Second Stake Organized in the Marshall Islands

The Church organized its second stake in the Micronesian nation of the Marshall Islands. The new stake appeared to be organized either on October 9th or October 16th. The Kwajalein Marshall Islands Stake was organized from the Kwajalein Marshall Islands District. The new stake includes five branches that were previously assigned to the Kwajalein Marshall Islands District - all of which have likely become wards. The vast majority of membership in the new stake resides on Ebeye Island - a tiny island inhabited by over 10,000 people located on approximately 80 acres. The Kwajalein Marshall Islands District was organized in 1991. The Church created its first stake in the Marshall Islands in 2009 on the main atoll of Majuro.

More information on the organization of the new stake can be found here.

Church Growth News and Developments

Island opens for missionary work in Fiji

Around the beginning of 2010 the island of Kadavu received its first permanent missionaries. Located south of Suva, Kadavu appears to be the first island in Fiji's Eastern Division to have a Church presence and missionaries. Only one missionary companionship serves on Kadavu and Church services are held in two locations: Kavala and Vunisea. The population of Kadavu is 10,000. No branches have been created and only two groups have Sunday meetings. Most of those attending meetings are youth and attendance is steadily growing.

Additional branches to be created in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Impressive membership growth and high convert retention continues in the DR Congo. Missionaries report that district conferences in the interior have had more in attendance than members on the records. In Kananga, there were 500 investigators who attended a conference held several months ago. Missionaries report that several new branches will be created in Luputa and Mbuji-Mayi this year and the latter may become its own district. A third branch was also recently created in Mbuji-Mayi. The district in Luputa is working towards become a stake within the next year. The number of missionaries serving in Lubumbashi has continued to increase and a new zone was created. The city of Kolwezi may open for missionary work soon. There are now eight wards in each of the Lubumbashi stakes.

Growth in Kenya

Missionaries report that the four branches in the Kilunga Hills southeast of Nairobi continue to grow rapidly in membership. The newest branch, the Mitini Branch, was created less than a year ago and now has around 300 attending meetings. More branches will be created soon to accommodate the strong growth. This area seems highly likely to be made into a district, in addition to several other areas with multiple mission branches. Difficultly access these areas and limited leadership have likely delayed the creation of more districts.

Much of northern Norway closes to missionary work; missionaries relocated to southern Norway

In a bold move, the Norway Oslo Mission has closed most of the proselyting areas in northern Norway and placed missionaries in Oslo and surrounding cities. Northern Norway has seen little growth; two districts used to function, based in Trondheim and Tromso, but both were discontinued in the early or mid-2000s. Missionaries report the mission is working hard to turn several branches into wards around Oslo in order for a stake stake to be created. These areas also appear the most receptive to the Church.

Botswana recap: New branches and zone

A lot of developments have occurred over the past year. Branches have been established in Molepolole (spring 2009), Mochudi and Kanye (both in late 2009). The first YSA ward was created in Africa in Gaborone. Francistown also opened for missionary work. A second zone was also just created due to the large increase in missionaries serving Botswana. For more information about the Church in Botswana, check out the country profile at Cumorah.com.

Atolls in the Marshall Islands open for missionary work

Missionaries report that Ailinglaplap and Ebon have recently opened for missionary work. Both these atolls have only a couple thousand inhabitants and missionaries have been assigned due to members requesting them. On Ailinglaplap, the chief of the island joined the Church on Majuro and has been instrumental in the Church's recent establishment on the atoll. Missionaries also serve on Jaluit and together with Ailinglaplap and Ebon none of these areas have branches established. Church meetings occur in groups. Also, on Christmas Island in neighboring Kiribati at least two groups are also meeting, one of which may become a branch soon in a small community named Banana.

The opening of a nation to the Church: Significant Angola developments

Members in Angola report that the first group has been organized outside of Luanda in Lubango. There are over 100,000 inhabitants in the city and the newly created group has around 15 investigators attending Sunday meetings. A missionary companionship have also recently been assigned to Lubango. Members report that several more groups will be created in Huambo and Moxico Provinces. The two branches in Luanda will also divide to create two additional branches in the near future. Currently six missionaries serve in the country with another six or seven awaiting visas. For more information about the Church in Angola, click on this link to Cumorah.com.

New area opens in Lesotho

Missionaries have recently been assigned to work in the small town of Leribe. Leribe is the hometown of Lesotho's queen and is located on the border with South Africa 75 miles northeast of Maseru.

Majuro Stake Organized

The first stake in the Marshall Islands was organized yesterday from the Majuro District. The new stake serves members of the Church on the island of Majuro. I do not know yet whether all seven branches became wards or not, but the stake creation did occur June 14th. For more information about the Church in the Marshall Islands click here.

First Stake In The Marshall Islands!

Missionaries serving in the Marshall Islands Majuro Mission report that the first stake in the country will be organized sometime in June. The new stake will be created from the Majuro District, which comprises seven branches as of right now. Missionaries and Church leadership have been preparing the district for stakehood for several years. The Church News reported that while serving as missionaries in what was then the Micronesia Guam Mission, Max and Annette Martin were assigned in 2004 to serve on Majuro with the specific task of teaching the members how to function as a stake (link to Church News article). The Marshall Islands Majuro Mission was created in 2006 from the Fiji Suva and Micronesia Guam Missions and primarily administers to the Marshall Islands and Kiribati.

The Marshall Islands became independent from the United States in 1979 and maintains close ties with the United States today. The population of the islands is estimated to be only around 60,000, with the vast majority of people living in the islands of Majuro (where the capital is) and Ebeye. Another district of the Church with four branches currently functions on Ebeye in the Kwajalein Atoll, named the Kwajalein Micronesia District. The Marshall Islands are well known for nuclear tests conducted after World War II.

There are about 4,500 members of the Church in the Marshall Islands as of the end of 2008. There are also four Marshallese speaking branches of the Church in the United States located in Arkansas, Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Washington.

Countries with the Most Members without a Stake Maps

Here are the maps; each green square represents one branch. If you click on the map, it will open in a new window and be much easier to view.