Dino Rizzo Shares How Churches Can Serve No Matter the Size

Serving should be an integral part of every church community. No matter how big or small your church is, it can play a huge part in impacting the community, according to Dino Rizzo, a 35-year ministry veteran.

Some people may think that in order to serve properly, you need to do something big — run a donation drive, give a lot of money, or chip in to build houses for the needy. But that’s simply not true.

There are many different ways to serve, and all these can be impactful — no matter how big the act of service is or how big the church community is.

All you need to do is follow the words of the Gospel, as it says in Mark Chapter 1:29-39: “Everyone is looking for you. Be mindful of people; look for people who are in need; be a noticer.”

Here are some ways your church can serve, no matter the size.

Fill a Specific Need

The success of donations isn’t measured by the dollar amount but rather by the impact that it makes on the lives of people around you. Church at the Crossing in Dothan, Alabama, is a great example of this.

Pastors John and Brandy Dowdey recently led a back-to-school “Kicks and Cuts” drive to help support families in need as they prepared to start a new school year. They donated 700 pairs of “kicks” (shoes) and provided 300 haircuts for kids who were going back to school. They also collected more than 500 backpacks that were given to children in the community.

This shows that you don’t need to be a megachurch to make a huge impact. By taking the time to understand a need and then doing everything you can to fill it, your reach can be great.

Donate Your Time and Effort

Serving is often associated with money. Whether it’s direct monetary donations or purchasing items for people in need, money is often at the center of people’s minds when they think about serving.

However, donating your time can be as impactful — if not more impactful — than donating money. Your church community could gather volunteers to head to a local park and beautify it. This could be as simple as picking up trash and debris, planting flowers, or installing park benches.

By partnering with local businesses, your church could likely get the tools or resources needed to be donated to the community. A local garden center, for instance, might be happy to donate flowers for you to plant.

In this way, you’ll make a huge impact on the community by dedicating your time and effort.

Be There for People

One of the most impactful acts of service is being there for someone in a time of need. As Dino Rizzo says, lending a shoulder to lean on or an ear to listen is sometimes what people need the most.

Churches of any size can play this supportive role for the people in their community. Service such as this goes a long way in helping people maintain their emotional well-being, which is a critical part of living a long, happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.

About Dino Rizzo

Dino Rizzo, a seasoned pastor with 35 years of ministry experience, co-founded Healing Place Church in 1993 with his wife, DeLynn, and served for over two decades as senior pastor. A strong believer in inspiring others to serve their communities, Dino Rizzo founded the organization “Servolution.” He’s co-founder and Executive Director of ARC (Association of Related Churches), overseeing 1000+ church plants worldwide while also serving on the Senior Leadership Team at Church of the Highlands.