tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post111662928045624810..comments2024-03-27T17:28:09.345-06:00Comments on Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church): Important Milestone Reached in Nigeria - 500 Wards and BranchesMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-78967606184641989672017-12-18T22:40:29.764-07:002017-12-18T22:40:29.764-07:00Actually not all countries with more congregations...Actually not all countries with more congregations have an MTC in the capital. The MTC in the US is no where near Washington and the one in Brazil is no where near Brasilia. Just below Nigeria we have Britain with an MTC far from its capital. <br /><br />John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-41915409234873562482017-03-22T08:27:08.128-06:002017-03-22T08:27:08.128-06:00If the trend of around 100 congreations of every t...If the trend of around 100 congreations of every two years continue (Nigeria reached 400 in 2014, and 500 in 2016) I estimate that the country will probably reach 1,000 by 2026 (give or take a couple of year, of course)Bryansb1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/01188210431454868034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-30259043378133183522017-01-08T16:37:40.078-07:002017-01-08T16:37:40.078-07:00Bryan, a question about your comments above. In an...Bryan, a question about your comments above. In an earlier comment on this thread, Matt gave his opinion about the Church reaching 1,000 congregations by 2025. Then you give your estimate above that the Church will reach that milestone by or before the 2080s. I am wondering: are you just trying to be more conservative in your estimate, or are you trying to tell Matt about your own thoughts before he voiced that comment? On the surface, it almost seems like you're not sure about Matt's thoughts and that you may be trying to correct his impression. Sorry if I am misreading your comment. I do like what you shared above about how Nigeria just needs one more ward to hit 300 wards there. I like that thought.<br /><br />And, for myself, I can see the Church doing all four things mentioned in this post and from this comment thread: reaching 1,000 congregations in Nigeria by or before 2025, establishing a separate African area for Nigeria and perhaps one or two additional countries, more missions being established in Nigeria, and a temple for either Lagos, Benin City, or Port Harcourt. Frankly, I could see a temple happening in all three cities given enough time.<br /><br />The growth of the Church in Nigeria has been interesting to follow, and I have loved following the discussion here on this very subject. Thanks to all who have contributed. You have greatly increased my scope of knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for all the Church has accomplished and will yet do in Nigeria. It will be great to see what happens with things as they develop. Thanks again.James G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-8938947905336821762016-12-27T14:13:19.285-07:002016-12-27T14:13:19.285-07:00Even though 500 congregations have been hit Nigeri...Even though 500 congregations have been hit Nigeria only needs one more ward to hit 300. It is always good to see the church growing and branches maturing in wards and districts in stakesBryansb1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/01188210431454868034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-10675203154215238022016-12-27T11:37:22.424-07:002016-12-27T11:37:22.424-07:00A friend of mine in the Geneva Switzerland English...A friend of mine in the Geneva Switzerland English-speaking branch told me about half the members there are Filipinos.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14752986237127885839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-76887104656935989932016-12-26T15:51:33.269-07:002016-12-26T15:51:33.269-07:00I estimate that if wards and branches keep growing...I estimate that if wards and branches keep growing at this rate it would hit 1,000 by the 2080s at the latest. Probably before if growth increases faster. Bryansb1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/01188210431454868034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-32466418082863208722016-12-26T15:29:58.617-07:002016-12-26T15:29:58.617-07:00I estimate that if wards and branches keep growing...I estimate that if wards and branches keep growing at this rate it would hit 1,000 by the 2080s at the latest. Probably before if growth increases faster. Bryansb1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/01188210431454868034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-85163234449368270502016-12-25T17:30:23.222-07:002016-12-25T17:30:23.222-07:00Interesting information, as always. Thanks for tha...Interesting information, as always. Thanks for that illumination. Merry Christmas!James G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-6428192785331797412016-12-25T12:10:12.273-07:002016-12-25T12:10:12.273-07:00Another point of information on Elder Joaquin Cost...Another point of information on Elder Joaquin Costa. He was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina when he was called as an area 70 back in 2012. His friend Alin Spannaus was called as an Area 70 at the same time. Spannaus was serving as a mission president in Mexico at the time. That was also when Edward Dube was called as an area 70. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-77563893210944144392016-12-25T11:50:32.517-07:002016-12-25T11:50:32.517-07:00On Elder Valeri Cordon the only reason I know he d...On Elder Valeri Cordon the only reason I know he did not live in Massachusetts while getting his MBA is because this fact was mentioned in a New York Times article on the MIT executive MBA program. Figuring out where Elder Cordon lived during his working life is helped by the fact he has a LinkedIn Page.