Ground-breaking ceremonies were held October 4, 2017 for a new Latter-day Saint stake centre in Eita, Kiribati.
Stake centres accommodate several congregations in a geographical area.
Leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, government officials, local media, community members and representatives from Craig Construction, Ltd. (CCL) attended the ceremony directed by Banririe Nenebwati, a Latter-day Saint leader in Tarawa.
Iotua Tune, service centre manager for the Church, shared a brief history of the Church in Kiribati and the design for the new stake centre.
“This unique design is a result of many consultation meetings between Church engineers, architects and stakeholders in Kiribati, and has been approved by the Area Presidency and Church Headquarters,” he said.
A CCL representative stated that, “Our objective was not only to build a beautiful and quality building for the Church in Kiribati, but also to build the local people so that one day they would have the skills and capability to build their own meeting houses.”
Banririe Nenebwati, expressing gratitude for the new facility, said, “This new stake centre shows the level of faith and spiritual strength of the saints in Kiribati and will not only bless members but also the community and country as a whole. It will bring more of the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people which brings, love, peace and righteousness.”
Read more about Mormon meetinghouses around the world.