“All of the vision I ever need is found in the valley of need. Need creates vision.” - Matthew Barnett

Pastor Matthew Barnett, founder of the LA Dream Center, has dedicated his life to serving those facing homelessness, hunger, and addiction. What started as a three-month commitment turned into a transformative movement that has inspired churches worldwide to establish their own dream centers. As Dino Rizzo puts it, “Where would LA be without the LA Dream Center and Pastor Matthew Barnett?”

In the latest episode of Unscripted, we take you on an exclusive tour of the Dream Center, showcasing powerful testimonies from individuals who have found hope and healing there. You'll hear directly from a former gang member and a woman who overcame abuse, both of whom are now sober and passionate about their faith.

Highlights of the episode include:

As the conversation unfolds, Matthew and Dino candidly discuss the challenges of outreach work and the importance of caring for those who feel invisible and broken. One of Pastor Matthew’s biggest pieces of advice to pastors? “Throw yourselves into the lives of people. Serve like Jesus. Don’t worry about being an overnight success.”

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠.

“You’re called to reach a city. You need to love your city.” - John Siebeling

We’re excited to share the latest episode of Unscripted, where we hit the streets with Pastors Dino Rizzo and John Siebeling for an inspiring conversation on living out the Great Commission through service and outreach. This episode, recorded on the move in Memphis, offers a raw and unscripted look at the heart behind local missions, engaging the next generation in serving your city, and includes countless insights that will challenge and encourage you in your own journey.

Episode Highlights:

This episode is packed with stories, practical advice, and a deep passion for serving others. Whether you're looking for new ways to engage your church in outreach or simply need a dose of inspiration, this conversation is a must-watch.

Tune in now to Season 5, Episode 2 of Unscripted on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts, and join us in the mission to make a difference in our cities and beyond.

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠.

We’re thrilled to kick off Season 5 of Unscripted with an episode you won’t want to miss! This premiere takes you deep into the heart of outreach and service, featuring a powerful lineup of leaders who are transforming communities through love, faith, and action. We also follow several churches on SERVE Day, showcasing the incredible impact of unified efforts to serve others, including young church plants that are making a difference despite limited resources.

Our guests are exceptional leaders who have dedicated their lives to serving others:

What to Expect:

Our guests tackle key questions about outreach:

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠.

“I think you come in with a towel, not a sword. We’re laboring with other men and women who have sowed – you’re going to reap from some seeds that others have planted.”

Steve Robinson is a pastor, speaker, and author with a ministry of thousands across six physical Church of the King locations, an online campus, and radio and television broadcasts. He is a graduate of Tulane University, holds a master’s degree from King’s Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern University.

Pastor Steve serves on the boards of Equip, a worldwide leadership organization led by John Maxwell, and Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He has a deep love for New Orleans, the surrounding areas, and its vibrant people and culture. Since founding Church of the King with his wife, Jennifer, in 1999, their passion for the city has only intensified, and they believe their newest campus will play a crucial role in training urban church planters to reach population centers.

In the latest episode of Unscripted, Dino visits Steve at his current campus in the suburbs of New Orleans and their newest location under renovation on St. Charles Avenue. They discuss many angles of Steve’s journey of planting, growing, expanding, and learning as a pastor over the past 25 years, including: 

They also discuss the importance of not “switching dance partners” halfway through the dance and how your pastor, board, accountability partners, and friends who know your soul and blind spots are vital in your health and growth. He emphasizes the importance of these 3 principles: 

“Deal with your pain early. Develop healthy patterns. And watch for the snake of pride.”

Get ready to be inspired—not just to visit New Orleans – but to expand your leadership vision for your city, pursue personal growth, and strengthen friendships along the way. Tune in to this episode on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform!

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

“A lot of young leaders and church planters think they need to get into ministry as a profession. However, there will be many pastors who will be fruitful and flourish as bi-vocational leaders, and we need to applaud that. You’re in a rich, rich field where you can plant and reap a harvest in ways that some of us will never be able to.”

