Eight Mission Presidents and Wives Called to Serve

  • 18 March 2015

Eight new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July of 2015.

Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission

Herve and Ginette Baehrel

Herve Jean-Claude Baehrel, 53, and Ginette Alibay Baehrel, three children, Aix-En-Provence Ward, Nice France Stake: Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission, succeeding President W. Bryce Cook and Sister Karol Cook. Brother Baehrel serves as an area young single adult adviser and temple worker and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, stake Young Men president, and missionary in the West Indies Mission. Coordinator, Seminaries and Institutes. Born in Pompey, Meurthe Et Moselle, France, to Rene Baehrel and Jacqueline Baehrel.

Sister Baehrel serves as an area young single adult adviser and temple worker and is a former ward Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society president, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Switzerland Mission. Born in Bétioky, Madagascar, to Hassanaly Alibay and Khimdjee Remybay Alibay.

Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission

James L. and Charlene Christensen

James Lowell Christensen, 63, and Charlene Baird Christensen, six children, Draper 11th Ward, Sandy Utah Hidden Valley Stake: Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission, succeeding President David C. Moon and Sister Kathryn Moon. Brother Christensen serves as a ward mission leader and is a former bishop, stake presidency counselor, ward Young Men president, Scoutmaster, and missionary in the Hong Kong/Vietnam Mission. President/general counsel, Pacific Western Equipment Finance. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Lowell H. Christensen and Catherine Renee Young Christensen.

Sister Christensen serves as a stake Relief Society president and is a former ward Primary, Young Women and Relief Society president, Relief Society teacher, Primary pianist, and ward organist. Born in Salt Lake City to Rey Lorenzo Baird and Joanne Pay Baird.

Greece Athens Mission

Bill O. and Lee Ann M. Heder

Bill Orr Heder, 50, and LeeAnn Muir Heder, six children, Timpanogos 6th Ward, Pleasant Grove Utah Timpanogos Stake: Greece Athens Mission, succeeding President Eric B. Freestone and Sister Faith M. Freestone. Brother Heder is a former bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the New York New York City Mission. Attorney, MacArthur, Heder and Metler, PLLC, Provo, Utah. Born in Milford, Utah, to Walter Morgan Heder and Mabel Isabel Orr Heder.

Sister Heder is a former ward Young Women president and Relief Society, Sunday School, and Primary teacher. Born in West Valley City, Utah, to Joseph Russell Muir and Patricia Ann Lee Muir.

Thailand Bangkok Mission

Kelly R. and Teressa L. Johnson

Kelly Ray Johnson, 52, and Teressa Lynn Bartrum Johnson, five children, Kaysville 8th Ward, Kaysville Utah Central Stake: Thailand Bangkok Mission, succeeding President David M. Senior and Sister Shelly A. Senior. Brother Johnson is a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishop, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Thailand Bangkok Mission. Forensic accountant and partner, Norman, Townsend & Johnson. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Harold Raymond Johnson and Helen Cragun Johnson.

Sister Johnson is a former ward Young Women president, ward Young Women and Relief Society presidency counselor, and ward nursery leader. Born in Sumter, South Carolina. Daughter of Thomas Halstead and Darlena Halstead.

Washington Yakima Mission

John C. and Ann Lewis

John Conley Lewis, 60, and Ann Lewis, three children, Country Springs Branch, Orem Utah Stonewood Stake: Washington Yakima Mission. Brother Lewis is a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, ward Young Men president, branch clerk, ward choir director, and missionary in the Switzerland Zurich Mission. Associate advancement vice president, Brigham Young University. Born in Mesa, Arizona, to John Dean Lewis and Catherine Elizabeth Lewis.

Sister Lewis is a former ward Young Women and Relief Society president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward family history consultant, Primary chorister, institute teacher, and missionary in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. Born in Reedley, California, to Arthur Rudolf Laemmlen and Grace Helen Laemmlen.

Brazil Teresina Mission

Wilson and Hermínia Melo

Wilson Oliveira de Melo Jr., 47, and Hermínia Irene Backsmann Pinto de Melo, one child, Colina do Aleixo Ward, Manaus Brazil Solimões Stake: Brazil Teresina Mission, succeeding President Alvacir L. Siedschlag and Sister Aurea Siedschlag. Brother Melo serves as a stake president and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishopric counselor, ward clerk, and high councilor. Public defender, State Public Defender. Born in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, to Wilson Oliveira de Melo and Zildete Chagas Sampaio.

Sister Melo serves as a stake Young Women presidency counselor and is a former stake Primary and Relief Society presidency counselor, seminary teacher, ward Young Women president, and ward Primary teacher. Born in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, to Fernando Corrêa Pinto and Arlinda Irene Backsmann Pinto.

Spain Madrid Mission

Kevin B. and Cindy A. Pack

Kevin Blair Pack, 49, and Cindy Alice Abel Pack, four children, Oak Grove Ward, Hattiesburg Mississippi Stake: Spain Madrid Mission, succeeding President Scott T. Jackson and Sister Ruthanne Jackson. Brother Pack serves as a stake president and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, stake executive secretary, bishopric counselor, high councilor, and missionary in the Chile Osorno Mission. Chief executive officer, MegaGate. Born in Logan, Utah, to Blair Philip Pack and Betty Jane Forsyth Pack.

Sister Pack serves as a stake Young Women presidency counselor and is a former stake Young Women president, ward Relief Society president, ward Primary presidency counselor, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Massachusetts Boston Mission. Born in Hammond, Louisiana, to Robert Carlise Abel and Edna Earl Morgan Abel.

Portugal Lisbon Mission

Victor and Edglê Tavares

Victor Emanuel Engelhardt Tavares, 59, and Maria Edglê Barroso Sampaio Tavares, three children, Agua Verde Ward, Curitiba Brazil Portão Stake: Portugal Lisbon Mission, succeeding President Stephen L. Fluckiger and Sister Dorothy Fluckiger. Brother Tavares serves as an area family history adviser and is a former stake president, high councilor, bishop, family history consultant, and missionary in the Brazil Recife Mission. Coordinator, Seminaries and Institutes. Born in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, to Armando Seguiz Tavares and Cecília Engelhardt Tavares.

Sister Tavares serves as a family history consultant and is a former ward and stake Relief Society president, family history center director, and missionary in the Portugal Lisbon Mission. Born in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, to José Arian Ribeiro Sampaio and Neusa Gonçalves Barroso Sampaio.

  Listen