Ascertaining the effect of church members’ participation in church on church growth in selected church congregations in Western Uganda Field

Abstract

This research project sought to ascertain the effect of church members’ participation on church growth in Western Uganda. The main objectives related to finding out the effect of the leadership role, community service, financial support of church members towards church growth. According to Shanahan (2019) theology of growth is knowing that God blesses His Church by adding onto its membership and finances and expands this growth by increasing more opportunities as blessings to those who actively participate in its activities. Literature suggests that God is the initiator of church growth right from Genesis 1:1. He commissioned his disciples and apostles to participate in church work and grow the church. God expects every believer who accepts salvation to get involved and participate in church growth activities hence conducting this research in Western Uganda. Hardaway (1982) points out that the church is a group of people and this group is made up of members who stay close to one another so that it is possible for them to be involved actively in activities of the church. The study employed qualitative research methods. The population was 1080 regular church members from congregations in Western Uganda i.e Kagote, Kasiina, Kagadi, Kikwite and Masindi Churches. A sample of 250 was drawn using purposive sampling to identify regular church members. From each of this church 50 respondents were further randomly selected. Questionnaires were issued and oral questionnaires given to those who were not able to read or write. Data was collected, cleaned, coded and entered and analyzed with SPSS. The findings indicated that the participation of church members in church activities like Sabbath attendance, outward show of church attendance by church members in church services every Sabbath is not correlated with church growth in Western Uganda. The participation in activities in this study revealed that they do not translate into important church developmental projects and eventual church growth because of spirituality, leadership, management issues. Thus, there is room for improvement if the leadership put into consideration the findings and suggestions of this study.