Pastor Terry Crist is the co-lead pastor of City of Grace in Phoenix alongside his wife, Judith. As fifth-generation pastors, they have been building the local church and helping hurting people for over 30 years. Terry has both a Th.M. and a D.Min. and a business certificate in nonprofit management from Harvard Business School. He is passionate about community transformation and promotes adoption and foster care through his work in state government. 

In this inspiring ‘Unscripted’ conversation, Terry shares some enlightening perspectives with Dino, including:

Terry expounds on the essential role of partnership in ministry. Reflecting on his 40-year marriage and ministry partnership with Judith, he emphasizes the importance of working together, leveraging each other's strengths, and embracing the challenges of co-leading. Their story is a testament to the power of mutual support and shared vision in building a flourishing ministry that stands the test of time.

Dino and Terry also unpack many principles of Terry’s new book, Loving Samaritans: Radical Kindness in an Us vs. Them World. As a pastor committed to building deep relationships with people whose life experiences are different from his own, Terry believes the church needs to return to loving people unconditionally. He explains how Jesus was the ultimate example as He engaged the Samaritan woman at the well about the most provocative topics of their day in a respectful, kind, considerate, and truthful way. 

“Love fills the space between grace and truth.” 

He believes we need to stop “othering” people and explores what it means to live faithfully and compassionately. 

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

“For the world, self-care is mission, but for the church, self-care is strategy. We have to understand what self-care is as stewardship and an act of worship.”

Welcome to the latest episode of Unscripted, ARC’s podcast that brings you off-the-cuff, deeply engaging conversations.

Andy Yarborough, clinical psychologist and founder of The Well Clinic, joins Dino for a compelling conversation centered around what it means to thrive holistically. With a doctoral degree in psychology, Andy has a heart for helping pastors and missionaries not just overcome struggles but truly thrive in their ministries and personal lives.

In this episode, you'll hear Dino and Andy discuss some of the most pressing and important topics we've ever covered on Unscripted. From the challenges facing today's pastors to the incredible work being done to integrate well-being as the ongoing pursuit of holistic health, their conversation delves into:

They also discuss the essential work Dr. Andy is doing with ARC, where he helps church planters and leaders prepare for their roles with a focus on emotional and spiritual health. If you're involved in ministry, leadership, or passionate about supporting those who are, this episode is a must-listen.

So, grab your favorite barbecue (we enjoyed some delicious dry rub in Memphis during this recording)—or coffee—and tune in to this powerful conversation. You can listen to the episode [here] or your favorite podcast platform.

And don't forget to subscribe to Unscripted so you never miss an episode.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. We’re so glad you’re here!

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Are you curious how some leaders create thriving organizations while others struggle to build anything that’s sustainable? Here at ARC, we’re passionate about learning from tested leaders who embody Jesus’ model of servant leadership and who’ve built strong, healthy organizations. 

In the newest episode of Unscripted, Dino interviews Dwight Sandlin, co-founder of Signature Homes, one of the South's leading residential developers. 

Dwight's insights are a treasure trove for anyone looking to lead with care, build a top-tier team, and serve customers with excellence. As most of his hard-earned lessons translate into the church planting space, Dino and Dwight unpack many aspects of building and leading, including: 

“We measure everything we do because if we don’t, we don’t know if we’re going in the right direction.” Dwight is serious about market research, analysis, and making decisions based on logic, not “gut,” which he describes as a summary of our experiences.

He also shares how Signature Homes survived the 2008 housing and financial crisis by staying focused and analytical. His hopeful message is that the hard times give us the opportunity to clean up and emerge stronger and better. Not beating yourself up over past mistakes and not indulging in self-pity is crucial to growing as a leader.

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

“Our level of success isn’t in our seating capacity, it’s in our sending capacity… addition isn’t the goal, multiplication is.”

Pastors Daniel and Tammie Floyd are the founding and Senior Pastors of Lifepoint Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Since 2005, the church has grown from 50 people to five locations throughout the state, including a church plant in Germany. 

The Floyds are passionate about the local church, developing leaders, and reaching people far from God. And they have taken great strides to deploy leaders with ministry training through launching Lifepoint College in 2016.

They sit down with Dino to talk about their almost 20 years leading a church and what they’ve learned about becoming self-aware, finding your tribe, and making sure your marriage is as healthy as possible. 

