Unprecedented Expansion of the Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the past 2 years, the Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has experienced unprecedented expansion into cities, towns, and villages that have previously had no official congregations. Historically, the Church has generally established its first branch in only 1-2 cities or towns per year (if any) since 2008. However, the Church organized its first branches in six cities and towns in 2023 - the most ever up to that point. In 2024, 14 cities, towns, and villages have had the first branches of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized. The Church's meetinghouse locator now reports official wards or branches operating in 43 cities, towns, or villages in the country. The number of cities, towns, and villages with a ward or branch has doubled since 2021. Moreover, the Church has begun to organize branches in small towns and villages in the DR Congo for the first time. This represents a major shift in historical area and mission policies and practices that have governed the growth and expansion of the Church in the DR Congo, as there has been a strong emphasis on establishing centers of strength and postponing the creation of branches in additional cities due to concerns with finite mission resources, leadership training, and ensuring quality baptismal standards for new converts. The number of missions in the DR Congo increased from just one prior to 2010 to seven as of late 2024 (eight if the Rwanda Kigali Mission is included which administers to branches in the eastern DR Congo near Rwanda and Burundi), and this has likely been a major catalyst to provide the needed mission president oversight and resources to effectively expand into so many previously unreached locations. The announcement of a permanent Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Kinshasa in 2024 has also provided for greater infrastructure to train local Congolese to staff these many new missions. The Church in the DR Congo has typically achieved member activity and convert retention rates in excess of 80% which numbers among the highest in the world. 

 A recent article noted that the number of Latter-day Saints in the DR Congo has surpassed 130,000 - an increase of more than 15,000 since January of 2024. Dozens of new wards and branches have been created and two new stakes have been organized since January of 2024. There are now 29 stakes and 3 districts. One temple has been completed and dedicated (Kinshasa in 2019) with three more temples planned (Lubumbashi, Kananga, and Mbuji-Mayi). Latter-day Saint statistical information for the DR Congo going back to 1987 can be accessed here.

The potential for continued rapid growth in the DR Congo appears favorable. Population estimates for the entire country typically range from 105 to 115 million. There remain dozens of large cities without an official ward or branch. Translations of the Book of Mormon are available in the first, second, or third language of most Congolese. There are only six cities with an official branch in the entire northern half of the country. Huge swaths of most areas of the country remain totally unreached by Latter-day Saints. Many cities have had isolated members or prospective members who have waited years, or even decades, for an official Church establishment, such as Kikondja and Fizi. Some cities have had two branches organized at the same time when an official Latter-day Saint presence is first established (such as Tshikapa and Kamanda).

The following 16 stakes appear likely to divide in the near future (next 2 years):

• Kananga Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (12 wards)
• Katuba Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (11 wards)
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (10 wards)
  
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Binza Stake (10 wards) 
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Kimbanseke Stake (10 wards)
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Mpasa Stake (10 wards, 1 branch)
  
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Lukunga Stake (11 wards, 1 branch) 
• Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo N'Djili Stake (9 wards, 2 branches)
  
• Kolwezi Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (12 wards, 2 branches)
  
• Katoka Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (12 wards) 
• Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (11 wards, 1 branch)
  
• Luputa Democratic Republic of Congo Stake (9 wards, 1 branch)
  
• Malandji Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (11 wards)
• Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (9 wards)
• Ngandajika Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (9 wards, 2 branches)
• Ruashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (11 wards, 1 branch)
  

The following 2 districts appear likely to become stakes in the near future (next 2 years):

• Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo District (6 branches)
• Matadi Democratic Republic of the Congo District (6 branches)
  

The following 9 cities (provided with the current number of branches in the area in parentheses) appear likely to have districts organized from mission branches in the near future (next 2-3 years):

• Bandundu (3 branches)
  
• Boma (2 branches)
• Bukavu (2 branches)
  
• Kamanda (2 branches)
  
• Kikwit (3 branches) 
• Luiza (2 branches)
  
• Muanda (2 branches)
• Tshikapa (2 branches)
• Uvira (2 branches)
  

The following 22 cities and towns appear likely to have official branches organized in the near to medium terms (cities in bold appear most likely):

• Beni
  
• Bumba
  
• Bunia
• Butembo
• Fizi
  
• Genema 
• Ilebo
• Inkisi/Kisantu
  
• Isiro
• Kamaniola
  
• Kasangulu
  
• Katanda
  
• Kikondja
  
• Kindu 
• Lisala
  
• Lodja
• Lukalaba 
• Lungutu
• Luvungi
  
• Mbanza-Ngungu 
• Miabi 
• Tshilenge
  

The following cities appear likely to have missions organized in the next 3-5 years:

