ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF COMMUNITIES. A CASE OF THE HOLY CHRISTIAN ISRAEL CHURCH IN GITHUNGURI SUB-COUNTY, KIAMBU, KENYA
Abstract
This study investigated the role of the church in socio-economic empowerment of communities using a case of the Holy Christian Israel Church in Githunguri sub-County, Kiambu County. Specific objectives of the study were to establish socio-economic empowerment projects initiated by the Holy Christian Israel Church; to find out the effect of the projects on socio-economic empowerment of their members; to establish the effect of church leadership on economic empowerment of communities and lastly, and to investigate the perception of local communities towards the Holy Christian Israel Church. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design and was carried out among 112 members of the Holy Christian Israel Church. Simple random and stratified sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 72 members of the church. Data from respondents was collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. According to the study results, most (70%) of respondents reported that the Holy Christian Israel Church not initiated socio-economic and empowerment projects for their members. 90% reported that the church had not invested in health and was not sponsoring any school. Majority (80%) encouraged their children to go to school and sought healthcare from health facilities. Nearly 90% reported that no training was given to church leaders while 77.8% of collected offering and church contributions was used to pay church leaders. 56% reported the church members were discriminated in the community and the church was perceived to be a cult. The study concluded that the church had done little to empower their members and the community socio-economically hence it had little impact on development. Even though considered to be against modern medication and education, most members reported to seek medication from health facilities and to take their children to school.
Key words: Empowerment, Socio-Economic, Development, Church, Community
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v5i3.856
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