CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

Prior to the exit of the fathers of faith in the eighteen and earlier nineteen centuries, the church had a rapid growing population and expansion. The exploit and adventure of the church fathers in the establishment; expansion; promotion and furtherance of the early church was memorable and great. Also bearing in mind that their creativity and godliness in leadership was tailored intentionally at achieving a church with zero tolerance for corruption and unholy activities, they acted in line with their understanding of the scripture and also emulate the leadership attributes and qualities of the Bible patriarch as the only antidote to poor growth; instability and non-expansion of the church. Despite the challenges and confrontations they face, yet they left for us great legacies worthy of emulation.

In the recent time, the church is face with confrontations and challenges of corruption; involvement in matters that negatively affects the church; lack of trust and poor application of leadership principles by the supposed church leaders and this unpalatable situation disrupted church growth and expansion. Hence, one can say today’s church experience of setback in its growth and expansion is due largely to lack of godliness and creative leadership, which lead to poor and un-noble display of shrewdness on the part of the present day church leaders among other shortcomings.

Orji, Daniel Orji cited on the role of the churches in combating corruption among political leaders in Anambra state, Nigeria ‘there is a fundamental and innate relationship between the Church and the State’. He added ‘the Church needs to play her expected role’’. Church leaders in their display of creativity and godliness should challenge political leaders in particular to involve in actions that are for the interest of social progress of the country at large.

The unavoidable need of creative and godly leadership in church expansion and growth cannot be over emphasis. The growth prosperity and success of any ministry is largely dependent upon the availability of leaders with foresight; creative and godly in the application of their principles and ideologies to move the church forward. Indeed, the link between godly leadership and expansion is such that the consistence of church leaders is the deep concern to the church. Over the past years, the carefree and unscriptural attitude as well as negligence of some church leaders combines with their ungodliness and carnality hampered the growth and expansion of the church.

Stories in the medial across the country suggest bastardization of the church piety by some on- trained element who appear before the church in the name of leadership and this is detrimental to the legacies of the church laid by our early church fathers.

A careful study of many Christian churches reveals that perhaps less than 10% of the believers are actively involved in living their faith according to the Scriptures and their church ministries. Up to 90% are lukewarm and uninvolved “hearers, but not doers of the word”. The idle condition of the average church is a consequence of poor leadership and aftermath of lack of well trained and experienced leaders.

However, every organization has its scheme of operation and usually with functional leadership. Particularly, effective leadership is noted by its mission and vision which help in achieving needed output. Organizations with a faulty leadership are subjected to injury in a short while; consequently leadership remains an essential process in every organization. Organizations derive its style of operation on the basis of its leadership commitment: principles and efforts; they trash out common and uncommon phenomenon in every aspect of life. Most churches in existence in this era are rooted in believes and practices of their founding fathers which formed the basis of their doctrines. Whether or not the system in practice are indications of leadership capability in driving there course. Every leader is held responsible for their actions and inactions. Therefore, to distinguish leaders from others, one must consider their styles of leadership whether they are Autocratic; democratic; strategic; transformative; team Leaders; Cross-Cultural Facilitative or Laissez-faire Leaders. Each of these leaders operates based on the principles required within the setting. Since our major focus of this study is religious leadership, It is important to note that church leadership involves dynamic roles like teaching, counseling, discipline, policy implementation and co-ordination of members, ordination of ministers; transfer; relocation; retirement of ministers and the likes, leadership in this regard is face with great challenge.  Hence, different style of shepherding in line with the vision and mission of the church are practiced. With this, the study is poised to find out which of the leadership approach and attitude is mostly practiced in the churches and how it affect the growth and expansion of the church at large.

Leadership in the Christ Apostolic churches goes along with high level of responsibility and for any Pentecostal church to achieve its primary objective of expanding the church and propagating the gospel, a determinant force must be employed and faithfulness to the work is important as attitude cannot be underestimated. It is important also to note that church leadership is very different compare to leadership appointment in professional settings such as medicine, education, governances and finance.  The fivefold ministry which includes teacher, evangelist, pastor, apostle and prophet is a platform of operation which every minister must understand so that he can function better and perform well in affecting the growth and expansion of the church positively. Character that implies confidence and trust of members are also parameter to determine the functionality of a leader of God’s people.

1. 1. This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research work
2. 2. As a source for additional understanding of the subject.
3. 3. As a source for ideas for your own research work (if properly referenced).
4. 4. For PROPER paraphrasing (see your university definition of plagiarism and acceptable paraphrase)
5. 5. Direct citing (if referenced properly)
Thank you so much for your respect to the authors copyright.