The new statistics show (by my count) 61 countries with zero or negative growth
compared to last year - at 58.
This is why they come up with ways to inflate the number of publishers thru
'strong-arm' tactics by elders and 15 minute-a-month publishers. They get scared
at seeing the number of countries going nowhere. Another interesting trend is minimal
or no growth in many former communist lands - Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary,
Romania, etc.
Worldwide baptisms are down too, so look for more 'strong-arm' "encouragement"
by the Society there too. They'll need to baptize a lot more children to keep the
numbers up.
metatron