Workshop - Dino Rizzo

DINO RIZZO - “Servolution: Starting a Church Revolution Through Serving.”

Rizzo pastors a church in Baton Rouge called “Healing Place.” (May be the first time I have ever met a pastor named Dino!) It sounds a lot like BARK to the nth power! He gives three definitions of a “servolution”:

• A significant change in the course of history sparked by simple acts of kindness
• God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven
• A church revolution through serving

Rizzo’s ideas take outreach further than simple community service (though they sound like simple projects). His vision is to use these activities as catalysts for changing culture. Some of his ideas are simple things that we have already done. Others go a little further. He shared a list of fifteen ideas to get started on Servolution:

• Give away bottled water
• Adopt an inner-city block
• Start a cooking ministry
• Free auto maintenance (for widows, single moms, military wives) - we do this each year a couple of weeks before Mother’s Day - get help from local auto shops.
• Serve as the cleanup crew after community events
• Serve and care for widows
• Be active on your local college campus
• Serve your local government - (Any time we eat - it’s not just “us” - we figure out who we can share with - first responders in the community, etc.)
• Serve the homeless in your community
• Start a free food pantry - you can’t pay everyone’s utility bill, but no one walks away from our church without food, and we always help with needs for babies - diapers, etc.)
• Hospital outreach
• School supply give-away
• Reach out to single moms in need
• Respond to crisis and tragedy in your community
• Connect with other groups who are already serving your community

He began his session with some practical love - passing out homemade pralines! “I believe in the sweetness of serving!”

Dino himself became a believer because of a beach outreach ministry, so he believes in the importance of continuing that outreach. He shared his story of planting the church in Baton Rouge. It began with 12 people sixteen years ago, and now is a church of 7000 with multiple sites.

The key to Servolution - realize this is not an event - it is a purpose, it is a mandate. When you do that, many doors will open. There will be a thousand ways to integrate this into your church life.

"It is our church’s value that it is OK to spend time and money on outreach efforts that do not necessarily bring people into a church.

“If you were to drop me into a new community, and I had to start over, the first thing I would do is to buy a case of bottled water and start handing it out as a conversation starter!”

He shared a story about a small group that was praying for a single mom who was having to move the next day. It struck him - she not only needs prayer, she needs a truck and four volunteers. Guys especially will respond to these needs! They would rather do that than some other things churches ask for!

How does it work when resources are limited? Partnerships. Look for things that are already drawing people. You may not yet have the resources to draw a large crowd. Find a creative way to spend a small amount of money but still be a major part of this. “Be the flea on the elephant!”

"Now 'Serving People in Creative Ways' is simply a part of our budget. The seven days leading up to Good Friday are really huge for us.

"We make our DNA very clear to guests - we are a generous church - everyone you see around you is a generous person - with their time, their talent, their treasure, their touch.

"The shirts we wear have pockets - so there is a place where the cards are we hand out. The back of the shirt says 'serve team' and our web site address.

"We want them to know who we are - but also have a 'no strings attached' attitude!"