Monthly Ministering Night | A How I Lead Interview with Garth Pedersen

Garth Pedersen grew up in Elk Grove, California, and Mesa, Arizona, and served a mission to Brazil. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is a small business owner. Garth has served as a ward clerk, Sunday School president, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, and Primary worker (his favorite calling, along with being a dad). He and his wife have three daughters and two sons, and live in San Tan Valley, Arizona. Links Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints community Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights Garth Pedersen shares shares innovative approaches his elders quorum has used to improve ministering. He shares his journey in leadership over the past three years, focusing on creating a culture of ministering that avoids shame and fosters genuine relationships. Garth emphasizes the need for leaders to model ministering behaviors rather than simply assigning tasks, advocating for a supportive environment where members feel empowered to engage in meaningful connections. He outlines three key principles for effective ministering: praying for those they serve, communicating with them, and genuinely loving and serving them. Garth also addresses the challenges of ministering in today’s society, where social interactions can feel awkward and disconnected. To combat these challenges, Garth introduced the concept of “ministering night,” held every fourth Sunday, where members are invited to visit families together. This initiative not only encourages participation but also helps build relationships in a low-pressure setting. Garth shares inspiring stories from these visits, illustrating how simple interactions can lead to meaningful connections and a renewed sense of community. He emphasizes the importance of agency, reminding listeners that while they can invite and support others, ultimately it is up to individuals to choose their paths. The episode concludes with a call to action for leaders to focus on love and service, fostering a culture of ministering that reflects the teachings of Christ. 04:39 – Garth’s Background and Current Role 06:09 – Cultural Disconnect in Ministering 07:03 – Building a Culture of No Shame 10:42 – Principles of Ministering: Overview 17:14 – Three Key Principles of Ministering 23:14 – Serving When Help is Not Obvious 27:27 – Understanding Agency in Ministering 30:20 – The Importance of Personal Experience 34:00 – Avoiding Shame in Leadership 38:03 – Strategies for Effective Ministering 42:00 – Implementing Ministering Night 47:37 – Logistics of Ministering Night Visits The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.