1.1 Introduction
Church Growth is a movement within evangelical Christianity which focuses on developing methods to grow churches based on business marketing strategies (Hunter, 2005; David et al., 2003). Church crisis can create a battle ground for power struggles of various factions, victimizing the congregation and sabotaging pastoral leadership and church growth. A pastor is most often forced out of ministry due to lack of success at resolving differences with other people within the church (Sande, 2004). Church expansion and the influence of Christians’ philanthropic mindsets are interconnected and nuanced. It entails investigating how Christians’ worldviews, the function of tithing in local congregations, and the expansion of religious institutions are affected. The church growth movement started with a passion for the Great commission, and seeing people come to Christ.
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 technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Church growth begins with church health and not the other way around. Pastoral Counselling implies church leader gives direction, motivates, reprimands and develops a set objective along with his group and resolves individual or group needs within the church. This is perceived as the only way towards the church growth and survival. In the New Testament it was more often used as Christological title for the exalted Jesus. The results of semasiological and lexicographical investigation of secular Greek indicate an extremely polyvalent spectrum of meaning for the word “church leader”, the basis being he who is the first, who stands at the head of, who leads. What distinguishes pastoral counseling from other forms of counseling and psychotherapy is the role and accountability of the counselor and his or her understanding and expression of the pastoral relationship (Hunter, 2005; David et al., 2003).
However, the establishment and continuous existence of organization through the realization of set goals and objectives requires the continuous and effective functioning of its material input with the human element being indispensable. The human elements required to facilitate goals attainment often engage in disagreement and variance over factors such as; interest, views, style of management among others. The reactionary effect due to the perceived incompatibilities resulting typically from some form of interference or opposition is known as crisis. Azamoza (2004) observed that crisis involves the total range of behaviours and attitudes that is in opposition between owners/managers on the one hand and working people on the other. It is a state of disagreement over issues of substance or emotional antagonism and may arise due to anger, mistrust or personality clashes.
A common form of crisis in churches is the Congregational crisis. Congregational crisis, defined as a difference in opinion or purpose that frustrates someone’s goals or desires, may occur when those religious and spiritual beliefs are unaligned (Sande, 2004). Conflict is not necessarily bad. The Bible, the collection of sacred writings of the Christian religion, teaches that some differences are natural and beneficial. Christians believe that God created people as unique individuals, with different opinions, convictions, desires, perspectives, and priorities. When handled properly, disagreements in these areas can stimulate productive dialogue, encourage creativity, and promote helpful change and growth. Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact and Implication of Crisis Management on Church Growth.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the successful organization in the future must create the capability to absorb crisis during the organization’s life cycle. The capability here refers to crisis management mechanism in order to minimize the rate of crisis and improve (Hart, 2000). According to Rivers (2005), the hidden costs of unresolved crisis in organizations are enormous and finding effective ways to manage and resolve organizational crisis can have a significant impact on productivity and therefore, may enhance church growth.
This research study conducted multiple assessments to determine if church leaders understood the significance of their crisis management style on the congregation and its members. The effect and impact of the church will be limited and minimal without financial sufficiency hence, the wheel of gospel moves slowly without money. Since most of church income is generated from members tithe and offering, that is why the effect of Christian giving will have impact on church growth.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Impact and Implication of Crisis Management on Church Growth using Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine ways of managing crisis in the organization to improve church growth;
- To identify the causes of crisis in Redeemed Christian Church Of God; and
- To proffer solutions to the challenge of Crisis Management on Church Growth.
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:
- Is there any relationship between crisis management and church growth?
- What are the ways of managing crisis in the organization to improve church growth?
- What are the causes of crisis in Redeemed Christian Church Of God?
- What are the solutions to the challenge of Crisis Management on Church Growth?
- What are the impact of encouraging church leaders and members to have a right attitude towards crisis management in church?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
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: Effective crisis management does not lead to improve church growth
- H1: Effective crisis management leads to improve church growth
1.7 Significance of Study
This study will be of value to organizations both public and private and specifically churches in order for them to identify some silent causes of crisis and to be able to manage the situation judiciously using some of the crisis management strategies.
The study will provide a platform for church leaders to direct resources appropriately in order to minimize crisis situations in the church. The study is also expected to be of great value to academicians and practitioners in the field of crisis management. The study can also be useful to researchers for further studies.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Impact and Implication of Crisis Management on Church Growth in Nigeria using Redeemed Christian Church Of God located at Warri, Delta State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- 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.
- Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
1.10 Definition of Terms
Church Growth:
It is the science that investigates the nature, function and health of Christian churches as they relate specifically to the effective implementation of God’s commission to make disciples of all nations (people) (Matthew 28:19).
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