New Mission Leaders Begin Their Service in England

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England Birmingham Mission

James and Rachael Parker are members of the Lisburn Ward, Belfast Northern Ireland Stake. They have five children. At the time of their call, President Parker was a stake presidency counsellor. He is a former high councillor, stake mission president, bishop, public affairs director, ward mission leader, and served a full-time mission in the Canada Halifax Mission. He was born in Leicester, England, to Geoffrey Michael Parker and Judith Anne Penelope Parker.

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Sister Parker was serving as ward Relief Society presidency counsellor when they were called. She is a former stake Primary president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, Sunday school teacher and seminary teacher. She was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, to Richard Noble Marshall Edwards and Yvonne Maureen Edwards.

About their call as Mission Leaders, President Parker said: 

I cannot adequately put into words what this calling means to me and to us. I was introduced to the Church and the gospel of Jesus Christ by missionaries when I was 19 years old. Embracing what they taught me has significantly changed the course of my life. One year later I had the opportunity to serve a full-time mission, which was further transforming and set a foundation for life. I can link so many good outcomes in my life to what I learned as a missionary. To now have the opportunity to lead this great work, that has meant so much to me, is an indescribable honour and privilege. What adds more to that is that the Lord has called us to serve in the places I was born and grew up, but left at age 18, before I even knew the restored church of Jesus Christ existed.

Sister Parker expressed: 

We feel honoured to have been given this sacred trust to love and lead His precious children. We look forward to walking along the covenant path with them, whilst inviting others to come unto Christ along our way. I have felt the Saviour’s name written on my heart throughout my life, but I am most excited about now having the privilege of wearing His name on my person, for all to see. Having felt an increased desire and urgency to share the gospel over the past few years, I consider it a blessing beyond measure to now have this consecrated opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ on a full-time basis. Whilst my mind still cannot comprehend what is about to happen in our lives, I know we are being given a precious gift that will enlarge our hearts and souls in a way we could never have imagined.

England Leeds Mission

Jeffrey J. and Deanna Kerr are from the Chaska Ward, Minneapolis Minnesota Stake, USA. They have 3 children and 6 grandchildren, with two more due this year. President Kerr is from San Diego, California and Sister Kerr is from Orem, Utah.

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President Kerr has had a career in banking and is now retiring as an executive vice president for U.S. Bank. They have lived in New Jersey, Los Angeles, Nashville, and for the past 27 years in Minnesota. 

Deanna has her own Pilates business. She’s a qualified instructor helping people gain flexibility, posture and balance with particular emphasis on core strength. She enjoys working with those who have multiple sclerosis, or people recovering from hip or knee replacements. She enjoys helping people regain a quality of life through Pilates exercise. 

At the time of their call, President Kerr was due to be released as an Area Seventy. Before serving as an Area Seventy, President Kerr served as a former mission presidency counsellor, stake president, bishop, Primary teacher, temple ordinance worker and missionary in the Kentucky Louisville mission. 

Sister Kerr is a former seminary supervisor, seminary teacher, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, stake Young Women presidency counsellor, Sunday School teacher and temple ordinance worker.

They feel honoured to be called to preside over the England Leeds Mission. Although President Kerr’s work has brought them to England, they only visited London. They are now thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in the north of the country. Sister Kerr’s genealogy is rooted in the United Kingdom, and they feel immense gratitude to serve in the England Leeds Mission.

England Manchester Mission

Rich and Marla Goode will be the new Mission Leaders for the England Manchester Mission. They are from the Keller 1st Ward, Colleyville Texas Stake, and have four children. They will succeed President K. Roy Tunnicliffe and Sister Vanessa Tunnicliffe. 

Both President and Sister Goode are returning to the country they served in as young missionaries. Sister Goode served in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission and President Goode was a missionary in the England Manchester Mission.

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