Investigating the knowledge of servant leadership among Zimbabwean adolescents : a case of Parrow Apostolic Faith Mission Church

Abstract

This study sought to establish the extent of knowledge among church-going Zimbabwean diaspora adolescents in Cape Town. A case study of the Apostolic Faith Church (AFM) was carried out using its Parrow branch in Cape Town. The research sought to establish several objectives that include knowledge of leadership and its key principle among church-going Zimbabwean adolescents; the influences of worldviews leadership praxis in Zimbabwean society; servant leadership awareness by adolescencts in the church and society in Zimbabwe; leadership teachings and practices adolescents are exposed to in churches. The research also highlighted some literature by previous authors on church leadership. A descriptive survey methodology, questionnaires were used as research instruments in this case study. A sample size of 39 church attendees participated in the study which revealed that church-going Zimbabwean diaspora adolescents were knowledgeable of servant leadership model and its key principle of serving others. The findings revealed that the Zimbabwean adolescents’ most influential role models’ of leadership style was the Christian worldview; and that adolescencts were aware of servant leadership praxis in the church and Zimbabwean society. The results further indicated that adolescents were exposed to leadership teachings in churches. Several recommendations were made to improve the consistency of servant leadership approaches in churches and these include: the promotion of intentional Christian servant leadership development programs; encouraging the church to develop Christian servant leadership curriculum; and encourage the church to confront gender related functions which have implications on the knowledge and practice of the servant leadership model in Zimbabwe and Africa. Finally, it is recommended that further researches be undertaken in order to establish servant leadership in Zimbabwe especially the use of interpretive and qualitative approaches to knowledge; investigate the knowledge of Zimbabwean youths on specific servant leadership qualities; the development of Christian servant leadership measuring instruments that would measure servant leadership qualities in leaders; examine the relationship between the cultivation of servant leadership qualities and domestic functions; and empirical research on whether Zimbabwean women possess more servant leadership qualities than men.