise, giving supports expenses connected with worship, evangelism, administration, welfare, building projects, missions, and other church responsibilities.
The relationship between giving and church growth also involves the way church resources are managed. According to Agyei (2025), financial practices based on stewardship, accountability, and responsible management are relevant to the sustainability of Pentecostal churches. Moreover, members are more likely to remain committed to church activities when they understand the purpose of their contributions and have confidence in the management of church resources. Supporting this position, Miller et al. (2002) reported that organised stewardship programmes and the introduction of tithing practices influenced religious giving among Catholic parishes.
Church growth extends beyond financial strength. According to Soneye et al. (2026), generosity expressed through financial contributions, sharing of resources, and service supported spiritual, organisational, and community development in World Revival Faith Ministry in Lagos. Similarly, generosity supported evangelism, missionary outreach, educational assistance, empowerment activities, and community development. Such activities strengthen the relationship between the church and its surrounding community while also creating opportunities for wider participation and membership development.
Ezugwu et al. (2024) articulated that changes from cash-based giving to electronic payment methods created difficulties for some church members in Enugu, particularly those who were unfamiliar with digital transactions or lacked access to banking services. This situation demonstrates that the manner in which giving is organised affects members' participation. Furthermore, churches operating in changing economic and technological environments require suitable systems that make giving convenient, transparent, and accessible to members.
Oluwoye (2013) reported that the practice of tithes and offerings raises questions concerning the persons who give, the purposes of giving, the forms of contributions, and how church resources are disbursed. Correspondingly, responsible management of contributions strengthens the credibility of church leadership and promotes members' confidence in supporting church programmes. A recent study by Ayeni et al. (2026) also examined members' perceptions of stewardship and financial accountability in churches in Lagos, reflecting growing concern about transparency and ethical financial management within Christian organisations.
This study is set against the backdrop of the need to understand how Christian giving practices contribute to sustainable church growth among church members.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that some churches experience challenges in sustaining growth because of inadequate financial support from members. Also, poor accountability, lack of trust, and limited knowledge about responsible stewardship may discourage members from giving consistently. Additionally, where members are not confident about how church funds are managed, their willingness to contribute may reduce.
Furthermore, church growth should not be measured only by financial resources or membership numbers but also by participation, evangelism, spiritual development, and community impact. On the other hand, limited giving and weak participation may affect the ability of churches to sustain their programmes and reach more people. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to examine the impact of Christian giving practices on church growth among church members.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of this study is to examine the impact of Christian giving practices on church growth among church members.
The specific objectives of this research are to:
- Examine the effect of tithing on church growth among church members;
- Determine the influence of regular offerings on church growth among church members;
- Assess the effect of donations and special contributions on church development;
- Examine the relationship between members' giving practices and participation in church activities; and
- Determine the challenges affecting christian giving among church members.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the effect of tithing on church growth among church members?
- What is the influence of regular offerings on church growth among church members?
- What is the effect of donations and special contributions on church development?
- What is the relationship between members' giving practices and participation in church activities?
- What are the challenges affecting Christian giving among church members?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Tithing has no significant effect on church growth among church members.
- H1: Tithing has a significant effect on church growth among church members.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Regular offerings have no significant influence on church growth among church members.
- H1: Regular offerings have a significant influence on church growth among church members.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: Donations and special contributions have no significant effect on church development.
- H1: Donations and special contributions have a significant effect on church development.
Hypothesis Four
- H0: There is no significant relationship between members' giving practices and participation in church activities.
- H1: There is a significant relationship between members' giving practices and participation in church activities.
Hypothesis Five
- H0: The challenges affecting Christian giving have no significant effect on members' giving practices.
- H1: The challenges affecting Christian giving have a significant effect on members' giving practices.
1.7 Significance of Study
The outcome of this research will provide information useful for improving the collection, budgeting, recording, and management of church funds. The study will also provide facts that religious organisations can use when developing policies and programmes on Christian stewardship and financial accountability.
Furthermore, the study will provide information useful for improving the collection, budgeting, recording, and management of church funds. It will also show the role of tithes, offerings, donations, and other contributions in supporting church activities.
Lastly, the research will provide useful academic material for students and researchers interested in Christian giving practices, church management, and church growth.
1.8 Scope and Limitations of the Study
The scope of the study covers selected churches in Benue State, Nigeria, with particular attention to Christian giving practices and their relationship with church growth. The study focuses on tithes, offerings, donations, special contributions, participation in church activities, and challenges affecting members' giving.
The study is limited by the availability of reliable information from church members and leaders. Some respondents might not provide detailed information about their personal giving practices or church finances. The study is also restricted to selected churches in Benue State, so the findings might not represent every church in Nigeria.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Christian Giving:
Christian giving refers to the act of voluntarily offering money, possessions, time, or other resources to support God's work and assist people in need.
Giving Practices:
Giving practices refer to the different methods through which church members provide financial or material support to the church. These include tithes, offerings, donations, pledges, thanksgiving contributions, and special project contributions.
Tithing:
Tithing is the practice of giving a portion, traditionally one-tenth, of income or produce for religious purposes.
Offering:
An offering refers to a contribution given to the church beyond or apart from regular tithing. It includes money or other resources provided during worship services, thanksgiving events, special programmes, or for particular church needs.
Donation:
A donation is a voluntary contribution of money, materials, property, or other resources to support a church, its members, or a specific programme. Donations are often used for welfare, building projects, evangelism, missions, and community support.
Church Growth:
Church growth refers to the development and expansion of a church through increased membership, evangelism, spiritual development, participation, outreach, and effective church activities.
Church Members:
Church members are individuals who belong to a particular Christian congregation and participate in its worship, activities, responsibilities, and programmes.
Christian Stewardship:
Christian stewardship refers to the responsible management and use of resources entrusted to believers by God. It includes the proper use of money, time, talents, possessions, and other resources for Christian purposes.
Church Development:
Church development refers to improvements in the activities, facilities, programmes, membership participation, leadership, and community services of a church. It involves the practical processes through which a church strengthens its ability to fulfil its religious and social responsibilities.
Church Activities:
Church activities are programmes and services carried out by a church, including worship, evangelism, prayer meetings, Bible studies, welfare programmes, missionary work, community services, and other congregational activities.
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