UNSCRIPTED with Dino Rizzo Association of Related Churches

Unscripted Season 4 is here with fresh conversations full of raw authenticity and insightful leadership wisdom. Join Dino as he interviews eleven inspiring leaders, from seasoned pastors to CEO’s, each bringing a unique perspective and a rich depth of experience to the table. 

“The comparison game gets me to look to the right or the left, but my race is not against you, it’s against my own potential.” Pastor Steve Robinson shares openly about the comparison trap so many pastors and leaders get entangled in and how to avoid it. Dino tours their new building under construction, and they discuss what expansion has meant to Church of the King, which has been gathering since 1999. 

Freshly navigating the unknowns and curveballs of church planting, Pastors Mayo Sowell and Jason Laird sit down with Dino for an intriguing discussion. Their conversation spans several important topics like contextualizing ministry for your city, managing your expectations, and keeping your family healthy when you relocate. 

“Servant leadership is the heart and soul of successful leadership.” Pastor Brett Jones shares many leadership lessons from his uncommon experience of co-pastoring with his brother. He unpacks the exemplary mentoring model of Elijah and Elisha and how 

it demonstrates a successful transition from generation to generation, revealing what can get done when no one cares who gets the credit.

“Every strong leader I’ve seen in my life is passionate. They always rise to a higher level.” Dwight Sandlin founded “Signature Homes”, one of the South’s leading residential developers. Dino asks him to unpack many angles of leadership including keys to building a healthy organization and how to stay in the game when you want to give up. 

These guests along with Pastors Daniel and Tammy Floyd, Shaun and Diane Nepstad, Terry Crist, and Aaron Burke, freely offer their experiences, challenges, and hard-earned wisdom.

We hope you are envisioned and encouraged through these interviews. Tune in to Season 4 of “Unscripted” and join the conversation on Youtube or any podcast platform. We’re so glad you’re here! 

“I thought freedom was I would never have a panic attack - I would never be anxious. But through a lot of study, prayer, and counseling, I discovered freedom wasn’t the absence of those things, it was connecting to a power greater than myself in the middle of those things.”

Diagnosed with an anxiety panic disorder over 30 years ago (in a time when no one ever heard of it or spoke of it), Pastor Toby Slough recounts how he began a journey of discovering what true freedom is and how important it is for parents to find their freedom and disciple their kids.

As he started the leadership transition of Cross Timbers Church, Toby felt called to step into a new season of ministering to families and raising awareness for mental health wellness. His dream is to change the conversation and help the Church step up to the plate with the answers. 

“Jesus offers something better if we can learn how to stop being so prescriptive and start being more validating about these issues.” 

Goby Ministries was launched to change the awareness, perception, and wellness for those dealing with mental health challenges by empowering a global audience through Jesus led mental health resources, coaching, and community. The ministry seeks to give people practical tools to help disciple their kids with the right language. 

Dino and Toby unpack many angles about church leadership and mental health. Their conversation includes: 


Planting a church in a place that doesn’t make sense, but you know God is in it


Letting go and grieving during seasons of transition


The importance of regular communication during leadership transitions


Connecting families to God’s power so that parents can help their children through mental health struggles


Fighting what you feel with what you know



“We try to help families connect God’s power to the very real issues kids are dealing with. As parents, the best thing you can give your kids is a healthy you.”

Toby is passionate about seeing families find freedom and children learning how to have confidence, courage, and compassion. You will be encouraged as a parent, pastor, and leader by joining this conversation.

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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 the Lord has tremendous compassion for people struggling in marriage.”

Pastor Jimmy Evans recounts his journey from being a “creep who cheated on his wife right before they got married” to pastoring a church for over 30 years, celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary, and seeing countless marriages rescued and restored. 

He’s the Founder and President of XO Marriage, a ministry devoted to helping couples thrive in strong and fulfilling marriages and host of “the Tipping Point” show. During his service as Senior Pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo, Texas, where he now serves as Apostolic Elder, the church grew from 900 to over 10,000 members. 

Dino and Jimmy dig into many different aspects of marriage, leadership, and the end times.

Their discussion includes: 


How to trust the Lord’s timing when you feel “passed by” and work through feelings of inferiority


The importance of understanding the end times properly so you aren’t facing these times in fear


Three important things pastors should be paying attention to in their local church


The view that the church is the only institution on Earth that can teach people about marriage



“I can change the world with Jesus and marriage.” 

