Abstract:
This article had as a point of departure, the fact that the most important component of
church life and work, was its members, whose edification and enablement were of vital
importance. A background was proffered to help the reader acquaint themselves with the
church circumstances. An important question in this article was, what would revive and
sustain the growth momentum in the 100-year-old plus Maranatha Reformed Church of
Christ (MRCC), going forward? I identified the leader’s key performance area as serving
God and those who needed his or her gifts, leadership and purpose. This article followed a
literary research approach in which various literary sources, especially on the MRCC,
servant leadership, practical theology, and cell groups were studied. The aim was to find a
solution to the problem of membership decline in this church. Some exploration,
interpretation, discernment and discovery was done and achieved, leading to the required
solution. A brief definition and discussion of the act of leading through serving and of cell
groups were presented. It further, expressed the need to establish and utilise cell groups,
as a necessary tool through which the MRCC could attain and sustain needed growth.
Having discussed servant leadership, cell groups and their importance, I drew some
conclusions.
CONTRIBUTION: This article makes a meaningful contribution to the MRCC, other mainline
churches and church growth theoretical studies, by uncovering the resilience and dynamism
for church growth residing in servant leadership principles and practices and the utilisation of
cell groups.
