The first stake in Mongolia was created on Sunday from the Mongolia Ulaabaatar District. The new stake does not include all the branches in the district and a new district was created on the same day for branches in the eastern part of the city, named the Ulaabaatar Mongolia East District. I follow this blog about growth in the church and found this interesting information.
Growth has increased in the past year or so in Mongolia, with missionaries indicating that the mission has recently broke previous records for convert baptisms in a month and Church attendance. Most of the members live in Ulaabaatar (the capital) or in the Darkhan Mongolia District which is to the north of Ulaabaatar. Missionaries have reported that branches in the isolated towns of Choibalsan, Erdenet and Hovd have grown to around 150-200, making it likely for more congregations to be organized considering branches typically have 50-100 or so active members.
Mongolia is the country with the second most members without a stake. Nearly 10% of Mongolian members have served missions and membership stands at around 8,400. The vast majority of Mongolians are Buddhist. Not all of the dozen or so branches in Ulaanbaatar will be part of the new stake in the capital. Another district already exists in Mongolia in Darkhan.
Membership has not increased as rapidly as it did in 2008 in Mongolia since 2004, growing by 9.36% last year. A couple mission branches not a part of a district also exist in Khovd and Choibalsan, each of which have been steadily growing to 150-200 attending sacrament meeting every week. One of the challenges the Church in Mongolia has had in the creation of a stake has been that 70% of the members are single (according to an article published in the Church magazine the Ensign a year or two ago).
One interesting note about members who have served as missionaries from Mongolia and received their Patriarchal blessings in other countries where there are stakes and patriarchs: All but the tribe of Zebulun have been found among the declared lineage of Mongolia missionaries (as of December 2003). For more information, visit this link to learn more about the gathering of the Lost Tribes. It's facinating! How exciting for Elder Andy to be a part of this important service and work among the Mongolian people. He loves his mission and the wonderful people in Mongolia.
Growth has increased in the past year or so in Mongolia, with missionaries indicating that the mission has recently broke previous records for convert baptisms in a month and Church attendance. Most of the members live in Ulaabaatar (the capital) or in the Darkhan Mongolia District which is to the north of Ulaabaatar. Missionaries have reported that branches in the isolated towns of Choibalsan, Erdenet and Hovd have grown to around 150-200, making it likely for more congregations to be organized considering branches typically have 50-100 or so active members.
Mongolia is the country with the second most members without a stake. Nearly 10% of Mongolian members have served missions and membership stands at around 8,400. The vast majority of Mongolians are Buddhist. Not all of the dozen or so branches in Ulaanbaatar will be part of the new stake in the capital. Another district already exists in Mongolia in Darkhan.
Membership has not increased as rapidly as it did in 2008 in Mongolia since 2004, growing by 9.36% last year. A couple mission branches not a part of a district also exist in Khovd and Choibalsan, each of which have been steadily growing to 150-200 attending sacrament meeting every week. One of the challenges the Church in Mongolia has had in the creation of a stake has been that 70% of the members are single (according to an article published in the Church magazine the Ensign a year or two ago).
One interesting note about members who have served as missionaries from Mongolia and received their Patriarchal blessings in other countries where there are stakes and patriarchs: All but the tribe of Zebulun have been found among the declared lineage of Mongolia missionaries (as of December 2003). For more information, visit this link to learn more about the gathering of the Lost Tribes. It's facinating! How exciting for Elder Andy to be a part of this important service and work among the Mongolian people. He loves his mission and the wonderful people in Mongolia.
5 comments:
What precious photos!
And I love, love LOVE the Bee Gee's!!! I shall watch the videos and dance my guts out.
What a great time to be serving the Lord in Mongolia!
That is so cool! I read an e-mail from Maryn that talked about this new stake. How fun for Andy that he gets to see that happen!
Way cool pics and good news that the Elder gets to be a zone leader!
Good news about Mongolia. It was a bit shocking, to say the least, when Andy opened up his call to Mongolia, but now, there's no place better for him to serve.
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