Full Project – THE IMPACT OF FAMILY LIFESTYLE OF PASTORS ON CHURCH GROWTH

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to the impact of family lifestyle of pastors on church growth. In this study, four research questions were formulated to guide this study. Literature was reviewed based on variables of the study. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The Population of the research consisted of Pastors In-Charge of Zones, Areas, Parishes, Altar Ministers of the Redeemed Christian Church of Goad, Lagos Province 28. The sample size of this study consists of 120 Pastors selected from different parishes within the RCCG, Lagos Province 28 using simple random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection in the research was a structured questionnaire titled “Effects of Preacher’s Family Lifestyle on Church Growth (EPFLCG)”. The analysis of the data collected was done with the use of simple percentage statistical method provided basis for answering the research questions, this was done by computing frequencies and percentages of strongly agreed, agreed, strongly disagreed and disagreed. From the findings, it was discovered that: preacher’s family lifestyle have a significant effects on church growth; preacher’s family lifestyle affect the spiritual church growth; preacher’s family lifestyle affect the numerical church growth; and that preacher’s family lifestyle have a significant impact on the general well-being of a church. In the light of the findings of the study and conclusion drawn, the following recommendations were made:- The church must regain the conviction that Christ wants His church to grow, both in quality disciples and in quantity of disciples, the preachers, as well as the Christians, must be in control of his faculties, that is, their emotions, actions and deeds, the preachers should make every concerted effort to ensure they are fulfilling the major biblical purposes to develop a healthy church growth, and that the preachers should never forget the responsibility they have as a Christian, and never forget the even greater responsibility of a leader.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction

Lifestyle is not just something we put into our lives, but it is what comes out of our lives.  It is beyond a system of value or virtue we learn from our parents or even at church.  Lifestyle is who you are to God Himself and those around you.  It is the real you!  The church and parents must teach it, but they cannot insure its function.  That is the responsibility of our choice, a determination we make ourselves, a stand in stress that we continue to uphold.

Definitely, every pastor has a family.  Sometimes the congregation forgets, sometimes even the pastor seems to forget.   As each member of our individual family has needs to be met and potentials to be developed, so also the Preacher’s family does.

Apostle Peter preached, recalling the book of Genesis and God’s promise to Abraham in Acts 3:25 “In your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed”. So we become one family in Christ caring for every member of the body.  Sometimes, a pastor’s family may feel that church members are the pastor’s family.  This is because they seem to have more impact on the pastor. Whenever they call and whatever they want, the pastor seems to be ready to counsel, teach, preach and visit.  This is because pastor cares about what they do.  It is often difficult for them to turn people away who crowd into family time.  More and more pastors, however, are scheduling regular time away from their pastoral duties for their families and in addition to time for themselves. Frankly speaking, there are great rewards in the pastor’s home.  One of such is that Pastor’s children have access to their parents at times while some are not privileged to reach theirs.  They understand what their parent, who is a pastor, does more clearly than children whose parents “go to the office”.  But there may be a sense of intrusion especially when the pastor’s family lives in a Parsonage.

Therefore, the research investigates into the effects of Preacher’s family lifestyle on church growth.

1.1       Background to the Study

The Bible in general and the book of Acts in particular record and affirm the expected and desired statistical growth in and through churches. But whenever statistical growth becomes the focused of a church instead of a valued consequence of the ministry, it is simply a matter of time until church leaders exchange biblically defined and principled faithfulness for worldly defined pragmatic success. The former brings the applause of heaven. The latter is always numerically measured thinking that it will bring the applause and approval whereas the reverse is usually the case.

Pastoral family lifestyle is one of the keys to success in the ministry of the church.  Capable and skillful pastors will create an atmosphere of excitement, give directions to move forward and develop people to grow into maturity.  Only when pastors understand leadership in the light of God’s calling on their lives will they be equipped to lead effectively.  Leadership is the process of influencing people to give their energies, use their potential, release their determination and go beyond their comfort zone to accomplish goals[1].  Leadership is a dynamic process. It affects, risks, drives, inspires, threatens, supports and leads. Local churches are looking for someone to lead them into God’s purposes and God’s way.  Local churches need leaders who truly believe that God will do what he says.  People will follow spiritual leaders who understand God’s agenda and who know how to move them towards it.  Effective pastors recognize the three elements of a triangle: (1) their own preferred and comfortable leadership style, (2) the comfortable relational styles of their followers and (3) the most productively structured ministry suitable for them.

