Research Instruments and Tools

and interviews; P Os; (FGDs) and Content Analysis. 1.10.6.1 QUESTIONNAIRES

Questionnaires are as good in collecting data as face-to-face interviews or discussion group methods would do as they gather opinions, perceptions, and attitudes. Questions and propositions sought to understand Neo- Pentecostals views and perceptions about their roles in civic and public life. Open and close-ended questionnaires were administered to respondents, and target groups such as women, youth, long-time members, church leaders and ex-members. This was done with the help of junior pastors, youth pastors who were available and willing to help. The closed-ended questions were used to gather information while open-ended questions were designed to give respondents freedom to express themselves using their own words. Questions sought to find out leaders and members understanding of civic and public issues. Interviews were conducted with either senior church members or their assistant pastors or administrators.

All three churches hold first and second services. Attendance varies for each service but range between 200 and300. First service begins 7am and attracts few but younger members. 150 questionnaires were issued to members of the three churches. A total of 15 questionnaires were issued during this service randomly, every 10 people. Second service attract more people mainly families.

A total of 20 questionnaires were issued. A total number of 15 questionnaires were issued during mid-week services (prayer fellowships, youth or women meetings) which attract between 50 and100 people. Overall,

135 questionnaires were returned and were deemed as an adequate sample out of the 150 sample.

Purposive sampling was also used especially in FEM Nakuru where we already knew many members or someone who knew another. 25 questionnaires were issued during FEM’s monthly meetings. All questionnaires were returned hence in FEM a total of 50 questionnaires, 25 in Nakuru and 25 in Nairobi. Nakuru respondents were almost all women. Only one man was sampled in FEM Nakuru.

In respect of church leaders, we interviewed Rev Teresia Wairimu and two senior pastors: the head of FEM Nakuru Branch and his assistant who is female. In JIAM, the researcher interviewed the former immediate personal assistant who revealed so much information. In MMC, the researcher interviewed the head of Nakuru Branch. A total of six leaders were interviewed three women and three men. Face to face interviews were also carried out. Twenty five interviews were conducted in FEM, fifteen in JIAM and fifteen in MMC Nairobi and five in Nakuru, totalling to sixty face to face interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select respondents in JIAM and MMC. Only those considered as having information relevant to the study were selected.

Firstly, those who gave information on the history of the three churches were supposed to have been founders, contemporaries of the founders, or they joined the churches from the beginning of these churches. Secondly, to get information on their engagements with issues in public life, church leaders and founders were selected because of the positions they occupied and their role in guiding the church, developing and shaping their theologies, particularly their

theology of public engagement.

Some of these leaders or their close associates as well as members were able to supply appropriate information pertaining to the history and development of the churches and their founders, teachings, practices and their views about the churches’ engagement or disengagement with issues pertaining to public and civic life. Longtime members of these churches, even ex- members, as well as clergy and members from other NPCs were selected with the help of church leaders to help validate or invalidate some of the views given by the leaders/founders.

At the same time, church adherents were sampled to give the views of the laity concerning these churches engagement with issues in public life. Using this criteria and a purposive sampling procedure, therefore, one hundred and fifty informants–with fifty from each church, were interviewed within duration of one and a half years.

Informal conversations also yielded a lot of data. Some information was written down as field notes to ensure that nothing was lost. Follow up visits to church meetings afforded an opportunity to listen and to engage in informal conversations with members of the three case studies. The questions were framed in relation to the objectives and research questions. After data analysis, the answers to the five research questions came out. The answers enabled the researcher to discuss the research findings Samples of questionnaires and interview guides are appended in appendix 1 and 2. A participant observation schedule is also provided in the appendix.

1.10.6.2 PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION (PO)

PO was undertaken among the three churches. This technique is appropriate in a research that investigates how Pentecostals engage with issues in public life. PO was used with the intention of assessing and validating data from questionnaires, interviews as well as content analysis of sermons and texts. The researcher observed church meetings such as prayer groups, lunch hour meetings, morning glory, bible study, women meetings, men’s fellowship and conferences and seminars, youth meetings and other programmes.

Given that major churches hold at least 2-3 services on Sundays and several meetings during the week, the researcher participated in about 60 such meetings. It was possible to visit at least three churches every Sunday and two- week day meetings. In total, we attended more than 60 church services, about 20 for each church as participant observer.

Follow up meetings as a participant observer affords the opportunity to listen and later engage in informal conversations with members. In Nakuru Town, where FEM holds women prayer fellowships once a month, we attended more than 25 of such meetings. We were able to directly observe people and activities in all the churches from 2009 to 2010. These observations have shaped my interpretation of the case studies.

1.10.6.3 FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS (FGDs)

Focus Group Discussions were directed by an interview guide that was used in discussions conducted in the churches. Each comprised about 7-10 people of diverse backgrounds and competence. Three FGDs were carried out in each church church totaling to nine FGDs. Each comprised about 7-10

people of diverse backgrounds and gender. The discussions aimed at identifying ways in which Pentecostals engaged with issues in public life. They also aimed at evaluating how members themselves understand their roles in society.

1.10.6.4 CONTENT ANALYSIS OF SERMONS

An important research instrument used in analyzing data is the content analysis. This is a resourceful tool used for investigating peoples’ beliefs, perceptions and attitudes, as well as the life of any organization (Neumann 2000; 30). Neo-Pentecostal theology generally is largely oral in nature. Oral rather than written forms are primarily used to transmit beliefs. This is consistent with most Pentecostals globally (Hollenweger 1994; 1997).

Thus, Sunday, weekly and midweek sermons and televised programmes was the focus of our content analysis. More than 60 sermons/messages 20 from each church were analyzed. Besides, the Sunday sermons were easily accessible as they are always recorded on CDs, DVDs and audio tapes. These recordings were later previewed at the end of the fieldwork period. More than 60 sermons and 20 messages from each church were analyzed.

Content analysis was suitable for answering questions about how often various themes occurred in the sermons; for pinpointing patterns in the preaching, content and styles that might not be observed just by attending weekly services. The value of content analysis is evident, for example, when it comes to exploring the churches engagement with theological beliefs and issues in civic and public life as discussed in chapters four and five. We also transcribed relevant messages as shown in the list of televised religious

programmes and CD tapes in Appendix D.