Diversification of financial sources for sustainability of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in South East Kenya Field

Abstract

This study sought to find out the diversification of financial sources for the sustainability of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church in South East Kenya Field. The church relies entirely on traditional financial sources (tithes, offertory, thanksgiving, pledges) that are insufficient to finance the church’s activities. The voluntary giving of the faithful to support the church is inconsistent and, therefore, unsustainable for the church. However, this requires that financial sources, both internal and external, be adequate, consistent, sustainable, and ultimately well-managed for the church to be able to run its activities. The study employed resource mobilisation theory by John McCarthy and Mayer Zald in 1977, providing insights into diversifying resources inside and outside the church to achieve its financial objectives. The study used a descriptive research design, and data was collected using interview schedules from a sample size of 355 participants and a questionnaire. The study found that the SDA Church, despite having all the financial systems and structures in place, the SDA Church in South East Kenya Field is financially self-sustaining. It recommended that the SDA Church in South East Kenya Field consider diversifying its financial sources by investing in financial institutions like SACCOs, trust funds, agriculture, buying shares, etc. Moreover, reduce over-reliance on unreliable traditional finance sources that depend on voluntary giving of the church membership.