Church Growth Strategies in the 21st Century: A Case of Selected Churches in Thika West District, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of different church growth strategies in the 21^st Century in Thika West District. The church as a living organism is expected to grow. In the Great Commission in the book of Matthew 28: 19-20, it is revealed that the desire of Jesus Christ is that his church should increase. Growth therefore is an integral part of the church. The question for discussion is not whether the church should grow, but in what ways growth occurs and by what means. The aim of this study was to investigate how different growth strategies contribute to the holistic church growth in the selected churches of Thika west District. The study was based on a church growth model propagated by Mead (1993). Findings of other researchers on church growth strategies formed the bulk of the literature reviewed in this study. Methodology was a mixed design of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Sampling procedures were purposive and simple random while target population comprised of Pastors, cell group leaders and church members from the eight churches in Thika West District. Data collection methods were questionnaires for church members and cell group leaders and in-depth interview guide for pastors. Qualitative data was analyzed through the use of descriptive statements while quantitative data was coded and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The findings were consistent with the research questions with 94.3% of the participants acknowledging existence of many church growth strategies in their churches. Evangelism as a strategy for church growth was the most preferred strategy.  Hence, churches that did not have evangelism as a strategy for growth were recommended to have.