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-26416144306370653032016-12-25T11:47:08.544-07:002016-12-25T11:47:08.544-07:00I actually learned all the information I had on El...I actually learned all the information I had on Elder Costa from reading the Church News article on him published back in May or so and from reading the Ensign article from the May Ensign and doing a search for Joaquin Costa on the Deseret News website although the only thing that told me was he organized a stake in Ecuador along with Elder Grow.<br /><br />Costa is overall a fairly common last name in Portuguese and Spanish speaking cultural areas. Elder Claudio R. M. Costa is a native of Santos, Brazil. Elder Joaqin Esteban Costa is fron Entre Rios Province of Argentina. I am pretty certain that they are not closely related. <br /><br />John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-27229891361198567332016-12-25T11:40:10.007-07:002016-12-25T11:40:10.007-07:00MENA = Middle East North Africa as in the Middle E...MENA = Middle East North Africa as in the Middle East North Africa Area. Sorry I was not more clear.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-13299008044214908082016-12-25T10:45:46.299-07:002016-12-25T10:45:46.299-07:00What is MENA?What is MENA?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-76238185366639770292016-12-25T06:19:28.804-07:002016-12-25T06:19:28.804-07:00Well I was thinking I was wrong on Elder Costa bei...Well I was thinking I was wrong on Elder Costa being the only MENA living GA as a member of the Church. Larry S. Kacher who was born in Minnesota was an Area Seventy in the MENA area at the time he was called as a general authority. He was working for a company based in the UAE at the time and seems to have been living there. He has spent much of his post-college life living in Belgium. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-66044275875598848082016-12-25T06:19:21.912-07:002016-12-25T06:19:21.912-07:00After their rime in Oman Joaquin and Renee Costa w...After their rime in Oman Joaquin and Renee Costa went back to Argentina for a few years. In about 2014 Costa took a job with a Danish company in their microfinance operations and relocated to Lima, Peru. So while no native of Oeru has been called as a General Authority while living in Peru, there has been at least one resident of Peru called as a general aythority. Elder Merril J. Bateman who made frequent trips to Ghana due to his involvement in the chocolate trade may be the general authority to date who soent the most time in the Africa West area for rwasons other than actual church assignments.<br /><br />Elder Costa served as an Area Seventy while living in Oeru. On one occasion he along with Elder Grow organized a new stake in Ecuador. That was the only stake organization turned up for him in my sewech of the Deseret News. However sine they only list the general and area seventies involved when new stakes are organized and not when new stake presidencies are put in in existing stakes the later of which probably happens at least 4 times as often if we knew all we probaly could identify Elder Costa staying overnight and giving teaching and guidance in maybe 1 more country if not more than that before he was a general authority. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-27832043649962888352016-12-24T22:48:12.281-07:002016-12-24T22:48:12.281-07:00I have done more blog posts within the last 24-48 ...I have done more blog posts within the last 24-48 hours. I would appreciate any feedback on my work. Also, for circumstances I explain fully in my latest blog post, my wife, myself, and L. Chris Jones, who regularly comments on this blog and mine as well, are all in need of special prayers during this crazy holiday season. Thank you so much. And again, Merry Christmas.James G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-75054293884634141462016-12-24T15:43:02.302-07:002016-12-24T15:43:02.302-07:00John Pack Lambert, as one who has tried to make kn...John Pack Lambert, as one who has tried to make knowing as much as possible about our General Authorities a matter of lifelong studies, I found your extensive information about Elder Joaquin E. Costa to be very detailed and most inspiring. How have you been able to learn all of this? I will admit, my knowledge of general authority trivia stems mostly from my extensive study of the lives of our present and former apostles. But with what you have shared so completely in the above comments, I learned several things I had not previously known about this relatively new General Authority. For that, I thank you most enthusiastically. One thing I have been wondering about more and more lately: Are the two Elder Costas (Claudio R. M. and Joaquin E.) related in any way? If you have any information on that point, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks.<br /><br />Matt, I am most intrigued by your theory about how soon Nigeria may reach 1,000 congregations. As with most Church growth developments, I have no doubt you are more in the know on this point than anyone else out there. I have been absolutely intrigued by the growth in Nigeria of late, especially since, in my opinion, that growth makes it all the more likely that Nigeria will get a second temple within the not-too distant future. I suggested in a previous comment three Nigerian cities I was considering in terms of which might be home to that second temple, but I would welcome your input on the ideas I have shared on that point.