Make sure and read the top 10 best and worst developments in 2015. Note that the good outweighs the bad by a solid margin, and accept that the growth of the church is organic. We will never become a mass movement this side of the 2nd coming. Much like salvation, the gathering of Israel and the preparation for Christ's return are achieved at the individual level, one testimony at a time.
And it takes time for a testimony, once formed, to germinate, grow, transform a life, and radiate a light powerful enough to bring others into the fold. Baptisms aren't the strength of the Restoration: Testimonies are. When we bring people into the church, not everyone is going to develop one or stay true to the gospel. But some will, and over time the church will get stronger as a result.
A good goal for the church in 2016 would be 75 stakes, net. That's not much in comparison to the world's population. There are 500 million Christians in Africa, and as fast as we're growing on that continent, we haven't made a dent in that number, but the seeds of something mighty and lasting have been planted, and the gospel will flourish as rapidly as we can build new buildings and develop new missionaries.
Some estimates place the population of Lagos itself above 20 million. So I have to wonder if the numbers given for south-west Nigeria may be well below the actual population. There is a lot of potential for outreach in that area, but even creating new branches within Lagos itself to reach additional areas has much potential.
What does it mean when the Church transfers three wards from one stake, leaving that stake with 8 units, to another stake, which results in that second stake to balloon to 18 units? It means a new stake will be soon created in San Antonio, Texas.
I wouldn't be surprised to see two new stakes in San Antonio soon. There is one with 14 units and one with 11 in addition to the changes that just occurred.
Got it on the San Antonio Texas East Stake with 16 wards and 2 branches and the San Antonio Texas West Stake with 14 wards. But, the San Antonio Texas Hill Country Stake has 11 wards and 2 branches, making your case, David, a little stronger.
Completely agree about 2 more stakes in San Antonio. I thought what they did with the East stake made it very obvious that there will be at least one new stake there. I lived in San Antonio back when there were only three stakes. Nice to see such amazing growth there.
Make sure and read the top 10 best and worst developments in 2015. Note that the good outweighs the bad by a solid margin, and accept that the growth of the church is organic. We will never become a mass movement this side of the 2nd coming. Much like salvation, the gathering of Israel and the preparation for Christ's return are achieved at the individual level, one testimony at a time.
ReplyDeleteAnd it takes time for a testimony, once formed, to germinate, grow, transform a life, and radiate a light powerful enough to bring others into the fold. Baptisms aren't the strength of the Restoration: Testimonies are. When we bring people into the church, not everyone is going to develop one or stay true to the gospel. But some will, and over time the church will get stronger as a result.
A good goal for the church in 2016 would be 75 stakes, net. That's not much in comparison to the world's population. There are 500 million Christians in Africa, and as fast as we're growing on that continent, we haven't made a dent in that number, but the seeds of something mighty and lasting have been planted, and the gospel will flourish as rapidly as we can build new buildings and develop new missionaries.
The work is prospering.
Some estimates place the population of Lagos itself above 20 million. So I have to wonder if the numbers given for south-west Nigeria may be well below the actual population. There is a lot of potential for outreach in that area, but even creating new branches within Lagos itself to reach additional areas has much potential.
ReplyDeleteDecember 2015 net increase in Church Units, as well as growth for all of 2015:
ReplyDeleteDec + 27 W&B; + 37 W - 10 B + 10 st + 1 d + 1 temple Mexico
US + 14; + 19 W - 5 B + 3 st (+4 -1)
Outside US + 13; + 18 W - 5 B + 7 st + 1 d + 1 temple
For 2015 + 405 W&B (38 more W&B than 2014 increase); + 408 W - 3 B + 60 st ( + 67 - 7) - 4 d (+ 32 -4), + 12 missions + 5 temples
US 2015 + 139; + 149 W - 10 B + 17 st (+ 22 - 5) - 1 d + 4 missions + 2 temples
Outside US + 266; + 259 W + 7 B + 43 st (+45 - 2) - 3 d (+ 32 - 35) + 8 missions + 3 temples
Continents of greatest growth:
Africa + 163 W&B; + 110 W + 53 B; + 17 st + 6 d
North America + 158 W&B; (+ 187 W - 29 B) + 25 st -1 d
Year end 2015 Congregational totals:
ReplyDeleteWards 22572
Branches 7444
Total 30016
Correction: 2015 change in districts was -4, with 32 districts created and 36 districts
ReplyDeletediscontinued.
What does it mean when the Church transfers three wards from one stake, leaving that stake with 8 units, to another stake, which results in that second stake to balloon to 18 units? It means a new stake will be soon created in San Antonio, Texas.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised to see two new stakes in San Antonio soon. There is one with 14 units and one with 11 in addition to the changes that just occurred.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGot it on the San Antonio Texas East Stake with 16 wards and 2 branches and the San Antonio Texas West Stake with 14 wards. But, the San Antonio Texas Hill Country Stake has 11 wards and 2 branches, making your case, David, a little stronger.
Completely agree about 2 more stakes in San Antonio. I thought what they did with the East stake made it very obvious that there will be at least one new stake there. I lived in San Antonio back when there were only three stakes. Nice to see such amazing growth there.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMore 2015 Church unit growth (US states with greatest growth):
ReplyDeleteUT + 60 W&B + 6 st; 2012 through 2015 + 217 W&B, +22 st
TX + 21 " + 1 st; " + 66, + 8 st
AZ + 13 " + 3 st; " + 52, + 10 st
ID + 11 " + 0 st; " + 47, + 2 st
FL + 10 " + 1 st; " + 15, + 3 st
WA + 8 " + 0 st; " + 29, + 1 st
WY + 5 " + 0 st; " + 7, + 1 st
GA + 4 " + 0 st; " + 5, + 1 st
CO + 1 " + 1 st; " + 20, + 3 st
NM + 3 " + 1 st; " + 10, + 1 st
Mt - 1 " + 0 st; " + 3, + 0 st
NC + 4 " + 1 st; " + 4; + 1 st
CA - 11 " - 1 st; " + 9; - 1 st