Factors that Account for Growth or Non-growth : a study on the Growth and Development of the Eastleigh (section 3) Pentecostal Assemblies of God in the Bahati region - Nairobi

Abstract

It was in the urban context that the Eastleigh Pentecostal Assemblies of God church was born in 1975. In that early setting it struggled, thrived and grew. Today, the Eastleigh Pentecostal Assemblies of God has plateaued. The Eastleigh church today cannot be said to be an excellent model of harmony and effectiveness. It seems to be minced in mediocrity. To attempt to enhance a glorious resurrection from its urban grave, the researcher engaged in an investigation of the malady of this church. This study, therefore, is concerned with describing and analysing the growth and development of the Eastleigh PAG church by identifying the factors which made for growth or non-growth. The grave situation is that the church does not express herself as an urban church. The church has not been contextualized from an earlier ruralism, in her mentality, nor does she even exist as a reaction against the urban psyche. However, this researcher demonstrates that there is a departure from the ideals which made the church grow. These ideals include: Bible study, corporate prayer, oneness and evangelism. Also to be revealed is the frequent transfer of pastors and the tribal factor which have had a negative effect on the growth of the church. For the study, the descriptive method was used as the research design. In one aspect of carrying out the research, the Eastleigh church was diagrammed and in another the researcher quantified the population earmarked for the research. The tools employed to procure data were questionnaires (both structured and unstructured for four different kinds of respondents)personal interviews, the researcher's personal case history (having participated in the church for the past six years) and library resources. The observed causes of blocked growth are diagnosed and principles that will enhance growth are suggested. While calling the church to return to the ideals of Bible study, corporate prayer and evangelism, the researcher also suggests the "Integrative Multifarious Principle" which is a contextualized form of McGavran's Homogeneous Unit Principle as a method of carrying out evangelism and planting churches. This should enable pastors and the members to evangelize cross-culturally.