The Church as an Agent of Behavioural Change A Study on Christian Youth Participation in Political Activities

The church is tasked with the responsibility of being a transformative agent. Societal transformation is an integral part of the church's mission that is complementary to the focal mission which is relay the Good News of Jesus Christ, invite populations to repentance and cultivates faith alongside baptizing them. Minimal studies exist that suggest practical mechanisms that the church can use to discourage Christian youth from engagement in unproductive political activities. This paper explores ways in which the church can affect behavioral change among young people in an effort to guide the young people who decide to engage in political activities. The main objective was to establish on how the church can become an agent of behavioral change. It is evident that some young people are bribed to engage in negative behaviour in times of political electioneering. They accept the money because they are unemployed and generally live below the poverty line. The article explores what the church can do to change this trend. The study established that some Christian youth who engage in political activities do so because of dire conditions that threaten their survival. Additionally, the church has a significant role to play as an agent of behavioural change and subsequently guide the youth to engage in productive politics. The study recommends that youth should be guided through structured workshops, trainings, and mentorship programs to help them make the right decision on whether or not to engage in unproductive political activities. Korir Simion Kiprotich | Hazel Ayanga | Joseph Koech "The Church as an Agent of Behavioural Change: A Study on Christian Youth Participation in Political Activities" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-6 | Issue-4 , June 2022, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd50390.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/50390/the-church-as-an-agent-of-behavioural-change-a-study-on-christian-youth-participation-in-political-activities/korir-simion-kiprotich