Dino Rizzo, President of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), reflects on a year of remarkable growth, transformation, and impact within the ARC network. In 2024, ARC planted 35 new churches, expanding its family to an impressive 1,132 churches dedicated to spreading hope and faith worldwide.

“Through the incredible generosity, prayers, and partnership of our community, we’ve witnessed an unprecedented year of church planting and spiritual growth,” Dino Rizzo said. “This isn’t just about establishing churches; it’s about creating beacons of hope that radiate the love of Jesus into communities everywhere.”

This year’s church launches were met with overwhelming enthusiasm, drawing over 13,700 attendees on opening days alone. Notably, 890 individuals made life-changing commitments to follow Christ. Dino Rizzo highlighted the significance of these milestones, noting a 27% surge in launch day attendance compared to the previous year.

“The increase in attendance shows we’re reaching more people, transforming more lives, and impacting more communities than ever before,” he added.

Despite these achievements, Dino Rizzo emphasized the urgent need for more church plants. A concerning trend has emerged in recent years: more churches are closing than opening across the United States, leaving many cities and communities without vibrant faith-based centers.

“The gap is growing,” Dino Rizzo explained. “To meet the demands of population growth and shifting demographics, we must double, even triple, the number of new church plants. ARC is committed to stepping into this opportunity.”

The Association of Related Churches’ dedication to equipping church leaders has never been stronger. This year, over 475 church planters attended dynamic launch training events designed to provide essential wisdom, coaching, and resources for establishing thriving churches. Rizzo described these events as “transformational moments” that prepare pastors for sustainable, impactful ministry.

Interest in ARC’s launch application process surged by 72% following this year’s training events, signaling a wave of new leaders ready to answer the call to plant churches.

As The Association of Related Churches (ARC) looks forward to another year of expansion in 2025, Dino Rizzo expressed profound gratitude to the ARC family for their continued generosity and support.

“We are on a mission to bring the good news to every city and every state we can,” Rizzo affirmed. “Together, we’re building a future that will impact communities worldwide.”

For more information about Dino Rizzo, The Association of Related Churches (ARC), and opportunities to get involved in church planting, visit ARC’s official website.

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 Executive Director 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.

About the Association of Related Churches (ARC):

The Association of Related Churches (ARC) represents a collaborative network comprising independent congregations from various denominations, networks, and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to provide essential support and resources to church planters and pastors, enabling them to effectively share the teachings of Jesus Christ. ARC's operational approach revolves around empowering and equipping church leaders, thus helping them foster the widespread dissemination of Christ’s life-changing message. Established in 2000, the Association of Related Churches has evolved into a worldwide entity and has played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of over 1,100 new churches globally.

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