| dc.description.abstract | The attainment of financial self-sustainability is the essential goal of any
organization, including faith based organizations. The main purpose of this study was
to set up strategies for financial self-sustainability of Cameroon Union Mission of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church. The study employed a cross-sectional survey research
design. The target population comprised executive committee members, financial
committee members, church administrators and key church members. The sample was
the same with the target population and consisted of two hundred and thirty
participants (N=230). Out of the 230 participants, only 160 effectively responded, that
to say 87 church workers and 73 key church members. The research instruments were
a questionnaire and a self-administered interview guide for key church members. The
research findings were analyzed and presented using means and percentages.
The analysis of the five last audited financial ratios revealed that the selected
organization did not yet attain the level of financial self-sustainability. Findingsrevealed also that some fundamentals documents and policies such as the employees’
manual, the internal control document and the performance appraisal document did
not exist in the organization with respectively a mean of 1.21, 1.30, and 1.49, whereas
the capitalization policy, the code of conduct and ethics, the audit committee, the
procurement committee and the investment policy seldom existed with respectively a
mean of 2.36; 2.29; 2.28; 2.08 and 2.03. Respondents revealed also that misuse of
church funds, corruption of church leaders, weak tithe promotion programs, lack of
trust in church leaders, the unfaithfulness of church members, ineffective oversight
responsibilities of the committee, the lack of financial planning, the low income of
church members and the dependency spirit were equally major threats to financial
self-sustainability. They suggested that to overcome these challenges, pooling funds
together, diversification of income stream, appointing trustworthy leaders and staff,
appointing qualified treasury staff, emphasis on the stewardship programs and sound
financial administration were equally important solutions. Based on the findings, the
study recommends some strategies for financial self-sustainability of the Cameroon
Union Mission. | en_US |
