STSS - Master's Theses

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://erepository.scott.ac.ke/handle/123456789/11

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Start date: 2020

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    Exploring leadership perceptions on Africa Inland Church’s role in addressing child abuse: A case study of Africa Inland Church-Kenya, Kajiado Township
    (Scott Christian University, 2026) Chebor, Justin Kiprono
    Child abuse remains a pressing global challenge, with faith-based institutions increasingly recognized as frontline actors in safeguarding vulnerable children. In Kenya, particularly within rural and pastoralist contexts, churches such as Africa Inland Church-Kajiado Township (AIC-K) play a pivotal role in providing spiritual counseling, safe spaces, and educational support. Yet, systematic evidence on the effectiveness and sustainability of faith-based child protection models remains limited. This study therefore explored church leadership perceptions of AIC-K’s role in addressing child abuse, situating the inquiry within Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory, Social Learning Theory, and Structural Theory, and guided by Empowerment and Social Capital frameworks. A qualitative exploratory design was employed to capture rich, contextual insights into leadership experiences and institutional practices. Data were collected through twelve semi-structured interviews with pastors, elders, and ministry leaders, three focus group discussions involving eighteen participants across pastoral, lay, and departmental leadership, and document analysis of church policies and reports. Stratified purposive sampling ensured representation across gender, ministry roles, and leadership strata, while thematic analysis using NVivo software facilitated systematic coding and theme development. Lincoln and Guba’s trustworthiness criteria—credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability—were applied to enhance rigor. Findings revealed that leaders perceive child protection as both a theological and moral responsibility. However, barriers such as limited training, resource constraints, and entrenched cultural practices, including corporal punishment, hinder effective safeguarding. Conversely, enabling factors included community trust, chaplaincy structures, and spiritual counseling, which fostered resilience and moral development among children. Analysis highlighted a dual dynamic: while structural and cultural barriers constrain intervention, faith-based resources and moral authority provide significant opportunities for child protection. The study concludes that effective faith-based safeguarding requires integration of theological ethics to guide motivation with empirical frameworks to ensure accountability. By bridging universal child rights with African moral worlds, this research contributes to practice by informing faith-based safeguarding strategies and to scholarship by advancing applied ethics and religion-and-development discourse in Kenya.
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    Application of Biblical Leadership Principles in Organizational Performance of Africa Inland Church Kenya, Machakos County, Kenya: A Case of Machakos Region
    (Scott Christian University, 2026-07) Kvunge, Augustus
    This study examined the application of biblical leadership principles and their influence in organizational performance of Africa Inland Church (AIC) Kenya in Machakos region. Specifically, the study sought to: assess the influence of faith-oriented leadership on church performance; examine the role of mission-role leadership in shaping church performance; analyze the impact of spiritual leadership on church growth and effectiveness; and evaluate how shared leadership contributes to decision-making and sustainability within the AIC Machakos region. A descriptive survey research design employing a mixed-methods approach was adopted. The target population comprised 223 clergy, including 15 senior ordained pastors and 208 licensed pastors drawn from fifteen District Church Councils (DCCs). Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to obtain a sample of 144 respondents, determined using Slovin’s formula. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and regression analysis, while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that faith-oriented leadership had a positive and statistically significant influence on church performance (r = 0.65, p < 0.01), indicating that reliance on biblical teachings and prayer enhances organizational outcomes. Mission-role leadership also showed a significant positive relationship with church performance (r = 0.71, p < 0.01), demonstrating that alignment with discipleship and outreach strengthens effectiveness. Spiritual leadership exhibited a strong positive and statistically significant relationship with church performance (r = 0.821, p < 0.01), making it the most influential predictor of church growth and effectiveness. Additionally, shared leadership was found to significantly influence decision-making and organizational sustainability (r = 0.68, p < 0.01), highlighting the importance of participatory governance. The study concludes that the application of biblical leadership principles significantly enhances organizational performance, spiritual growth, and sustainability within the AIC Machakos region. It recommends strengthening leadership development programs grounded in biblical principles to improve church governance and effectiveness. The study employed both library and field research.