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How to Build a Serve Culture in the First 90 Days of a Church Plant: Insights from Dino Rizzo
Starting a church plant comes with challenges—limited people, limited money, and limited resources. But according to Pastor Dino Rizzo, one thing every church planter can prioritize from day one is outreach. And when done intentionally, a serve culture can take root in the very first 90 days of a new church’s life.
Dino Rizzo, known for his passion for outreach and co-founder of ARC (Association of Related Churches), believes that building a culture of service is not optional. It’s essential. “If you drop me in a city,” he explains, “I’m going to find out where the vulnerable people are, what the pain is, and how we can meet needs.”
Here’s how he encourages church planters to start strong.
Study Your City
The first step in creating a serve culture isn’t launching an event—it’s listening and learning. Dino Rizzo challenges leaders to read the local newspaper, explore census data, and simply observe their communities. Every city has struggles: underfunded schools, vulnerable families, or addiction challenges. Understanding the needs gives a new church credibility and direction.
Look for Natural Moments to Serve
Church plants don’t need big budgets to make an impact. Instead, they can align with natural seasons of need. For example, if planting in the fall, host a back-to-school supply drive or serve teachers. If starting in the spring, look ahead to opportunities around Thanksgiving or Christmas. According to Rizzo, some ARC church planters even host a Serve Day before their official launch Sunday, showing the community they care before asking them to attend.
Start Small, but Start
In those first 90 days, it doesn’t take hundreds of volunteers or thousands of dollars. Sometimes outreach looks like delivering groceries to a widow, hosting a block party with borrowed equipment, or offering free coffee outside a busy workplace. Dino Rizzo insists: “You don’t have to do everything, but you can do something.”
These small beginnings, repeated consistently, establish the DNA of a church.
Build Around People with Passion
Often, the seeds of outreach are already in the congregation. Maybe a teacher cares deeply about vulnerable students, or a nurse wants to help single mothers. Dino Rizzo encourages pastors to listen to those passions and release people to serve. When leaders empower members to run with what God has put on their hearts, a culture of outreach grows organically.
Planting with Purpose
The first 90 days of a church plant can feel overwhelming, but Dino Rizzo offers clarity: serving your city is the best way to root your church in purpose. By studying the community, leaning into natural opportunities, starting small, and empowering people, church planters can build a serve culture that lasts.
And as Dino Rizzo’s own story testifies, it only takes one act of kindness to change a life—and one serve culture to transform a city.
About Dino Rizzo
Dino Rizzo, a 35-year ministry veteran, co-founded Healing Place Church with his wife, DeLynn, where he served as senior pastor for two decades. Through his passion for inspiring believers to serve their communities, Dino Rizzo founded Servolution and authored “Serve Your City.” Rizzo serves as the President of ARC (Association of Related Churches), which has planted more than 1100 churches worldwide, and is on the Senior Leadership Team at Church of the Highlands.
Here's something you might be interested in.
How to Build a Serve Culture in the First 90 Days of a Church Plant: Insights from Dino Rizzo
How to Build a Serve Culture in the First 90 Days of a Church Plant: Insights from Dino Rizzo
Starting a church plant comes with challenges—limited people, limited money, and limited resources. But according to Pastor Dino Rizzo, one thing every church planter can prioritize from day one is outreach. And when done intentionally, a serve culture can take root in the very first 90 days of a new church’s life.
Dino Rizzo, known for his passion for outreach and co-founder of ARC (Association of Related Churches), believes that building a culture of service is not optional. It’s essential. “If you drop me in a city,” he explains, “I’m going to find out where the vulnerable people are, what the pain is, and how we can meet needs.”
Here’s how he encourages church planters to start strong.
Study Your City
The first step in creating a serve culture isn’t launching an event—it’s listening and learning. Dino Rizzo challenges leaders to read the local newspaper, explore census data, and simply observe their communities. Every city has struggles: underfunded schools, vulnerable families, or addiction challenges. Understanding the needs gives a new church credibility and direction.
Look for Natural Moments to Serve
Church plants don’t need big budgets to make an impact. Instead, they can align with natural seasons of need. For example, if planting in the fall, host a back-to-school supply drive or serve teachers. If starting in the spring, look ahead to opportunities around Thanksgiving or Christmas. According to Rizzo, some ARC church planters even host a Serve Day before their official launch Sunday, showing the community they care before asking them to attend.
Start Small, but Start
In those first 90 days, it doesn’t take hundreds of volunteers or thousands of dollars. Sometimes outreach looks like delivering groceries to a widow, hosting a block party with borrowed equipment, or offering free coffee outside a busy workplace. Dino Rizzo insists: “You don’t have to do everything, but you can do something.”
These small beginnings, repeated consistently, establish the DNA of a church.
Build Around People with Passion
Often, the seeds of outreach are already in the congregation. Maybe a teacher cares deeply about vulnerable students, or a nurse wants to help single mothers. Dino Rizzo encourages pastors to listen to those passions and release people to serve. When leaders empower members to run with what God has put on their hearts, a culture of outreach grows organically.
Planting with Purpose
The first 90 days of a church plant can feel overwhelming, but Dino Rizzo offers clarity: serving your city is the best way to root your church in purpose. By studying the community, leaning into natural opportunities, starting small, and empowering people, church planters can build a serve culture that lasts.
And as Dino Rizzo’s own story testifies, it only takes one act of kindness to change a life—and one serve culture to transform a city.
About Dino Rizzo
Dino Rizzo, a 35-year ministry veteran, co-founded Healing Place Church with his wife, DeLynn, where he served as senior pastor for two decades. Through his passion for inspiring believers to serve their communities, Dino Rizzo founded Servolution and authored “Serve Your City.” Rizzo serves as the President of ARC (Association of Related Churches), which has planted more than 1100 churches worldwide, and is on the Senior Leadership Team at Church of the Highlands.
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