Thursday, January 9, 2014

Stakes Soon to be Created in Albania and Jamaica

Missionaries serving in Albania and Jamaica report that the Church will likely organize its first stakes in each of these countries within the next few months.  In Albania, the first stake may be organized this March from the Tirana Albania District.  The district has experienced steady increases in the number of active members and mission leaders have concentrated their efforts on augmenting the number of active Melchizedek Priesthood holders in order to qualify to become a stake.  In Jamaica, the Church has sought for over a decade to organize a stake.  Missionaries report that the first stake should be organized sometime in early 2014 although no specific date has been given.  The first stake in Jamaica will be organized from the Kingston Jamaica District.  The organization of the first stake in a country is a significant LDS growth development considering stakes require self-sufficient local leadership and must meet certain activity standards in order to operate.

According to 2012 membership data, Jamaica currently ranks as the country with the sixth most members without a stake whereas Albania currently ranks as the country with the 15th most members without a stake.

11 comments:

Iris and Craig said...

Great news!

Mike Johnson said...

Exciting news.

The Jamaica Kingston Mission contains the following:

Mandeville Jamaica District

Hopeton Branch
Junction Branch
Mandeville Branch
May Pen Branch
Santa Cruz Branch


Spanish Town Jamaica District

Boulevard Branch
Constant Spring Branch
Kingston Branch
Linstead Branch
Old Harbour Branch
Portmore Branch
Spanish Town 1st Branch
Spanish Town 2nd Branch


Direct Report Branches (inside Jamaica)

Jamaica Kingston Mission Branch
Montego Bay Branch
Negril Branch
Ocho Rios Branch
Port Antonio Branch
Savanna-La-Mar Branch
Yallahs Branch


Direct Report Branches (outside Jamaica)

Grand Bahama Branch
Grand Cayman Branch
New Providence Branch
Providenciales Branch


The Spanish Town District is the likely basis for the new stake, but it may include independent branches such as the Yallahs, Port Antonio, and maybe Ocho Rios.

Mike Johnson said...

The Tirana Albania District contains the following 9 branches:

Durrës Branch
Elbasan Branch
Fier Branch
Lushnjë Branch
Tirana 1st Branch
Tirana 2nd Branch
Tirana 3rd Branch
Tirana 4th Branch
Vlorë Branch

In addition to the Tirana Albania District, the Adriatic South Mission contains the

Adriatic South Mission Branch
Pristina Branch (in Kosovo)
Shkoder Branch (in Albania)

Mike Johnson said...
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Mike Johnson said...
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Mike Johnson said...

The countries with the largest LDS population without a stake (members for 31 December 2012, rest from CDOL today):

Cambodia: 11,469 members; 1 Missions; 6 Districts; 28 Branches
Malaysia: 8,967 members; 0 Missions; 8 Districts; 33 Branches
Liberia: 6,709 members; 1 Missions; 2 Districts; 22 Branches
Mozambique: 6,029 members; 1 Missions; 2 Districts; 21 Branches
Jamaica: 5,580 members; 1 Missions; 2 Districts; 19 Branches
Vanuatu: 5,491 members; 1 Missions; 3 Districts; 31 Branches
Guyana: 5,415 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 13 Branches
Micronesia: 4,565 members; 0 Missions; 4 Districts; 21 Branches
Belize: 4,240 members; 0 Missions; 2 Districts; 11 Branches
Zambia: 3,044 members; 1 Missions; 2 Districts; 12 Branches
Romania: 3,002 members; 1 Missions; 2 Districts; 16 Branches
Czech Republic: 2,369 members; 1 Missions; 2 Districts; 13 Branches
Albania: 2,299 members; 1 Missions; 1 Districts; 11 Branches
Bulgaria: 2,296 members; 1 Missions; 0 Districts; 9 Branches
Cook Islands: 1,862 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 5 Branches
Poland: 1,780 members; 1 Missions; 2 Districts; 14 Branches
Ethiopia: 1,678 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 6 Branches
Swaziland: 1,522 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 4 Branches
Malawi: 1,421 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 8 Branches
Macau: 1,345 members; 0 Missions; 0 Districts; 2 Branches
Suriname: 1,323 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 6 Branches
Sri Lanka: 1,319 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 3 Branches
Cameroon: 1,277 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 6 Branches
Angola: 1,257 members; 1 Missions; 1 Districts; 7 Branches
Tanzania: 1,220 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 6 Branches
Latvia: 1,166 members; 1 Missions; 1 Districts; 6 Branches
Estonia: 1,086 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 4 Branches
Benin: 1,081 members; 1 Missions; 1 Districts; 11 Branches
Bahamas: 959 members; 0 Missions; 0 Districts; 3 Branches
Lithuania: 916 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 5 Branches
Reunion: 882 members; 0 Missions; 1 Districts; 4 Branches

Iris and Craig said...

Micronesia from what I heard from youtube should be getting a stake very soon.

Mike Johnson said...

Iris and Craig, could you post the link to the youtube suggesting a stake will soon be created in micronesia?

Thanks.

Iris and Craig said...

I guess it's actually in Pohnpei which is in the Micronesia mission. My bad. Still awesome, nonetheless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9EhB4zFERs

Mike Johnson said...

Thanks, Iris and Craig.

BTW, Pohnpei is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia. There is a district in each state, as well as a direct report branch in Palau.

Micronesia Guam Mission (located in Guam):

Kosrae Micronesia District

Lelu Branch
Utwe Branch


Namoneas Chuuk District

Mechitiw Branch
Mwan Branch
Nechocho Branch
Pata Branch
Romanum Branch
Sapuk Branch
Tonowas Branch
Uman Branch
Wichap Branch


Pohnpei Caroline Islands District

Kitti Branch
Kolonia Branch
Mand Branch
Nett Branch
Palikir Branch
Sapwalap Branch
Sekere Branch
Uh Branch


Yap Micronesia District

Colonia Branch
Thol Branch


Koror Branch (in Palau)

Mike Johnson said...

Very interesting Youtube video. Thanks for sharing. I hope to see the Pohnpei district become a stake. This individual--apparently a former missionary in the Micronesia/Guam Mission (it used to be called the Guam/Micronesia Mission, but I guess with Guam and the Northern Marianas forming a stake and with the Church growing in the Federated States of Micronesia, the switched the order), seems excited about the work going on there.