I may seem to be a bit fixated on recent church growth developments in the West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire, but I really want to emphasize how exceptional recent growth developments have been in this French-speaking country of 23 million. Some of these developments include:
. . .
Based on these recent developments, it appears likely that the Church will organize a second mission in Cote d’Ivoire due to recent rapid growth and excellent opportunities for continued expansion. Locations that appear most likely include a second mission in Abidjan or a mission headquartered in Yamoussoukro. Additionally, Abidjan appears a prime candidate for a temple announcement in the near future.
New mission president for Cape Verde
Robert P. and Susan F. MathewsRobert Paul Mathews, 60, and Susan Jean Friedman Mathews, four children, Kingwood 1st Ward, Kingwood Texas Stake: Cape Verde Praia Mission, succeeding President Roberto F. Oliveira and Sister Eliana Oliveira. Brother and Sister Mathews recently served in the Cape Verde Praia Mission. Brother Mathews serves as a temple sealer and is a former stake president, bishop, institute teacher and missionary in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission. Retired human resources senior advisor, Exxon Mobil Corporation. Born in Gilroy, Calif., to Dasil George Mathews and NaDeen Kathleen Stanton Mathews.
Sister Mathews is a former ward and stake Young Women president, ward Relief Society president, stake public affairs director, and seminary teacher. Born in Baton Rouge, La., to Isidore Herbert Friedman and Roberta Hilda Juban Friedman.
First mission to be created in the Republic of the Congo
Missionaries serving in Africa report that this July the Church will organize the Republic of the Congo Brazzaville Mission from a division of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission.
New District in Cape Verde
Missionaries report that this coming Sunday the Church will organize a new district in Cape Verde. The new district will consist of the two branches and one group on the island of Sal and perhaps the recently organized Sal Rei Branch on Boa Vista. Missionaries indicate that the new district will be called the Espargos Cape Verde District. Once the new district is created there will be two stakes and two districts in Cape Verde.
Unprecedented Membership and Congregational Growth in West Africa
An article published in the LDS Church News this past weekend provided what appears to be year-end 2013 membership statistics for the seven countries in the Africa West Area with an LDS presence. The article indicates that there were nearly 20,000 convert baptisms in the Africa West Area. See below for an analysis of membership growth numbers of these seven countries provided with annual percentage growth for 2013.
via LDS Church Growth.
New stakes in Ghana
Two Sundays ago the Church organized a new stake in the Ghana Cape Coast Mission. The Winneba Ghana Stake was organized from the Swedru Ghana District and includes the following five wards and three branches: The Ansaful, Kojo Bedu, Swedru 1st, Swedru 2nd, and Winneba Wards and the Asikuma, Odoben 1st, and Odoben 2nd Branches. There are now 12 stakes and eight districts in Ghana.
History of Church in West Africa
The Church in West Africa continues to grow rapidly as missionaries share the gospel and as converts reach out to their families and neighbors.
‘Great day’ for the Church, for Africa
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently spent 10 days with Latter-day Saints in West Africa, observing incredible growth and activity in a relatively young area of the Church.
via LDS Church News.
South African called to YW general board
Dorah Mkhabela, 47, Florida Ward, Soweto South Africa Stake; born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Peter Magezi and Annah Tsatsawani; received secondary teaching diploma from Transvaal College of Education; teacher; married Jackson Mkhabela, three children; served as branch Relief Society counselor, seminary teacher, Primary counselor and Sunday School teacher.
via LDS Church News.
New Stake in Cape Verde
Missionaries serving the in the Cape Verde Praia Mission report that the Fogo Cape Verde District became a stake yesterday. No data is available on which branches became wards and I will post this information when it becomes available.