Church Innovation and Effective Leadership in Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya churches: Evidence from Kiambu County

This study determined the influence of church innovation on effective leadership in Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK) churches focusing on Kiambu County. Despite leadership playing a key role in supporting church growth and sustainability, many churches continue to experience challenges such as inconsistent leadership practices, difficulties in leadership succession, and differences in leadership effectiveness, which affect overall church performance and member involvement. The study focused on church innovation as a factor influencing effective leadership. A descriptive research design was used, combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data was collected using questionnaires from church leaders and council members, as well as an interview with a key informant, and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, and thematic analysis respectively. The findings revealed that church innovation strongly contribute positively to effective leadership (r = .548, p < 0.01). The study concludes that effective leadership in churches can be enhanced through leadership practices that promote innovation. It recommends that churches adopt more collaborative and innovative approaches to ministry.