A Strategy for the Financial Stability of the Restructured Imo Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria

Abstract

Problem The research dissertation is about an effort to re-strategize how to sustain the financial strength of Imo Conference following a process of reorganization in December 2012. The inability of the Conference Administration to meet financial obligations with ease spurred the researcher to use the existing financial indexes of the Conference as a baseline for the study. A historical reflection of the emergence of the Seventh-day Adventist Church assisted in discovering the struggle that the church went through before arriving at the present financial system of the gospel order. Poorly remunerated ministers could not do much, as their time and efforts were divided between providing for their families and preaching the gospel. Strong voices of the pioneers awakened the Millerites to the enormity of the task of giving the “three Angels’ messages” a distinctive sound which could not be without a defined financial system that could support the preachers and their families. This background knowledge was applied to the post reorganizational situation of Imo Conference and the insight were the basis for the strategies that were designed and implemented to increase the income to 22% within the first quarter of its implementation. To sustain the increase, the required stewardship materials were provided and the financial leakages were blocked with the opening of bank accounts for the majority of the churches. A new approach that emphasized wealth creation as a stewardship model assisted in the establishment of a revolving loan program for those operating small scale businesses that grow fast and contribute to the income of the conference via tithes and offerings. A combination of these multiple approaches to stewardship promotion offered a replacement to the traditional methods that had not yielded the expected result. The close monitoring and evaluation were the secrets behind the success. Method This academic research adopted both qualitative and quantitative methods to garner desired data for the informed decisions required for a new strategy and its implementation. It combined the use of questionnaires, focus group discussions, seminars and lectures to obtain the data. Consultations were made about the topic from relevant literature and resources beginning with the Bible and Spirit of prophecy to form a strong theological and spiritual foundation for the research. Also consulted were related books, journals, magazines, internet sources, published and unpublished works on financial stability for a restructured conference. It is on this basis that the research emphasized and supported an implementation strategy for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Imo Conference. The project was implemented and evaluated within a period of one year. Result The reasons proffered for the low financial instability were obtained and examined. Therefore the call for a strategy to forestall the downward trend of the revenue base became important for growth. From this standpoint, the survey result from the number of interactive sessions and intervention programmes which aimed at adopting a strategy for financial stability of the conference was successful. The conclusion and recommendations were thereafter given to church members and district quarters in Imo Conference. Conclusion The researcher found that when members are encouraged by self-development, self-supporting programmes and initiatives they will do more to give to the cause of God and return that which is a blessing to all. As a result, the bottom line of the conference will increase to bring about the stability of the newly restructured Imo Conference.