New Stake in Cote d'Ivoire; District Discontinued in Brazil

Cote d'Ivoire
Last Sunday, the Church organized its seventh stake in Abidjan. The Abobo Cote d'Ivoire East Stake was organized from a division of the Abobo Cote d'Ivoire Stake and includes the following eight wards: the Abobo, Agbekoi, Akeikoi 1st, Akeikoi 2nd, Ile Verte, M'Ponon, Plaque, and Quatre Etages Wards. The Abobo Cote d'Ivoire Stake experienced unprecedented congregational growth in 2014 as the number of congregations within the original stake mushroomed from eight wards to 15 wards and one branch. Three additional stakes in the Abidjan area appear close to dividing including the Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire Toit Rouge Stake (11 wards), Cocody Cote d'Ivoire Stake (10 wards, 1 branch), and the Port Bouet Cote d'Ivoire Stake (11 wards, 1 branch).

There are now seven stakes and three districts in Cote d'Ivoire.

Brazil
The Church recently discontinued the Quaraí Brazil District. The former district was located in Rio Grande do Sul State on the border with Uruguay. The district has experienced rapid congregational decline within the past five years as the number of branches has declined from five to two. The retained branches now pertain to the Artigas Uruguay Stake and will likely become wards as branches have been consolidate to increase the number of active members in each congregation.

There are now 252 stakes and 39 districts in Brazil

New Stakes Created in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma

Within the past couple weeks, the Church has undergone a massive realignment of stakes within Arkansas, southwestern Missouri, and eastern Oklahoma. Three new stakes were created as a result of this realignment.

The Bartlesville Oklahoma Stake was organized from the Tulsa Oklahoma and Tulsa Oklahoma East Stakes and includes the following nine wards and two branches: the Bartlesville 1st, Bartlesville 2nd, Bartlesville 3rd, Claremore, Cleveland, Elm Creek, Independence, Owasso, and Ranch Creek Wards, and the Pawhuska and Skiatook Branches. There are now eight stakes in Oklahoma.

The Bentonville Arkansas Stake was organized from the Rogers Arkansas Stake and includes the following seven wards: the Bella Vista, Bentonville 1st, Bentonville 2nd, Centerton, Central Park, Elm Tree, and Grove Wards. There are now seven stakes in Arkansas.

The Monett Missouri Stake was organized from the Joplin Missouri and Springfield Missouri South Stakes and includes the following five wards and two branches: the Aurora, Carthage, Granby, Monett, and Stockton Wards, and the Cassville and Joplin YSA Branches. There are now 16 stakes in Missouri.

Potential New Missions in 2015

The Church appears poised to create a significant number of new missions in 2015 due to sustained increases in the number of members serving full-time missions within the past two years. There may not be much of a decline in the number of full-time missionaries once the "double cohort" ends based upon a statement recently made by Elder Russell M. Nelson regarding the impact of the recent age change for missionary service on additional family members deciding to serve missions. With over 88,000 full-time missionaries, the Church would need to operate 540 missions if it were to maintain the historical average of 163 missionaries per mission from 1977 to 2011. This would represent an increase of 134 missions from the current total.


Below is a list of potential new missions that may be created in 2015. Criteria for identifying potential new missions include recent LDS membership, congregational, and organizational (stakes and districts) growth trends, trends in new mission creations within the past decade, population size, and the boundaries of current missions.

