Two former stake presidents from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were recently named as counselors to serve with President Charles Rudd in the New Zealand Hamilton Mission.
The new mission was organized on 1 July 2013 and covers the central part of New Zealand’s North Island. This brought the total to three Latter-day Saint missions in New Zealand.
“I am grateful to have such qualified men to serve with,” President Charles Rudd said. “It is a great blessing to serve in New Zealand.”
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President John Higgins has served for the last nine years as the Church’s Hamilton Stake President.
“I absolutely love my new calling,” he said. “Especially because it is the first calling I have ever had that my wife is able to travel with me. I just love missionary work and the missionaries are so good.”
President Forrest W. Worthen, called as second counselor in the mission presidency, previously served for 10 years as stake president of the Tauranga Stake.
“All I can say is that I feel so much gratitude to the Lord for this opportunity to serve in this capacity as well as feeling a great sense of urgency to teach those around us about the true doctrine of Christ,” President Worthen said.
“I’m grateful to serve with President Rudd and President Higgins. I am also excited to work alongside the full time missionaries, leaders and members in this great New Zealand Hamilton Mission.”
Latter-day Saint missions are led by mission presidents and their counselors. Their wives also provide leadership, teaching and counseling missionaries who each serve from 18 months to two years at their own expense and without pay. Each mission comprises approximately 150 to 200 young men and women ages 18 to 25, as well as senior missionary couples.
Missionaries teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and provide community service in the areas where they live.