MADISON – Leif Sandstrom of Madison recently accepted a call to serve as a bishop for the Madison 3rd Ward, one of three Madison congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sandstrom assumes this leadership role with years of church experience. Previously, he has served in many volunteer positions in the church, including teacher for both youth and adults, mission leader and a two-year mission to Sweden.

Sandstrom has lived in Madison for 17 years, where he and his wife Minna have raised their six children. They have been married for 25 years, and their oldest two children currently are serving two-year church missions in Las Vegas, Nev. and Logan, Utah.

Sandstrom, who is 46 years old, received a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He works for ADTRAN’s Research and Development Department.

“I am humbled by the call. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and participate in the Lord’s work. And I will rely on the Lord in my efforts (Phil. 4:13),”  Sandstrom said after receiving his call to serve.

Mark Petrucka, 45, and Michael Parker, 48 are serving as counselors with Sandstrom to form a bishopric.

Petrucka, his wife Cindy and their four children have lived in Madison for 12 years. He works for NASA as a software specialist.

Parker and his wife Jodie have been married for 28 years. He joined the church when he was 22 years old, and together they have lived in Madison with their three children for 10 of those years. He retired from the Army after serving 22 years as an Infantryman and Criminal Investigator and currently is a Federal Agent with the Major Procurement Fraud Unit.

Joking about the three men’s baldness, Parker said, “Being bald is not a requirement for this calling but given the time it saves me, it sure helps. If only I could convince the rest of the church leaders of this fact.”

“Bald is beautiful! At least that is what we chosen to believe,” Parker said.

Bishoprics, along with all LDS leaders and teachers, work and serve without pay. A bishop’s main responsibility is to assist members in their spiritual and temporal welfare. He ministers to them in their efforts to become true disciples of Christ.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomes visitors to attend any service, held on Sundays at 9 and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at 1297 Slaughter Road.