• Argentina Santa Fe
• Argentina Tucuman
• Australia Brisbane (2nd mission)
• Bolivia El Alto
• Brazil Aracatuba
• Brazil Jaboatao
• Brazil Manaus (2nd mission)
• Brazil Porto Velho
• Brazil Rio de Janeiro (2nd mission)
• Brazil Sao Luis
• Brazil Sorocaba
• Burundi/Rwanda
• Cambodia Phnom Penh (2nd mission)
• Cameroon Yaounde
• Canada Lethbridge
• Chile La Serena
• Chile Temuco
• Colorado Grand Junction
• Costa Rica San Jose (2nd mission)
• Cote d'Ivoire Yamoussoukro
• Democratic Republic of Congo Kananga
• Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa (2nd mission)
• Ethiopia Addis Ababa
• Germany Hamburg
• Ghana Kumasi (2nd mission)
• Guadalupe
• Guyana Georgetown
• Idaho Falls Idaho
• India Hyderabad
• Malawi Lilongwe
• Mexico Chilpancingo
• Mexico Juchitan
• Mexico Tijuana (2nd mission)
• Mexico Toluca
• Nigeria Aba
• Nigeria Ibadan
• Nigeria Uyo
• Peru Chimbote
• Peru Ica
• Peru Puno
• Philippines Bacolod (2nd mission)
• Philippines Cabanatuan
• Philippines Davao (2nd mission)
• Philippines Dumaguete
• Philippines Lucena
• Philippines Ormoc
• Philippines Santiago
• Poland Katowice
• Portugal Porto
• Samoa Apia (2nd mission)
• Slovakia Bratislava
• Solomon Islands Honiara
• South Africa Pretoria
• Spain Alicante
• Taiwan Kaohsiung
• Tanzania Dar Es Salaam
• Tennessee Memphis
• Texas Austin
• Texas El Paso
• Texas Plano
• Thailand Bangkok (2nd mission)
• Togo Lome
• Tonga Nuku'alofa (2nd mission)
• Turkey Istanbul
• Uruguay Rivera
• Zimbabwe Bulawayo

District Discontinued in Thailand

Last Sunday, the Church discontinued a district in Thailand. Organized in 1989, the Khon Kaen Thailand District was consolidated with the Ubon Thailand and Udorn Thailand Districts. The former district had five branches prior to the district realignment. Missionaries report that the area is very close to having two new stakes within the foreseeable future and that the decision to close the Khon Kaen Thailand District was based on helping the two other districts in northeastern Thailand meet the minimum criteria for stakes to operate. Currently the Ubon Thailand District has nine branches and one member group, whereas the Udorn Thailand District now has seven branches (including the Vientiane Branch in Laos).

There are now two stakes and four districts in Thailand.

The Ebola Epidemic in West Africa and LDS Growth

I wanted to make a comment about speculation made by some regarding the impact of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa on the receptivity of native populations in the region to the LDS Church.

Although LDS growth has accelerated in West Africa within the past few years, this development has not appeared to have any direct correlation with the Ebola epidemic in the region. Recent rapid growth in Cote d'Ivoire as evidenced by the doubling of congregations in the Abobo Cote d'Ivoire stake in 2014 from eight to 16, the simultaneous organization of six branches in the city of Daloa, Cote d'Ivoire in early 2014, and accelerated national outreach expansion in Ghana appear to have no correlation with the recent Ebola outbreak. All of these recent LDS growth developments began before the Ebola outbreak did. The plans and approvals for the organization of new congregations takes months, and even up to a year, to be carried out, suggesting that these developments began before the Ebola epidemic.

Please see below to find links to the LDS statistical profiles to countries in the region. These profiles clearly show that accelerated growth began several years ago.

• Benin
• Cote d'Ivoire
• Ghana
• Liberia
• Nigeria
• Sierra Leone
• Togo

The Abobo Cote d'Ivoire Stake: A Case of Unprecedent Rapid Congregational Growth

For those of my followers who may be interested in "extreme cases" in church growth (positive or negative), the Church in Cote d'Ivoire is currently experiencing some of the most rapid growth that I have ever observed in the worldwide Church. In 2014 alone the Church has organized seven new wards and one new branch in the Abobo Cote d'Ivoire Stake, thereby doubling the total number of congregations in the stake to 15 wards and one branch. As congregational growth serves as one of the most robust indicators of "real growth" (i.e. increasing numbers of active members, improving maturity in priesthood leaders, high convert retention), this development stands as one of the greatest successes in terms of rapid growth within the worldwide Church ever documented. I am aware of no other instance of so many wards being created within a single stake within less than a year. To make this achievement even more impressive, the Church in Cote d'Ivoire has been entirely self-sufficient in meeting its full-time missionary needs through local and regional missionary manpower. Just this last summer the Church organized a second mission based in Abidjan to help better administer recent rapid growth experienced throughout the country.

