James Berry Tounguen has been named National Director of Public Affairs in Vanuatu for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In this new role he will be representing the Church and developing relationships with local leaders in government, other faiths and the news media.
James’ wife, Christiane Tounguen, currently serving as Public Affairs secretary, will work with her husband. Christiane also teaches in Relief Society, the Church’s women’s organization.
Church work is voluntary, so both will continue in their current employment. James works as the Sales Manager for Asco Motors Ltd, and his wife is a Language Supervisor for the Church Translation and Interpretation Department.
James and Christiane were married in 2000 and two years later were sealed in the Mormon temple in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Both joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with their families when they were children in the 1980s. They now have three children of their own, ranging from an infant to a young teenager.
Voluntary service is a way of life for Latter-day Saints. “We’ve been serving in various callings even before we got married,” says James. “We love serving.”
Christiane spent time as a missionary in the Latter-day Saints' Fiji Suva Mission.
More than 7,300 members of the Church live in Vanuatu. They worship in 33 congregations across the nation.
In addition to family and employment responsibilities, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serve in their congregations and communities in many ways including as leaders, teachers, music directors and youth advisers.