Whenever someone embarks on creating a new organization, they have a common goal: establishing a movement that will endure. Regardless of the organization’s type and focus, certain fundamental principles can be prioritized to ensure long-term sustainability and success. Dino Rizzo, executive director of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), highlights the significance of identifying and nurturing the core values that align with the organization’s purpose.
As was the case when Dino and his wife, DeLynn, co-founded Healing Place Church, there’s a time when every new organization will come to a crossroads, where decisions that are made will affect the movement’s future. At these times, you need to rely on core values to prop you up and get you through whatever you may face.
Below are three major areas Dino Rizzo recommends focusing on when creating effective and sustainable networks and movements.
Relationships
Relationships are the core of every organization. As Dino Rizzo recounts his trials and tribulations, he and his team wanted to take a journey together. It was important for all members to believe in each other and be real with each other.
Knowing your weaknesses and strengths is important no matter what the outside world thinks of you. This will help everyone row in the same direction, if you will, and complement each other’s skill sets.
In ministry, there are two focuses — the mission and the relationship. While many would argue that the mission is the most important aspect, Dino Rizzo says you need genuine relationships to get to the mission.
A Big Field
Many leaders tend to keep things close to the chest to have a tight grip on the work so that it can adhere to a specific dogma, label, or doctrine.
Dino Rizzo says that as ARC (Association of Related Churches) was starting out, members knew that there were many groups that God was using to build his Kingdom. Many of the leaders in those groups also brought unique gifts to the table from which they could benefit.
Yet, ARC leaders decided they wanted the focus to be able to empower other leaders and celebrate the diversity of gifts — rather than just being a tight-knit group of pastors. As a result, many other movements have turned to ARC as a home to help them grow and flourish.
Resource-Rich Environment
There are many people around the world who dream of planting a church for God, but often they don’t have a place to turn to for help and guidance.
That’s where Dino Rizzo and his team dreamed, “What if?”
They sought to answer the questions of what if they could provide someplace where people could train, be coached, and gain resources, while also making friendships, and what if money wasn’t a big issue.
By focusing on doing a few things well and providing a resource-rich environment for church planters, ARC succeeded in helping others create effective and sustainable networks and movements.
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.” As Executive Director of ARC (Association of Related Churches), Rizzo oversees the planting of over 1,000 churches worldwide and is on the Senior Leadership Team at Church of the Highlands.
