Perceived spiritual leadership behavior, leadership skills, and spiritual well-being in Seventh-day Adventist congregational settings in Rwanda: A quantitative study

Abstract

This quantitative study investigated the relationship between perceived spiritual leadership behavior, leadership skills, and spiritual well-being in Seventh-day Adventist congregational settings in Rwanda. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among 312 Seventh-day Adventist congregants. The results showed that spiritual leadership (r = .69; p<.01), leadership skills (r =. 31; p< .0l), and age (r =. 13; p< .05) are significant correlates of spiritual well-being. The study also revealed that spiritual leadership behaviors, such as leading by example (β = .14, p < .01) and integrity (β = .13, p < .01), significantly influence congregational spiritual well-being. Additionally, spiritual caregiving (β = .21, p < 0.05) and counseling (β = .16, p < 0.05) were identified as significant and positive contributors to spiritual well-being. On the other hand, factors such as age, educational level, and gender did not significantly impact congregational spiritual well-being. The overall results indicate that spiritual leadership significantly predicts congregational spiritual well-being (adj. r² = 0.47; β = 0.69, p < 0.001) when all variables were considered. These results underscore the importance of spiritual leadership behaviors in enhancing congregational spiritual well-being within the Seventh-day Adventist congregations in Rwanda. They emphasize the necessity for spiritual leaders to demonstrate authentic spiritual leadership qualities to positively influence their congregations. The study provides valuable insights that can assist leaders in purposefully nurturing the spiritual well-being of their members.