Jimmy believes that Jesus and marriage go hand in hand for people’s success, fulfillment, and health. He emphasizes the importance of pastors preaching about marriage because it is transformative and foundational - and a way to actually be relevant and not just “cool.”

He also leads a ministry to educate people about the end times and contextualize what’s happening in the world.

“30% of the Bible is prophetic and this is the most prophesied period of time in human history.” 

He believes if you understand the end times properly, you get excited and comforted, not fearful.

____________ 

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/⁠⁠⁠.

“Prayer became more than an activity, it became our culture.”

Michael and Lorisa Miller started a prayer meeting in a small, upstairs office space overlooking downtown Dallas in April of 2010. From that “upper room” prayer meeting, God birthed a movement of prayer and worship in Dallas that continues to grow to this day, expanding into cities all over the world. Michael and Dino sit down to discuss their journey in what Michael affectionately calls “the most unconventional church plant we stumbled into.”

Their discussion includes: 


How defining “prayer” laid the foundation for relationship in their community


Ministering to the Lord as their first love while letting prayer serve as their best evangelism tool 


Miraculous salvation stories from people encountering the presence of God


“Gen Z for Jesus” and how they’re reaching the next generation in a raw, gritty way


Simplifying things as a leader and equipping people for the hour we’re living in



Michael also shares about the hunger in their community to experience the presence of God in a real way. Even though he was most comfortable in the suburbs because he understood the problems in “the burbs” and how to reach that community, he saw that prayer was the only strategy working in the downtown demographic, and God had called them there for that reason.

“They’re hungry. Cultural Christianity is not going to sustain us. Checking a box is not going to sustain us.”

____________ 

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/⁠⁠⁠.

“Some of the greatest developing leaders in our church are still young.”

Milestone Church celebrated 20 years last fall. Pastor Jeff Little and Dino Rizzo tour Milestone’s new facilities and discuss the journey of pastoring through so many seasons, the importance of relationships, and being authentic instead of polished.“

You can go to a small church that feels cold or a big church that feels cold, it’s really about culture.” 

Jeff shares how Milestone is like a fusion restaurant, blending things together that are rarely together. He finds people appreciate the intentionality and excellence to serve them but they’re surprised by the authenticity and the family feel. And they’re even more surprised that as the church grows, Milestone still maintains the relational connections.

Dino and Jeff dig into some of the biggest themes of his pastoring experience including: 


How he’s instilled value in each member of Milestone since day one
The miracle of the property they were able to acquire
How not to be intimidated by the next generation and make space for their gifts and calling to grow
The importance of understanding the meaning of the original text when preaching the Word 
How to maintain the spirit and culture that brought you to new levels of growth

Jeff explains how shepherding people is all about taking care of who you have through every season and how they’re working more intentional than ever to maintain the spirit and the culture that brought them to this point.They also discuss the importance of supporting and blessing church planters. When asked what encouragement he has for young pastors, Jeff advises, “don’t get so consumed with success that you miss the moment. Don’t be in such a hurry. Jesus builds His Church.” 

____________ 

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 started with honor and believe we’ve seen so much favor because of that.”



Earl and Oneka McClellan are the founders and lead pastors of Shoreline City Church based in Dallas, Texas. They started Shoreline with a Bible study in a nursing home in 2012 and have grown into multiple locations, services, and expanded internationally into Guatemala. They’ve been married for over 20 years with three children, and are both visionaries and dynamic communicators who are passionate about cultivating leaders.



Dino visits them in Dallas, where they unpack many aspects of Shoreline’s start as well as their commitment to a healthy marriage and partnership throughout all stages.



They talk about the beginning of their journey and how they planned to move to a highly unchurched area until they felt God’s call to Dallas. Through seeking counsel and honoring local pastors, they were able to find the right part of the city to plant Shoreline. Recognizing they are standing on the shoulders of so many pastors who plowed the ground before them, they committed to honoring local pastors in every step. They also celebrate finding the lost, doing life together, and not just finding people who are already in great communities.



The conversation covers many topics including:


How to honor and take your time to land in the right place
Learning how to lead together as a team and overcome your individual insecurities
Feeding confidence and security into your spouse/co-leader
How the roles of ‘architect’ and ‘general contractor’ helped them define their own roles
The one thing they didn’t do when launching that they wish they had 
Dealing with criticism, skeptics, and the pain of relationships that shift 

They also talk about one of the displayed messages throughout their building which shows the heartbeat of their church:



You are loved. You are valued. You are believed in. 

____________ 

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/⁠⁠.