Servant Leadership, Socio-Cultural Factors and Church Growth: the Church of Pentecost in Focus

Abstract

This study examined three complex intersecting issues within the discourse of leadership research where much empirical knowledge is required: the applicability of servant leadership style within a Ghanaian ecclesiological organization; the nature and impact of social-cultural factors on servant leadership; and the impact of servant leadership on organizational growth. Using the church of Pentecost as a case study, the study collected qualitative data from purposively sampled lay leaders of the church from the Ahenema Kokoben District. The study shows how the church’s preference for “lay leaders”— mostly untrained and working as servant leaders— coincided with a favorable socio-cultural environment to build the church into an enviable global model in terms of membership and finance.  The study reveals that the servant leadership style is workable within the Ghanaian socio-cultural context and possess a magnetic appeal that rally subordinates around a central theme and focus of an organization (thus in this case, the Church of Pentecost)

Keywords: Servant Leadership, Socio-Cultural Factors, Laity and “Dwanetoa”