As for some history with this particular stake, the Church organized the Abobo Cote d'Ivoire Stake in 2000. The stake was divided in 2006 along with the original Abidjan Ivory Coast Stake to create the Cocody Cote d'Ivoire Stake. No new wards or branches were organized in the Abobo Cote d'Ivoire Stake between 2006 and 2013, which may indicate that all of the recent new units organized were long overdue.

With six stakes and 57 wards in the Abidjan area, the Church appears posed to have as many as 10 stakes within the next five years.

New Districts Created in Argentina and Kenya

Argentina
On September 28th, the Church created a new district in Argentina. The San Martin Argentina District was organized from a division of the Maipú de Cuyo Argentina Stake and appears to include the following five branches: the Palmira, Rivadavia, San Martin 1st, San Martin 2nd, and Tres Portenas Branches. The organization of the new district becomes the Church's first new district to be created in Argentina since 2006. Within the past eight years, the Church has discontinued eight of its member districts due to significant congregational decline. Most of these discontinued districts have been merged with nearby stakes. The creation of the new district in San Martin appears due to focus on the creation of a stake one day in San Martin with greater supervision from the Argentina Mendoza Mission in this process.

There are now 73 stakes and 32 districts in Argentina.

Kenya
On October 12th, the Church created a new district in Kenya. The Kilungu Hills Kenya District was organized from five mission branches in the Kilungu Hills, including Ilima, Kalongo, Kilili, Kyambeke, and Matini. The Church has operated branches in this remote area of Kenya for over two decades and has experienced steady growth despite its rural, difficult-to-access location. Click here to access a recent case study examining LDS growth in the Kilungu Hills.

The Church also appears posed to create its second stake in Kenya within the foreseeable future as the Nairobi Kenya Stake now has 12 wards and three branches. The creation of a second stake on Nairobi would significantly improve prospects of the Church announcing a small temple in the city to service East Africa.

There is now one stake and three districts in Kenya.

New Stake in Brazil; New District in Nigeria

Brazil
On September 21st, a new stake was created in Brazil. The Goiânia Brazil South Stake was organized from a division of the Goiânia Brazil Stake and the Goiânia Brazil North Stake, and includes the following five wards: the Aparecida, Garavelo, Hidrolândia, Independência, and Vila Brasília Wards. There are now three stakes in the Goiânia metropolitan area, and four stakes and one districts in Goiás State.

The Church in Brazil currently reports 252 stakes and 40 districts.

Nigeria
On September 14th, the Church organized a new district in Nigeria. The Abakaliki Nigeria District was organized from mission branches located in the Nigeria Enugu Mission and includes the following four branches: the Abakaliki, Afikpo 1st, Afikpo 2nd, and Okposi Branches. The new district becomes the Church's first district to ever operate in Ebonyi State, Nigeria - home to approximately 2.5 million people.

There are now 25 stakes and 21 districts in Nigeria.

3,100 Stakes

In September, the Church reached the milestone of 3,100 stakes. The Church reached 3,000 stakes in December 2012, indicating that it has taken less than two years for the number of stakes to increase by 100. For the past four years (2011-2014) the Church has had a net increase of 45 or more stakes a year. This is the longest streak of larger numbers of stakes being created within a four-year time period since the four-year period including the years 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. As stakes have the most rigorous standards for member activity rates, this recent development suggests some real, measurable progress in rectifying some inactivity and convert attrition problems.

With three more months remaining in 2014, this year is shaping out to be the largest net increase in the number of stakes since 1998. Currently 50 stakes have been organized in 2014, with many more to be created in the coming month or two. I predict that we may experience a net increase of 70 stakes in 2014 as new stake creations generally pick up in November in December based on recent trends over the past few years.

New Stakes Created in Arizona, Brazil, Guatemala, Pennsylvania, Philippines, and Texas; New Districts Created in Ghana and Venezuela

I have gotten a bit behind with making posts on new stakes and districts created. Hopefully this includes all of them.

