New 2018 Mission Presidents Called to England, Philippines, Ukraine, and More

  • 21 February 2018

The Church has announced new mission president assignments for 111 missions, effective July 2018. Map by Deseret News.

The following new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July of 2018. Biographies of each mission presidency couple will be published throughout 2018 on news.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

New Mexico Farmington Mission

Jeffery J. and Jolene Ackerman

Jeffrey Joe Ackerman, 52, and Jolene Reeve Ackerman, four children, Rock Creek Ward, Filer Idaho Stake: New Mexico Farmington Mission, succeeding President David G. Adams and Sister Cherie Adams. Brother Ackerman serves as a temple ordinance worker and stake Young Men presidency counselor and is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, stake mission president, and missionary in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission. Born in Kennewick, Washington, to Elwin Lee Ackerman and Lura Mercer Ackerman.

Sister Ackerman serves as a stake Relief Society presidency counselor and young single adult adviser and is a former ward Primary president, ward Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor, and seminary teacher. Born in Provo, Utah, to Rex Cropper Reeve Jr. and Barbara Eardley Reeve.

Brazil Campinas Mission

John T. and Keri J. Marsh

John Taggart Marsh, 52, and Keri Jeanne Marsh, four children, Lewisville Ward, Winston-Salem North Carolina Stake: Brazil Campinas Mission, succeeding President Bruce Hill and Sister Kathleen Hill. Brother Marsh serves as a Sunday School teacher and is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Brazil Curitiba Mission. Born in San Gabriel, California, to Paul Allen Marsh and Mary LuJean Taggart Marsh.

Sister Marsh serves as a Sunday School teacher and Primary activity days leader and is a former ward Relief Society and Primary president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women camp director, and Primary teacher. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, to Dean Smith Layton and JoEllen Layton.

Maryland Baltimore Mission

Thierry K. and Nathalie Sinda Mutombo

Kasuangi Thierry Mutombo, 41, and Tshayi Nathalie Sinda Mutombo, six children, N’Djili 1st Ward, Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Masina Stake: Maryland Baltimore Mission, succeeding President Randal J. Christiansen and Sister Mary Ann Christiansen. Brother Mutombo serves as a stake president and is a former stake presidency counselor, stake executive secretary, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Ivory Coast Abidjan Mission. Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, to Antoine Kasuangi Mutombo and Marie Therese Matsanga Nzambu.

Sister Mutombo serves as a Primary teacher and is a former ward Primary president, ward and branch Young Women president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa Mission. Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, to Flavien Mukelenge Sinda and Marie Kaluki Lwamba.

England Birmingham Mission

David J. and Lisa A. Hughes

David John Hughes, 45, and Lisa Amanda Scott Hughes, three children, Chorley 2nd Ward, Chorley England Stake: England Birmingham Mission, succeeding President Mark A. J. Leppard and Sister Jane P. Leppard. Brother Hughes is a former MTC presidency counselor, mission presidency counselor, stake presidency counselor, bishop, stake Young Men president, high councilor, and missionary in the England Bristol Mission. Born in Ashton Under Lyne, England, to Gary Thomas Hughes and Jacqueline Diane Hughes.

Sister Hughes is a former stake Young Women president and secretary, ward Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and Primary music leader. Born in Manchester, England, to Roy Lewis Scott and Christine Scott.

Philippines Bacolod Mission

Elmer and Leanell Sumagpao

Elmer Epifanio Sudario Sumagpao, 57, and Leanell Pascua Melad Sumagpao, four children, Muntinlupa 2nd Ward, Las Piñas Philippines Stake: Philippines Bacolod Mission, succeeding President Christopher A. Barredo and Sister Ana O. Barredo. Brother Sumagpao serves as a stake president and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, branch president, stake and ward Young Men president, and high councilor. Born in Manila, Philippines, to Ignacio Sudario Sumagpao Sr. and Leonila Manaay Sudario Sumagpao.

Sister Sumagpao serves as a PathwayConnect Church-service missionary and temple ordinance worker and is a former stake Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, institute teacher, stake self-reliance specialist, and Sunday School teacher. Born in Manila, Philippines, to Loreto Claravall Melad and Remedios Pascua Melad.

Washington Spokane Mission

Michael A. and Julie A. Thompson

Michael Alan Thompson, 47, and Julie Ann Williams Thompson, six children, Chelsie Park 2nd Ward, Layton Utah West Stake: Washington Spokane Mission, succeeding President Wayne R Dymock and Sister Julie L. Dymock. Brother Thompson serves as a missionary preparation instructor and is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the California San Bernardino Mission. Born in Fort Ord, California, to Perry Lyn Thompson and Helen Francis Harker Thompson.

Sister Thompson serves as stake Young Women president and is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women and Primary presidency counselor, Sunday School teacher, and Relief Society compassionate service leader. Born in Bountiful, Utah, to Paul George Williams and Marilyn Hall Williams.

Perú Piura Mission

Jorge and Martha Vega

Jorge Enrique Vega Aponte, 58, and Martha Alicia Bonilla de Vega, three children, Chia Ward, Bogotá Colombia Granada Stake: Perú Piura Mission, succeeding President Daniel L. Rasmussen and Sister Shauna J. Rasmussen. Brother Vega serves as a high councilor and is a former stake presidency counselor, mission presidency counselor, bishop, stake Sunday School president, stake executive secretary, and stake mission president. Born in Firavitoba, Boyacá, Colombia, to Jorge Vega Malaver and Alicia Aponte.

Sister Vega serves as a stake Primary presidency counselor and is a former ward Primary president, ward Primary presidency counselor, and ward Relief Society presidency counselor. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, to Jose Arquimedes Bonilla Rodriguez and Alicia Vega de Bonilla.

Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk Mission

Joni and Richard L. Wirthlin

Richard LeGrand Wirthlin, 60, and Joni Jane Stone Wirthlin, seven children, Solemint Ward, Santa Clarita California Stake: Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk Mission, succeeding President Paul R. Sullivan and Sister Karen S. Sullivan. Brother Wirthlin is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, stake Young Men president, branch president, high councilor, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Germany Munich Mission. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Richard Bitner Wirthlin and Jeralie Mae Chandler.

Sister Wirthlin is a former stake Relief Society presidency counselor, ward and branch Primary president, ward Young Women president, Sunday School teacher, and Cub Scout leader. Born in Redding, California, to Eddie Stone and Judy Stone.

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