• Bukavu
• Kinshasa (4th mission)
  
• Kisangani
• Likasi 
• Lubumbashi (2nd mission)
  
• Luputa
  
• Matadi
• Mwene-Ditu
  

The following cities appear likely to have temples announced in the next 5-7 years:

• Kinshasa (2nd temple)
• Kolwezi
• Likasi
  
• Luputa
• Matadi
  
• Mwene-Ditu

I predict that by the year 2030, the Church in the DR Congo will likely have the following if current trends continue:

• 300,000 members
• 50 stakes
• 700 official congregations (i.e., wards and branches)
• 10 districts
• 15 missions
• 70 cities, towns, and villages with an official Church presence
• 10 temples
• 1 area that also includes the Republic of the Congo
  

Significant Growth in the Republic of the Congo

The Republic of Congo Brazzaville Mission is currently in a significant period of growth. The Church recently organized its first branch in the northern city of Ouesso on the border with Cameroon. The mission president reported that the mission receives 20 self-referrals per day from individuals who have learned about the Church online. The mission had 74 baptisms in February despite having few full-time missionaries assigned to the mission and many of these missionaries having little experience. There are 90 people who are not members of the Church who attend the Institutes of Religion class on a university in Brazzaville. Moreover, 17 new wards and branches will be organized by June 2021 in the mission. Currently, there are 28 wards and branches in the entire country. A video on Facebook that provides these details and more (with English subtitles) can be found here.

Rapid LDS Growth in West Africa Continues

The Church in West Africa continues to experience unprecedented growth. Area leadership estimates that the Church in West Africa will reach 100 stakes by 2018. This indicates that there may be as many as 25 new stakes organized in West Africa during the next 18 months. Growth has been driven by increasing numbers of convert baptisms, leadership development, and increases in active membership. For example, church membership in West Africa increased by 10% during 2016 - the third highest annual membership growth rate for the region since 2002. Thus far in 2017, the Church in Nigeria has reported a net increase of 28 new wards a branches - more than any other country in the worldwide church for 2017 thus far. If this rate of congregational growth is sustained for the remainder of 2017, there may be as many as 100 new wards and branches organized in Nigeria. Since the beginning of 2017, the net increase in wards and branches by country has been as follows: 10 in Cote d'Ivoire, six in Ghana, four in Sierra Leone, one in Benin, and zero in Liberia, Senegal, and Togo.

Rapid Growth Accelerates in Cote d'Ivoire

The Church in Cote d'Ivoire continues to not only report rapid growth, but accelerating growth during the first five months of 2016. The Church has reported a net increase of 24 official congregations since January 1st - an 18.5% increase in less than six months. Here is a list of some of the most noteworthy developments:

• The number of cities with an official ward or branch has quintupled in the past five years from six to 32.
• The Church organized its first branch in the city of Adzope in early 2014. Currently there are nine branches in the Adzope Cote d'Ivoire District - five of which are in Adzope. The Adzope Cote d'Ivoire District was organized last February.
• The Church organized its first branch in Aboisso in 2013. Today there are nine branches in the Aboisso Cote d'Ivoire District - three of which are located in Aboisso.
• There are now eight branches in Daloa - a major city where the Church organized its first branches in early 2014.
• The Church has recently begun to aggressively expand into small cities and towns, primarily in southeastern areas of the country. Examples include:
• Ayame
• Azaguié (first branch organized in mid-2015, second branch recently organized)
• Bangolo
• La Me (location of the Ahoutoue 2nd Branch)
• Maféré 
• The Church organized its first branch it the second most populous city of Bouake in early 2015. Currently there are five branches in the city.
• Three of the eight stakes in Abidjan currently have 12 wards. All three of these stakes appear likely to split before the end of the year. One of these stakes, the Abobo Cote d'Ivoire East Stake, was organized less than 18 months ago.
• Annual membership growth rates for Cote d'Ivoire have been sustained at 19-21% a year since 2013.

The recent growth of the Church in Cote d'Ivoire appears to stand as the most impressive LDS growth achievement for the worldwide church in decades. The full-time missionary force is comprised of native African members and the Church is remarkably self-reliant in meeting its own administrative needs. Native members consistently serve as mission presidents in the country. The rapid expansion of the Church into previously unreached areas stands as a quintessential model for other nations to establish the Church. These findings indicate that the Church in Cote d'Ivoire is likely to continue these trends and replicate the rapid growth the Church experienced in the Philippines and Latin America during the 1980s and 1990s, but with significantly fewer resources allocated, much high convert retention and member activity, and robust self-sufficiency in local church leadership.