Abstract:
Pentecostal Assemblies of Malawi was among the fastest growing Pentecostal and Charismatic churches
in Malawi in the 1980s, however, the church begun to experience a decline in its numerical and financial
growth from 1999. Studies on church growth revealed that effective leadership is critical to the growth
of a church spiritually, numerically and financially. The study sought to investigate leadership factors
that affect church growth especially in Pentecostal Assemblies of Malawi. The research methodology
used was qualitative-case study. The choice of the methodology was based the purpose of the study to
explore the phenomena of church growth, rather than to confirm the hypotheses about the
phenomena. The sample size was 50 pastors and church leaders out of a population of 500 leaders and
pastors in Lilongwe district. Data collection was by means of conducting interviews and sending
questionnaires. Data analysis was through interpretation of the graphs, charts and percentages. Findings
herein provided a portrait of leadership factors which affected the growth of Pentecostal Assemblies of
Malawi from 1999 to 2012. Recommendations for further research was made to explore whether other
churches fail to grow due to the same leadership factors since this was a case study on Pentecostal
Assemblies of Malawi.