Arizona
The Church organized a new stake in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area on February 28th. The Chandler Arizona South was organized from a division of the Chandler Arizona and Chandler Arizona East Stakes. The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Appleby, Brooks Farm, Grove 1st, Grove 2nd, Grove 3rd, and Lindsay 1st Wards and the San Tan Branch.
There are now 101 stakes in Arizona.
Nicaragua
The Church organized a new stake in the Managua area on February 21st. The Managua Nicaragua Las Americas Stake was organized from the Managua Nicaragua Tipitapa District and a division of the Managua Nicaragua Bello Horizonte Stake. The new stake includes the following three wards and five branches: the Las Américas, Las Mercedes, and Ruben Darío Wards, and the Bocana, Ciudadela, Loma Verde, San Benito, and Tipitapa Branches. It appears that two or more of the branches in the new stake have likely become wards, but the Church has yet to update this information.
There are now 10 stakes and five districts in Nicaragua.
Cote d'Ivoire
The Church organized two new districts in Cote d'Ivoire in February.
The Aboisso Cote d'Ivoire District was organized from four mission branches in the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission in the cities/towns of Aboisso, Ahoutoue, and Alepe. The new districts includes the following five branches: the Aboisso, Aboisso Cote d'Ivoire District, Ahoutoue, Alepe, and Rive Gauche Branches. The organization of the Aboisso Cote d'Ivoire District Branch suggests that one or more member groups likely operate within the new district. Additionally, the new district covers a sizable geographical area in Comoé District and a small portion of northeastern Lagunes District.
The Adzope Cote d'Ivoire District was organized from five mission branches in the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission in the cities of Adzoope, Affery, and Akoupé. The new district includes the following six branches: the Adzope 1st, Adzope 2nd, Adzope 3rd, Adzope Cote d'Ivoire District, Affery, and Akoupé Branches. Like the newly organized Aboisso Cote d'Ivoire District, the Adzope Cote d'Ivoire District covers a sizable geographical area. Nearly half of Lagunes District is within the new district and most of this area is serviced by the new Adzope Cote d'Ivoire District Branch. Thus, one or more member groups may operate within towns and villages within this area.
There are now nine stakes and seven districts in Cote d'Ivoire.
Lesotho
The Church organized its first district in Lesotho on February 28th. The Maseru Lesotho District was organized from a division of the Bloemfontein South Africa Stake. The new district includes the following three branches: the Leribe, Maseru, and Masianokeng Branches. The entire country of Lesotho and some adjacent areas of South Africa near Maseru appear serviced by the new district. Missionaries have reported for several years that there have been plans to organize additional branches in the Maseru area. Prior to the organization of the new district, Lesotho was the country with the third most members without a stake or district according to year-end 2014 membership data.
Russia
The Church reinstated the Yekaterinburg Russia District on January 31st. Originally organized in 1999, the Yekaterinburg Russia District was discontinued in 2014. The reinstated district includes the following six branches: the Chelyabinsk, Perm, Ufa, Yekaterinburg 1st, Yekaterinburg 2nd, and Yekaterinburg Russia District Branches.
There are now three stakes and eight districts in Russia.
Bolivia
The Church recently discontinued a district in Bolivia. The Puerto Suárez Bolivia District was discontinued and one of the three branches assigned to the district was discontinued. The two retained branches in the former district now report directly to the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission.
There are now 27 stakes and eight districts in Bolivia.
Showing posts with label Lesotho. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lesotho. Show all posts
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Saturday, March 13, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Church Growth Updates
New mission in Nicaragua
Missionaries serving in the Nicaragua Managua Mission report that the mission will be split this summer to create a second mission. The mission has seen tremendous success over the years and continues to show impressive results. Missionaries report that 60% of converts have been retained over the past year, much higher from previous years. Hundreds of baptisms occur monthly and the amount of growth has overwhelmed currently mission leadership for a nation with over 64,000 members, 100 congregations, and high inactivity. Nine stakes and six districts currently function.
Mission to be discontinued in Ohio
Missionaries report that the Ohio Cincinnati Mission will be discontinued and combined with neighboring missions this July. I will provide further analysis and background once more information becomes available including official announcement from the Church.