<br /><br />As for the announcement of 2017 new missions being made soon after the New Year, I couldn't be happier about that. I suppose that if I were able to be more in the know like you, Matt, in terms of worldwide mission growth, I might be more comfortable making my own predictions regarding possible future missions we might see announced next year. <br /><br />As it is, my strength in this area seems to be mostly in regards to what future temples might be announced soon. As I may have mentioned before, when we had the last four temples announced last April, in my predictions on that point, I had nailed the exact location for two of them, and had the right country but the wrong home city for the other two locations that were then announced. If you, Matt, or anyone else reading this would like to give me any additional feedback above and beyond that which I have received up to this point on my predictions, it would be my honor to read any thoughts, and I would do my best to keep such insights in mind as I attempt to fine-tune my list of most imminent future possibilities to be the very best it can be. I hope any of you will let me know if I need to post another link to my latest such list on my blog. Thanks to you all for this most intriguing discussion. I could not be more excited, amazed, and overjoyed about the many things I have learned on this subject just today. Merry Christmas to you all.James G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-79242929415589783112016-12-24T14:48:02.495-07:002016-12-24T14:48:02.495-07:00If Nigerian mission presidents like Alexander Odum...If Nigerian mission presidents like Alexander Odume follow the example of the Ivorian mission presidents in aggersively creating new branches in more and more cities, we may see 1,000 wards and branches in Nigeria before 2025.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-41866631093763974962016-12-24T10:00:54.777-07:002016-12-24T10:00:54.777-07:00Given historical growth trends, the Church in Nige...Given historical growth trends, the Church in Nigeria should reach 1,000 congregations in approximately 2025. <br /><br />Also, a newly called mission president reports that the official announcement of new missions to be organized in 2017 should occur during the first week of January.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-71335630233253461212016-12-24T09:49:27.443-07:002016-12-24T09:49:27.443-07:00I wonder how long it would take to hit 1,000.I wonder how long it would take to hit 1,000.Bryansb1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/01188210431454868034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-71964698468666428292016-12-24T09:48:53.860-07:002016-12-24T09:48:53.860-07:00I wonder how long it would take to hit 1,000.I wonder how long it would take to hit 1,000.Bryansb1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/01188210431454868034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-23196531688385535642016-12-24T09:15:33.370-07:002016-12-24T09:15:33.370-07:00After their rime in Oman Joaquin and Renee Costa w...After their rime in Oman Joaquin and Renee Costa went back to Argentina for a few years. In about 2014 Costa took a job with a Danish company in their microfinance operations and relocated to Lima, Peru. So while no native of Oeru has been called as a General Authority while living in Peru, there has been at least one resident of Peru called as a general aythority. Elder Merril J. Bateman who made frequent trips to Ghana due to his involvement in the chocolate trade may be the general authority to date who soent the most time in the Africa West area for rwasons other than actual church assignments.<br /><br />Elder Costa served as an Area Seventy while living in Oeru. On one occasion he along with Elder Grow organized a new stake in Ecuador. That was the only stake organization turned up for him in my sewech of the Deseret News. However sine they only list the general and area seventies involved when new stakes are organized and not when new stake presidencies are put in in existing stakes the later of which probably happens at least 4 times as often if we knew all we probaly could identify Elder Costa staying overnight and giving teaching and guidance in maybe 1 more country if not more than that before he was a general authority. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-15473946775771693252016-12-24T09:03:21.602-07:002016-12-24T09:03:21.602-07:00Well I was thinking I was wrong on Elder Costa bei...Well I was thinking I was wrong on Elder Costa being the only MENA living GA as a member of the Church. Larry S. Kacher who was born in Minnesota was an Area Seventy in the MENA area at the time he was called as a general authority. He was working for a company based in the UAE at the time and seems to have been living there. He has spent much of his post-college life living in Belgium. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-5096586990405657302016-12-24T08:55:26.430-07:002016-12-24T08:55:26.430-07:00After living in the Czech Republic for 2 years Joa...After living in the Czech Republic for 2 years Joaquin Costa and hos family moved to Oman where they lived in Salalah. For part of the time they were there the Salalah Branch met in their house. Their children were the only young men and toung women in the branch. So Elder Costa is one of at least 2 general authorities who has lived in the Middke East North Africa area and may be the only one who did so as a church member. If the only general authority who has lived in the MENA Area is an Argentine national I think that gives the Church some internationalist credibility.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-87222948163667717122016-12-24T08:47:18.324-07:002016-12-24T08:47:18.324-07:00However after a few years back hone in Argentina J...However after a few years back hone in Argentina Joaquin Costa took a job in the Czech Republic. There he served as a counselor in the branch presidency and traveled regularly to Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.com