This Unscripted conversation covers many topics including:

When asked what still works after all these years, they explain that building and developing people to rise into their potential never gets old and will always be an intentional focus for them. Leader nights and investing in the college are ways they do this along with believing every person has a God-given purpose, and it’s their responsibility to help develop them towards that. 

Daniel also explains that a healthy leader is a curious leader. A leader who takes ownership, apologizes, and looks for their own weaknesses in order to grow. 

“If you’ll keep expanding your capacity - which is expandable - you’ll keep increasing your influence.” 

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

From the Wall Street Journal to Silicon Valley, ARC has received some positive attention and press lately. People in the business spheres are recognizing there’s something unique and effective about the ARC church planting model.

While we’re grateful for the business communities’ intrigue, we recognize church planting with ARC can be like learning a foreign language to those who are not familiar with the culture and context. The same words in one arena don’t always fit the context in a different arena. We thought it would be helpful to piggyback off of these articles and social media highlights and offer further insight, context, and clarity so that more people can understand the power and effectiveness of our relational network.

Vance Roush returns as a guest of Unscripted to unpack many angles of ARC, business, technology, and even flip the roles by asking Dino a question or two.

They tackle some important questions and topics including:

Vance gives his hot take on how prolific AI will be for churches’ “back office” and why leaders should not fear it. As the founder of Overflow, a Silicon-Valley based startup that is unlocking generosity in churches and nonprofits, he leads by example in the vision that leveraging technology allows us to extend and expand the Kingdom of God.

“Church planting with ARC is not a model based on taking equity, it’s a model that’s funded by generosity.”

He expounds on the differences he sees between start-ups, venture capital, franchises and ARC. While ARC is not a bank, venture capital model, or lender, we stand apart in our ability to use 81% of our budget to support, train, coach, and resource church planting. Church Planters who are trained and supported by ARC commit to a reinvestment that perpetually funds new church plants and has resulted in over 1100 churches being planted since ARC’s inception.

This incredible statistic is possible because of the board’s generosity, which covers the administrative and operational costs so that every dollar donated can go to church planting. And with a pay-it-forward model, full of generosity and reinvestment, ARC is able to serve church leaders and help them not do ministry alone.

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

“I’m not overworked, I'm under-planned…Together, let’s see if we can do something that we don’t see a model for.”

This is how Pastor Brett Jones invited his brother, Scott Jones, to co-pastor with him, after pastoring for a few years on his own. They began partnering to lead Grace Church in Houston, TX, and have now led together for 38 years. Not only have they defied the discouraging advice that “anything with 2 heads is a freak”, but they’ve also scaled an incredible model for how to maintain your relationships, set aside your egos, and prioritize servant leadership in every season. 

In this intriguing ‘Unscripted’ conversation, Brett shares much insight with Dino, including:

They discuss how “life moves at the speed of relationships” and how ego means “edging God out.” It’s imperative that leaders are fully aware that the part they play is smaller than the vision they’re submitted to. 

Brett is also passionate about mentoring the next generation and has spent extensive time researching the exemplary mentoring model of Elijah and Elisha. He unpacks this successful transition from generation to generation in his book “The Changeover Principle: Mentoring and the Art of Servant Leadership.” He admits the struggle many leaders experience, finding it easier to call down fire from Heaven than to guide and mentor a successor like Elisha. But, he warns the risk is high if we don’t.

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The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a cooperative of independent churches from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds who strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus.

Since 2000, ARC has helped to plant more than 1,070 churches worldwide. If you have a dream in your heart to start a life-giving church and reach your city with the message of Jesus, ARC is here to come alongside you in the journey. Attending ARC Launch, a church planter training event, is the first step in planting a church with ARC. You will hear from ARC pastors, coaches, and staff as they share the nuts and bolts of church planting. Discover more and register for ARC Launch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/launch/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Don’t Do Ministry Alone - We need relationships to thrive. You need other people in your corner, who have gone through similar things that you’ve gone through, and believe in your dream. ARC provides opportunities for you to build relationships with others in ministry that will support and strengthen you in what God has called you to do. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arcchurches.com/connect/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.