Unprecedented Expansion of the Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the past 2 years, the Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has experienced unprecedented expansion into cities, towns, and villages that have previously had no official congregations. Historically, the Church has generally established its first branch in only 1-2 cities or towns per year (if any) since 2008. However, the Church organized its first branches in six cities and towns in 2023 - the most ever up to that point. In 2024, 14 cities, towns, and villages have had the first branches of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized. The Church's meetinghouse locator now reports official wards or branches operating in 43 cities, towns, or villages in the country. The number of cities, towns, and villages with a ward or branch has doubled since 2021. Moreover, the Church has begun to organize branches in small towns and villages in the DR Congo for the first time. This represents a major shift in historical area and mission policies and practices that have governed the growth and expansion of the Church in the DR Congo, as there has been a strong emphasis on establishing centers of strength and postponing the creation of branches in additional cities due to concerns with finite mission resources, leadership training, and ensuring quality baptismal standards for new converts. The number of missions in the DR Congo increased from just one prior to 2010 to seven as of late 2024 (eight if the Rwanda Kigali Mission is included which administers to branches in the eastern DR Congo near Rwanda and Burundi), and this has likely been a major catalyst to provide the needed mission president oversight and resources to effectively expand into so many previously unreached locations. The announcement of a permanent Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Kinshasa in 2024 has also provided for greater infrastructure to train local Congolese to staff these many new missions. The Church in the DR Congo has typically achieved member activity and convert retention rates in excess of 80% which numbers among the highest in the world. 

 A recent article noted that the number of Latter-day Saints in the DR Congo has surpassed 130,000 - an increase of more than 15,000 since January of 2024. Dozens of new wards and branches have been created and two new stakes have been organized since January of 2024. There are now 29 stakes and 3 districts. One temple has been completed and dedicated (Kinshasa in 2019) with three more temples planned (Lubumbashi, Kananga, and Mbuji-Mayi). Latter-day Saint statistical information for the DR Congo going back to 1987 can be accessed here.

The potential for continued rapid growth in the DR Congo appears favorable. Population estimates for the entire country typically range from 105 to 115 million. There remain dozens of large cities without an official ward or branch. Translations of the Book of Mormon are available in the first, second, or third language of most Congolese. There are only six cities with an official branch in the entire northern half of the country. Huge swaths of most areas of the country remain totally unreached by Latter-day Saints. Many cities have had isolated members or prospective members who have waited years, or even decades, for an official Church establishment, such as Kikondja and Fizi. Some cities have had two branches organized at the same time when an official Latter-day Saint presence is first established (such as Tshikapa and Kamanda).

The following 16 stakes appear likely to divide in the near future (next 2 years):

• Kananga Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (12 wards)
• Katuba Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (11 wards)
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (10 wards)
  
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Binza Stake (10 wards) 
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Kimbanseke Stake (10 wards)
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Mpasa Stake (10 wards, 1 branch)
  
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Lukunga Stake (11 wards, 1 branch) 
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo N'Djili Stake (9 wards, 2 branches)
  
• Kolwezi Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (12 wards, 2 branches)
  
• Katoka Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (12 wards) 
• Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (11 wards, 1 branch)
  
• Luputa Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (9 wards, 1 branch)
  
• Malandji Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (11 wards)
• Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (9 wards)
• Ngandajika Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (9 wards, 2 branches)
• Ruashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (11 wards, 1 branch)
  

The following 2 districts appear likely to become stakes in the near future (next 2 years):

• Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo District (6 branches)
• Matadi Democratic Republic of the Congo District (6 branches)
  

The following 9 cities (provided with the current number of branches in the area in parentheses) appear likely to have districts organized from mission branches in the near future (next 2-3 years):

• Bandundu (3 branches)
  
• Boma (2 branches)
• Bukavu (2 branches)
  
• Kamanda (2 branches)
  
• Kikwit (3 branches) 
• Luiza (2 branches)
  
• Muanda (2 branches)
• Tshikapa (2 branches)
• Uvira (2 branches)
  

The following 22 cities and towns appear likely to have official branches organized in the near to medium terms (cities in bold appear most likely):

• Beni
  
• Bumba
  
• Bunia
• Butembo
• Fizi
  
• Genema 
• Ilebo
• Inkisi/Kisantu
  
• Isiro
• Kamaniola
  
• Kasangulu
  
• Katanda
  
• Kikondja
  
• Kindu 
• Lisala
  
• Lodja
• Lukalaba 
• Lungutu
• Luvungi
  
• Mbanza-Ngungu 
• Miabi 
• Tshilenge
  

The following cities appear likely to have missions organized in the next 3-5 years:

• Bukavu
• Kinshasa (4th mission)
  
• Kisangani
• Likasi 
• Lubumbashi (2nd mission)
  
• Luputa
  
• Matadi
• Mwene-Ditu
  

The following cities appear likely to have temples announced in the next 5-7 years:

• Kinshasa (2nd temple)
• Kolwezi
• Likasi
  
• Luputa
• Matadi
  
• Mwene-Ditu

I predict that by the year 2030, the Church in the DR Congo will likely have the following if current trends continue:

• 300,000 members
• 50 stakes
• 700 official congregations (i.e., wards and branches)
• 10 districts
• 15 missions
• 70 cities, towns, and villages with an official Church presence
• 10 temples
• 1 area that also includes the Republic of the Congo