The influence of biblical pastoral leadership on congregational attendance
A case from a pentecostal congregation
Keywords:
Pastoral Leadership, Congregational Attendance, Spiritual Commitment, Pentecostal Church, BibleAbstract
This study investigates the influence of biblical pastoral leadership, based on 1 Peter 5:1–4, on congregational attendance within a Pentecostal church in Indonesia. Using a quantitative correlational design, data were collected from 155 members of GPdI Haleluya Rungkut Surabaya through a Likert-scale questionnaire assessing perceptions of pastoral leadership and levels of worship participation. Statistical analyses using SPSS 26 revealed a very strong positive correlation between perceived pastoral leadership and attendance frequency (r = 0.891, p < 0.0001), with 79.4 percent of the variance in attendance explained by leadership perception (R² = 0.794). Subgroup analysis indicated that members aged 41–50 and those with 7–10 years of membership showed the highest levels of engagement. The findings confirm that servant-oriented and transformational leadership—embodying humility, integrity, and example—significantly enhances congregational commitment. Theologically, the results affirm that pastoral leadership grounded in the shepherd model of 1 Peter 5:1–4 produces measurable behavioral outcomes in the life of the church. Practically, the study highlights the need for leadership formation that integrates biblical character, relational authenticity, and visionary guidance to sustain church vitality within the Indonesian Pentecostal context.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Yosua Christian Murtono, Marciano Antaricksawan Waani, Nelly
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