Josh Hendricks finds fulfillment in helping others improve their lot in life whether it is managing their finances better or embracing Jesus Christ.

It is why without hesitation that Hendricks answered the calling to provide leadership in the Manteca Stake Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It is the same commitment to others and his faith that 175 years ago brought William Stout and 20 men to what is now South San Joaquin County.

It was not gold that lured them to the California wilderness in 1846 given it was two years before the discovery of the precious metal on the American River. Instead it was a desire to grow not just the church per se but the lives of those who came together to build better lives for themselves and their loved ones.

The bid to build a colony dubbed New Hope on the banks of the Stanislaus River west of present-day Ripon and south of present-day Manteca was washed out by the forces of nature when winter rains in 1847 sent the San Joaquin River over its banks and become three miles wide as it headed toward the Delta.

Hendricks, along with his fellow members of the recently elevated stake presidency, gathered in the confines of the Manteca stake center on Northland Road some 10 miles northeast of  the central house built from oak logs by Stout and his men in the general vicinity where Caswell State Park is today.

The Manteca stake — led by President Kade Petersen with Ken Brown as the first counselor and Hendricks as the second counselor — numbers 4,000 members. It includes New Hope as well as Manteca, Ripon, and Tracy. They shared their faith, their calling, and how the pandemic has changed the manner in which people reach out to others.

Like all leadership within stakes and wards, the three serve without remuneration. They handle their leadership roles at the same time as their career and family. Petersen is an elementary school principal in Stanislaus County. Brown is a sales representative. Hendrickson is a software engineer.

All three are calling upon their faith and skill sets to help members of the stake grow spiritually as well as in the challenges of day to day life.

Hendricks, an example, draws upon his masters in accounting at times to counsel fellow LDS members on money management.

“I get a sense of fulfillment each time when I’m lifting others” Hendricks said of sharing his knowledge to better help fellow church members manage their financial affairs or to grow their  relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is a common thread among all church leaders.

Petersen noted in the past 17 months the church has seen a lot of growth due to its decision to engage with people more through social media.

It started when the pandemic forced missionaries to suspend reaching out person-to-person by knocking on doors.

And while the church was an early pioneer almost a decade ago in using online tools to reach out to people, missionaries have successfully taken it to new levels

“The pandemic allowed the church to find ways to use social media to do good,” Petersen noted.  “ . . . During the pandemic people have reached out for answers.”

And while social media outreach is expected to continue to grow as part of the church’s outreach, it will be to augment and not supplant the power of one-in-one in-person communication.

“People want to believe in something bigger than themselves,” Petersen said.

And that has been a major driving force in the pandemic as people seek answers and perspective.

Hendricks pointed out that the church strives to help people find answers to not just spiritual needs but secular as well.

It is why members all have a calling they fulfill to serve others. It is a list as endless of human needs ranging from helping others develop skills to successfully house and feed their families to dealing with emotional challenges.

The LDS church is simply not a Sunday focused affair.

“It is a seven day a week commitment,” Petersen said.

The ongoing interactions rely on the entire ward — and not just its hierarchy — to share their faith and secular skills.

And while the goal may be summed up as striving to be more saint-like,  there are no illusions that everyone — regardless of where they are in their journey — aren’t infallible humans.

“First and foremost we believe in Jesus Christ,” Hendricks said. “We are Christians. Christ is our cornerstone.”

That said, Hendricks noted those looking for answers or a path forward will find a welcoming church.

“There is no judgment,” Hendricks said in referencing how people universally struggle with things.

That means even if church tenets call for refraining from smoking there is not a judgment of someone who does. Instead the church focuses on trying to help people grow.

The combined stake presidency leadership provides a broad-based perspective.

Petersen is a lifelong member of the church that can trace his family’s ties back to John Pack who in 1839 assisted John Smith in helping establish the city of Nauvoo in Illinois. Petersen was baptized by his father at the age of 8. His father was recently reactivated in the church.

Brown joined the church in 1990 at the age of 24.

Hendricks is a lifelong member.

Petersen and his wife April have six children,

The elementary school principal earned his Bachelors of Science from Brigham Young University and his Masters of Arts, Psychology, from National University. Among his activities are off-roading with the Overland Pioneers Jeep Club, camping, hiking, and reading.

Brown and his wife Allison have two children and two grandchildren.

Petersen served his mission in Madrid, Spain. That helped sharpen his interest in Spanish and set the stage for starting his teaching career as a Spanish instructor.

He has some college. His activities include photography, hunting, finishing, and membership in the Ripon Rotary Club.

Due to joining the church at 24 he has yet to serve a mission although he plans to do so in retirement.

Hendricks and his wide Kenna have five grandchildren and four grandchildren.

He earned his Masters of Accounting with an Information System’s emphasis from BYU. His activities include snowboarding, gardening, rock climbing, hiking, and running. He also serves as a volunteer handyman for the Tracy Senior Association.

Brown served is mission in upper New York State in Rochester.