Over 230 Churches Join 'Servolution' Call
The Servolution has begun.
Over 230 churches from around the world have signed up to be a part of a culture of humility over the next seven days.
Taking up the mandate by Jesus to be a servant to all, hundreds of thousands of volunteers clad in Servolution shirts are heading out of their pews and to the streets to impact their communities through simple acts of kindness – and with no strings attached.
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"Servolution is a revolution that is powered by humility and servanthood," said Dino Rizzo, lead pastor of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, La.
"We are actively pursuing the lost, the forgotten, and the poor to show them a God who is passionately in love with them," Rizzo writes in his upcoming book Servolution: Starting a Church Revolution through Serving. "We stand ready with one heart, saying, 'I will serve others and show them the hope they can have in Jesus.'"
Rizzo defines Servolution as:
1. A significant change in the course of history sparked by simple acts of kindness.
2. God's Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.
3. A church revolution through serving.
Beginning April 3, hundreds of churches in 37 states and 15 countries will be cleaning up their communities, distributing meals to the homeless, repairing homes, giving out free coffee and gas, washing cars and hosting block parties, among many other activities, until Good Friday.
As Servolution leads into Easter weekend, one of two seasons when church attendance is highest, Rizzo of Healing Place is expecting churches to be filled up.
"We believe that this is a great opportunity to invite people from all over your community to come out and be a part. Many times it's during those weekends that people are the most receptive to the Gospel message and we want to help do all that we can to fill churches everywhere for people to have an opportunity to experience the love of God through salvation," says a statement on the Servolution website.
Although there will be no direct evangelism or passing out of tracks during the week-long Servolution, acts of kindness and generosity help open up opportunities for sharing the Gospel.
"We believe that as we serve, walls come down and people are willing to open up and ask why we do what we do ... hence the opportunity to share the gospel," Emily Morrow, spokesperson for Servolution, told The Christian Post.
"This generation wants to see people who are authentic and who actually care about others," she added. "By serving with no strings attached, people who have never been open to God get a glimpse of the hands of feet of Jesus, and those who are curious as to why one would radically serve others, typically seek it out for themselves."
While the Easter campaign is only a week long, Pastor Rizzo hopes Servolution can become part of the DNA of churches.
"A Servolution is not an event; it is a culture," Rizzo writes in his book, which is scheduled for release in May. "Infusing this culture into the DNA of your church will change your view of the world and your perspective of the needs of those who live around you."
Serving has been a part of Healing Place Church's DNA since its founding in 1993. It was one of the first responders during Hurricane Katrina, providing thousands of volunteers and tons of resources to the devastated gulf coast, according to Morrow. The 7,000-member church has also been supporting mission efforts around the globe and is committed to supporting orphanages and schools for children with AIDS in Africa.
The church began to call its serving days "Servolution" a couple of years ago and this year's Easter Servolution is the first week-long project.
Healing Place Church is recognized by Outreach magazine as one of the top 25 most innovative churches in the country.
On the Web: servolution.org