NEW STAKES

Arizona
On September 21st, the Church created a new stake in Arizona. The Queen Creek Arizona West Stake was created from the Queen Creek Arizona, Queen Creek Arizona Chandler Heights, and the Queen Creek Arizona North Stakes and includes the following eight wards: the Cortina 1st, Cortina 2nd, Cortina 3rd, Cortina 4th, Hawes, Ocotillo, Remington Heights, and Sossaman Estates Wards.

There are now 97 stakes in Arizona.

Brazil
On August 31st, the Church created the a new stake in Minas Gerais State. The Ipatinga Brazil Stake from the Ipatinga Brazil District. The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Bethânia, Esperança, Governador Valadares, Ipatinga, and João Monlevade Wards, and the Caratinga and Coronel Fabriciano Branches.

There are now 11 stakes and six districts in Minas Gerais, and 251 stakes and 40 districts in Brazil.

Guatemala
On July 6th, the Church created a new stake in western Guatemala. The Huehuetenango Guatemala Central Stake was organized from a division of the Huehuetenango Guatemala Calvario and Huehuetenango Guatemala Zaculeu Stakes and includes the following five wards and two branches: the Cerrito del Maíz, El Centro, El Prado, La Viña, and Las Flores Wards, and the Malacatancito and Tojocas Branches.

There are now 43 stakes and 17 districts in Guatemala.

Pennsylvania
On September 7th, the Church organized its third stake in the Pittsburgh area. The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania West Stake was organized from the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Stake and includes the following six wards: the Pittsburgh 2nd, Pittsburgh 5th, Pittsburgh 6th, Washington, Wheeling, and Wintersville Wards. The last new stake to be created in Pittsburgh was in 1978.

There are now 12 stakes in Pennsylvania.

Philippines
On September 14th, the Church created two new stakes in the Philippines.

The Davao Philippines West Stake was organized from the Davao Philippines Stake and includes the following five wards and two branches: the Calinan, Mintal 1st, Mintal 2nd, Toril 1st, and Toril 2nd Wards, and the Ladian and Tamugan Branches. The Church has experienced rapid congregational growth in western Davao within recent years, and Davao now appears as a likely candidate for a temple to service Mindanao.

The Escalante Philippines Stake was organized from the Escalante Philippines District. No information is currently available on which of the seven branches became wards. The Escalante Philippines District was originally organized in 1994.

There are now 92 stakes and 80 districts in the Philippines.

Texas
On September 14th, the Church created a new stake in the Texas Panhandle. The Lubbock Texas North Stake was organized from the Lubbock Texas and Roswell New Mexico Stake and includes the following five wards and three branches: the Clovis, Frenship Mesa, Heritage, Portales, and Shadow Hills Wards, and the El Llano (Spanish), Plainview, and Quaker Heights (Spanish) Branches. The new stakes becomes the first new stake in the Texas Panhandle since 1981.

There are now 62 stakes and three districts in Texas.

NEW DISTRICTS

Ghana
On September 14th, the Church created a new district in Ghana. The Ho Ghana District was organized from the Kpong Ghana District and includes three branches: the Ho 1st, Ho 2nd, and Tsito Branches. The Church has experienced rapid growth in the Volta Region of Ghana and the new Ho Ghana District becomes the first district in this administrative division of more than 2.1 million people. The Church has also recently opened to member groups in Kpando and Hohoe, which may also become integrated into the district when these member groups become branches.

There are now 12 stakes and nine districts in Ghana.

Venezuela
On September 28th, the Church created a new district in Venezuela. The La Fria Venezuela District was organized from the San Cristóbal Venezuela Pirineos Stake and includes the following three branches: the Coloncito, La Fría, and La Grita Branches. The Church once operated a district in La Fria from 1999 to 2012. The reestablishment of the district may indicate problems with stake leaders effectively administering these three branches, resulting in a need for mission leaders to undertake this task.

There are now 34 stakes and seven districts in Venezuela.