Pastoral leaders should be alert to the most comfortable and productive combination of these three elements leader-follower-situation. Leaders can select their own leader style and can help structure the ministry situations they work in.  In other words, leaders can influence two of the three points of the leadership triangle that creates favorable, reciprocal and complementary possibilities for effective leadership.  Leaders determine their followers’ style reactions, however, unless they choose to manipulate. The lack of leadership in today’s contemporary churches, especially the smaller churches, has caused all kinds of problems which have stagnated the healthy growth of the church.

The growth of the local church will definitely lead to the expansion of Christianity in the world.  It is in this regard that it is essential for the local church to maintain a balance in both its quantity and quality.  Although numbers are essential, church growth is more than just numbers[2]. In this time of unprecedented opportunity and plentiful resources, the church is actually losing influence. Looking at the negligence of some churches not rising to their responsibilities towards the growth of the church, the Redeemed College of Missions has risen to this responsibility by modelling missionaries in tandem with the vision and mission statement of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

God has given each believer a combination of opportunities and gifts that are perfectly suited to his or her situation in life.  Christians are really ministers, unique contributors to the body of Christ.  The control thrust of your ministry depends largely on the spiritual gifts that you have received[3].This will ultimately enhance the growth of the church and as well have a close fellowship with God and men. Regardless of title, one cannot be a leader.  The word “leader” according to Zeitchik Stone is defined “as one who guides by influence”.  A leader simply put is one who leads while others follow[4]Leadership is nothing if not linked to collective purpose and the effectiveness of leader must be judged not by press clipping, but by actual social change, measured by intent and by satisfaction of human needs and expectations, which on the long term will be visible on the church growth and development. The work of a church is a noble task.  Therefore, the study is designed to investigate the effects of preacher’s family lifestyle on church growth in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 28.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

The account in Matthew 28:19-20 shows that the early church grew from 120 believers to 3,120 numerically.  This described the steady growth and multiplication of churches.  So, churches were strengthened in faith both spiritually and numerically.

Unfortunately, the current generation has leftthe priority undone and begins to follow shadows in contrast to the zeal displayed by the disciples of old.

1.3       Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of family lifestyle of pastors on church growth.

The specific objectives of this research include the following:

(i).       To investigate the effects of preacher’s family lifestyle on church growth;

(ii).      To examine the impact of Preacher’s family lifestyle on the spiritual growth of the church;

(iii).     To explore preacher’s family lifestyle on the general well-being of a church;

(iv).     To discover the effects of preacher’s family lifestyle on numerical church growth;

1.4Research Questions

(i).       Does preacher’s family lifestyle have any significant effects on church growth?

(ii).      To what extent does preacher’s family lifestyle affect the spiritual church growth?

(iii).     How does preacher’s family lifestyle affect the numerical church growth?

(iv).     What impact does preacher’s family lifestyle have on the general well-being of a church?

1.5       Significance of the Study

The significance of this study is to benefit Pastors, Pastors’ Family members (wives and Children), General Overseers, Administrators, Ministers, Workers etc. who are often saddled with ministerial roles.  It will enable them to clearly see the need to measure their family lifestyle on church growth. There is no gain saying that the moral standard of preacher’s family could either mar or make church growth.

1.6     Scope of the Study

The research is delimited in scope to the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 28 using them as a case study to depict the correct evaluation of the effects of preacher’s family lifestyle on church growth.

1.7       Research Methodology

The research emphasizes on the methods employed.  The research design used was descriptive, which involves gathering data that describe events and then organizes, tabulates, depicts and describes the data collected.  The population of the study include Pastors In-Charge of Zones, Areas, Parishes, Altar ministers of the RCCG, LP 28.  The sample size of this work consisted 120 Pastors.  The research instrument used was a structured questionnaire and was randomly applied.  The questionnaire was administered personally to the respondents.  All the copies of the questionnaire were collected the same day to avoid undue interference and loss.  Simple frequency and percentage methods were employed in analyzing the data collected.

1.8       Definition of terms

Preacher: A preacher usually identifies a person who delivers sermons or homilies on religious topics to an assembly of people.

Family: A basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.

Lifestyle: This is a set of attitudes, habits or possessions associated with a particular person or group.

Church Growth: This is a movement within evangelical Christianity which aims to develop methods to grow churches based on business marketing strategies.

Numerical Growth: In reality, real numerical growth only occurs when people are added to the church through obedience to the gospel.

Spiritual Growth:  This is the internal growth of believers both in hearts and souls.

[1] Peter Wagner, Leading Your Church to Growth (California:  Regal Books, 1984), 29

[2]John MacArthur, Keys to Spiritual Growth (Tarrytown, New York: Flemming H. Revell publisher, 1991), 129

[3] Carson, D. A. Showing the Spirit (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1987)

[4] Zeitchik Stone, Definition of Leaders (www.dictionary.com/brow,2012)