Personal Factors Influencing Volunteer Retention in the Word of Faith Churches in Kenya

High turnover among volunteers poses a significant obstacle for churches, emphasizing the importance of identifying motivations and expectations that can enhance volunteer engagement. This study addresses the challenge of volunteer retention within churches in Kenya. While leadership’s impact on organizational success and growth has been studied extensively, there remained a need to explore how personal factors contribute to volunteer retention. Anchored on Expectancy Theory and Social Exchange Theory, this study sought to fill this gap by examining the nuanced interplay of personal factors and their impact on volunteer retention within the context of Word of Faith Churches in Kenya. The study applied an embedded mixed methods research design. With a population of 3,757 individuals, including regional overseers, local church pastors, and volunteer ministry leaders across 28 regions, a stratified sampling method was employed to ensure representative participation. Data was collected from a sample size of 330 participants distributed across the regions. Data collection utilized structured questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews and analysed using regression analysis and qualitative thematic analysis, respectively. The study found a significant relationship (F (5) = 27.471, p