Additional countries added to the Uganda Kampala Mission
Recently arrived missionaries reported that two additional countries have been added to the jurisdiction of the Uganda Kampala Mission. The mission originally included Uganda and Ethiopia when it was created in 2005 and added Rwanda and Southern Sudan in the past couple years. Djibouti and Eritrea have also join the mission, bringing the total of countries served by the mission to six.
Mission realignment in South Africa
The South Africa Durban and South Africa Johannesburg Missions will be realigned in the next week. The Johannesburg mission will lose the southern portion of Free State Province and Lesotho which will fall under the mission in Durban. This decision was likely done due to the rapid increase in baptisms and missionaries serving in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission, which baptized over 1,700 converts in 2009. The realignment will allow for greater balance of responsibility for the two missions. Lesotho has also seen increasing success in the past year and a third branch may be created in the near future.
Full translation of the Book of Mormon in Laotian nearing completion
A senior missionary couple serving in Laos report that the first full translation of the Book of Mormon in Laotian is nearly complete. Most Laotian speaking members live in the United States in four congregations. A branch does meet in the capital of Vientiane with around 70 active members.
New branches in Botswana
Branches have been created in two cities in Botswana. Mochudi received its first missionaries at the end of last year and had its first branch organized. Kanye has also received its first missionaries and branch. Increased mission activity in Botswana likely contributed to the mission realignment with the South Africa Johannesburg and South Africa Durban Missions.
New stake to be created in Cote d'Ivoire
Missionaries report that in the coming weeks a fourth stake will be organized in the Abidjan area from a division of the Yopougon Cote d'Ivoire Stake which currently has 11 wards. I will provide more information once it becomes available.
Stakes close to splitting in Mexico
The mission president of the Mexico Leon Mission reported that the Leon Mexico Stake may divide to create a second stake in the city this spring. The Celaya Mexico Stake is also very close to dividing as well but is still struggling to meet certain requirements in order for a second stake to be created in the city.
Missionaries serving in the Nicaragua Managua Mission report that the mission will be split this summer to create a second mission. The mission has seen tremendous success over the years and continues to show impressive results. Missionaries report that 60% of converts have been retained over the past year, much higher from previous years. Hundreds of baptisms occur monthly and the amount of growth has overwhelmed currently mission leadership for a nation with over 64,000 members, 100 congregations, and high inactivity. Nine stakes and six districts currently function.
Mission to be discontinued in Ohio
Missionaries report that the Ohio Cincinnati Mission will be discontinued and combined with neighboring missions this July. I will provide further analysis and background once more information becomes available including official announcement from the Church.
Additional countries added to the Uganda Kampala Mission
Recently arrived missionaries reported that two additional countries have been added to the jurisdiction of the Uganda Kampala Mission. The mission originally included Uganda and Ethiopia when it was created in 2005 and added Rwanda and Southern Sudan in the past couple years. Djibouti and Eritrea have also join the mission, bringing the total of countries served by the mission to six.
Mission realignment in South Africa
The South Africa Durban and South Africa Johannesburg Missions will be realigned in the next week. The Johannesburg mission will lose the southern portion of Free State Province and Lesotho which will fall under the mission in Durban. This decision was likely done due to the rapid increase in baptisms and missionaries serving in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission, which baptized over 1,700 converts in 2009. The realignment will allow for greater balance of responsibility for the two missions. Lesotho has also seen increasing success in the past year and a third branch may be created in the near future.
Full translation of the Book of Mormon in Laotian nearing completion
A senior missionary couple serving in Laos report that the first full translation of the Book of Mormon in Laotian is nearly complete. Most Laotian speaking members live in the United States in four congregations. A branch does meet in the capital of Vientiane with around 70 active members.
New branches in Botswana
Branches have been created in two cities in Botswana. Mochudi received its first missionaries at the end of last year and had its first branch organized. Kanye has also received its first missionaries and branch. Increased mission activity in Botswana likely contributed to the mission realignment with the South Africa Johannesburg and South Africa Durban Missions.
New stake to be created in Cote d'Ivoire
Missionaries report that in the coming weeks a fourth stake will be organized in the Abidjan area from a division of the Yopougon Cote d'Ivoire Stake which currently has 11 wards. I will provide more information once it becomes available.
Stakes close to splitting in Mexico
The mission president of the Mexico Leon Mission reported that the Leon Mexico Stake may divide to create a second stake in the city this spring. The Celaya Mexico Stake is also very close to dividing as well but is still struggling to meet certain requirements in order for a second stake to be created in the city.
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