Recent Church Growth News - Potential New Stakes in Russia, Cambodia, and Cape Verde in 2012

Russia

Missionaries serving in the Russia St Petersburg, Russia Saratov, Russia Yekaterinburg, and Russia Novosibirsk Missions report that districts and branches have recently been consolidated to create branches with more active members and districts with more congregations to prepare for the creation of additional stakes in Russia within the next couple years.  Each district that may become a stake in the near future is displayed below from the LDS International Atlas on cumorah.com.

In St Petersburg, a couple branches were discontinued within and nearby the city but the St Petersburg Russia District was expanded to incorporate additional branches that did not previously pertain to a district such as Gatchina, Kolpino, Petergof, Sestroretsk, and Vyborg.  At present the St Petersburg Russia District has ten branches.


View Wards and Branches in Western Russia in a larger map

In Saratov, a couple branches were closed in the city of Saratov but the district was expanded to include branches in Balakovo, Marks, and Penza.  a district branch was also created to meet the needs of members in isolated areas within the district meeting in groups.  The Saratov Russia District now has nine branches and missionaries report that the district is close to becoming a stake.  


View Wards and Branches in Western Russia in a larger map

In Yekaterinburg, the sole district in the city absorbed a former district in Chelyabinsk and a couple mission branches.  The district now has six branches and may become a stake in the near future.


View Branches in Central and Eastern Russia in a larger map

In Novosibirsk, the sole district in the city has included a couple former mission branches and currently contains six branches.  A stake may be organized from the district in the coming years.


View Branches in Central and Eastern Russia in a larger map

The Church has undergone several cycles of consolidating and splitting districts as area and mission presidencies has opted for creating stakes or splitting districts to expand outreach.  Many active and semi-active members have been lost to inactivity through this process over the past two decades, but the success of the Moscow Russia District attaining stakehood last year and not appearing to exhibit any noticeable setbacks after the consolidation of the two districts in the city may indicate potential success in the establishment of additional stakes in Russia.  The formation of additional stakes may permit the channeling of more mission resources into opening currently unreached cities.  At present, there are over 100 cities in Russia with over 100,000 inhabitants without an LDS congregation operating.

Cambodia


Missionaries serving in the Cambodia Phnom Penh report that mission leadership is striving for both Cambodian (Khmer) districts in Phnom Penh to become stakes this year. The LDS Church in Cambodia currently has the most members of any country in without a stake notwithstanding church membership concentrated in Phnom Penh where 18 branches meet. Members and missionaries have reported that mission leadership has prepared for the two districts in Phnom Penh to become stakes for the past five years and the recent creation of a couple new branches in the Phnom Penh area may indicate improved convert retention and local leadership development.

Below is a map of the districts and branches in the LDS Church in Cambodia


View Branches in Cambodia in a larger map

Cape Verde

Missionaries serving in Cape Verde report that the Praia Cape Verde District is close to becoming a stake and that the first stake in Cape Verde will likely also include the Fogo Cape Verde District. Cape Verde ranks among the top ten countries in the world with the most members without a stake. Low member activity rates have delayed the organization of a stake for years.