Human Resources Management as Catalyst for Sustainable Church Growth in Local Baptist Churches in Oyo Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated human resources management as catalyst for 
sustainable church growth in local Baptist churches in Oyo metropolis with 
objectives of investigating the root causes of human resources mismanagement 
and ascertaining effective human resources management for sustainable church 
growth among Local Baptist Churches (LBCs) in Oyo metropolis. The study 
employed a descriptive survey research design. The sample size of the study 
consisted of 300 respondents made as follows: fifty (50) pastors, fifty (50) 
deacons, fifty (50) church workers, and one hundred and fifty (150) church 
members. They are purposefully selected randomly from fifty (50) local Baptist 
churches in Oyo metropolis. A total of six (6) respondents were drawn from each 
of the fifty (50) local Baptist Churches in the designated sample. The research 
instruments used for this study were both self-structured questionnaire and 
interview guide of some leaders in the selected churches. Findings showed that 
poor leadership and inefficient administration, lack of delegation of authority, 
lack of insight on the part of leaders, power tussle between leaders and 
members, slow or lack of technology adoption among others are the root causes 
of human resources mismanagement in local Baptist churches in Oyo 
metropolis. The means to manage the resources are; utilizing recognition 
system for church workers, church workers review and evaluations, involving 
members in the church activities, effective delegation of duties, leadership 
development, accountability, continuous mentoring, and so on. The study 
concluded that no church can grow beyond the administrative capacity or 
administrative sensitivity of the leader in utilizing the available human 
resources. The study, therefore, recommended that local Baptist churches in Oyo metropolis through their leaders ensure that human resources are adequately motivated by praise and honest appreciation.