An Examination of Factors that Influence Membership Retention in Deliverance Church Ongata Rongai

Abstract

The purpose ofthis study was to investigate some of the factors that cause the high turn over in Deliverance Church Ongata Rongai. The membership turnover has been high in the recent past. The phenomenon that was studied is complex. After an extensive review of literature in the area of Church growth, the researcher chose investigate on three factors, the leadership, the church structures and the attitude of members towards the church. The literature review helped in questionnaire construction. The study revealed that one of the major causes of the high membership turn over is the leadership. Other causes included lack of spiritual nurture and luck of involvement of the laity in ministry. The study concludes by recommending a servant leadership model, a healthy theology of the church as a charismatic community and small group structure for discipleship.