A strategy to retain members in MBITA Central Seventh-day Adventist church, Kenya Lake Conference

Abstract

It has been observed that many members are leaving Mbita Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. Yet there seem to be no specific strategies that the leaders of the church have put in place to nurture and retain members. The aim of this study, therefore, was to discover the reasons why members join the church and leave it after a short time. The researcher designed integrated programs which eventually results in reaching many members and bring them back to the church as well as retain them as active members. The designed programs intended to enable church members to be participants in the church life rather than spectators. The programs were implemented at Mbita Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. However, some other activities required the researcher to move out of the church to other places deemed relevant for the study. The designed program targeted several different groups of people, including those who had left the church and the current members.After developing and implementing an integrated strategy, the program not only reclaimed former members but also added other new members to the church. Many church members and leaders became more knowledgeable of the church policy and doctrines as the level of participation by local church members increased by 62%. Recommendations were made to Mbita Central SDA church and Kenya Lake Conference on matters pertaining to adoption of the designed program in times of church membership challenges, good management of church finances and bursaries, embracing new scientific age and advancement in all facets of church life and involving youths for active participation to enhance effective church growth.