Date of Award

10-2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Leadership in Global Perspectives (DLd)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

Antipas Harris, DMin

Second Advisor

Jay Forseth, DMin

Third Advisor

Jason Clark, PhD, DMin

Abstract

Poverty in Kenya is high, and the church should respond by economically empowering the people to be self-reliant. People are in poverty, not for lack of opportunities and resources, but because they lack the knowledge and skills to exploit these opportunities, make decisions they are ill-equipped to make, and lack financial literacy. Many people who are financially struggling tend to seek solace in churches. Consequently, pastors need to master and teach biblical financial literacy and reshape the church culture to be responsive. In Hosea 4:6 God says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. . . .” Biblical financial literacy empowers Christians for better stewardship in making the right decisions for their wellbeing, society, and the church. The pastor is strategically positioned at the grassroots and should be trained and equipped with biblical financial literacy to economically empower Christians and use it to accomplish his evangelistic mission of winning others to Christ through Servant Leadership.

This study aims to develop a financial literacy curriculum that churches can use to empower Christians in vulnerable communities in Kenya economically. In addition, this curriculum can serve other churches and faith-based organizations to provide biblical financial literacy. The study will identify: (1) challenges and obstacles that pastors face in teaching financial literacy; (2) strategies and practices that pastors use to overcome the challenges; (3) the parameters pastors use in measuring their leadership success. I will use semi-structured interviews to determine the strategies and develop the biblical financial literacy curriculum for pastors and other church leaders.

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