Abstract:
The objective of this study was to find out the strategies of expansion used by
Nairobi Chapel to plant churches in some upper class communities in Nairobi. In
order to achieve this, the researcher undertook an extensive review of literature
related to church planting strategies.
It was a descriptive case study that sought to discover the situation as it is, and
thus the researcher used open-ended questions more than closed-ended question in
much of the data collection process. Two methods of data collection were used, i.e
interviews and participant observation. A population of nine (9) respondents from
three Nairobi Chapel related churches was interviewed, and the researcher personally
attended and participated in worship services in the churches for a period of three
months.
The findings indicate that Nairobi Chapel is expanding in upper class
communities in Nairobi because of well-chosen and appropriate strategies relevant to
the targeted communities. Some of the strategies used for expansion such as small
homogenous group activities and mother church influence are unique to this group as
they are not characteristic of conventional strategies.
It was clear that each strategy contributed to the way the church was
expanding in the targeted communities in Nairobi. The findings reveal that young
professionals and upper class people respond to the Gospel through peer group
evangelism and through the ministries of vibrant old churches with good reputation
than through strangers and new churches.
