005 - Serving to Be Christian, Not to Make People Christian with Roger Valci

What if the church’s primary calling isn’t just to fill seats on Sunday, but to serve the city it’s planted in every single day of the week?

 

In this rich and practical episode of the Evandigital Podcast, host Mason sits down with longtime friend and ministry leader Roger Valci (former pastor of Valley Christian Church in Dublin, California) to explore the theology and heartbeat behind “City Serve.” Roger shares how shifting from a “come to us” attraction model to a “sent into the city” mission model transformed his understanding of church, discipleship, and the Great Commission.

 

Together they unpack:

• The difference between measuring evangelism by raised hands versus living out the gospel in everyday compassion
• Why the biblical story focuses more on how saved people live than on the exact moment of conversion
• The Great Compassion (Matthew 25) as a natural partner to the Great Commission (Matthew 28)
• How churches can mobilize volunteers to serve nonprofits, schools, prisons, military families, and the vulnerable without ulterior motives
• The birth of City Serve (citservex.org) — a movement training ordinary believers to become Good Samaritans who walk with people from crisis to stability

Roger challenges listeners to stop trying to be the savior in every story and instead faithfully play their part — whether as a husband, father, neighbor, or volunteer — while trusting Jesus to be the true Savior. This conversation blends deep theology with boots-on-the-ground practicality, offering a refreshing vision for churches that want to demonstrate the gospel before they declare it.

 

Whether you’re a pastor, church leader, or everyday believer wondering how to love your city more effectively, this episode will stretch your thinking and stir your heart to action. The kingdom advances not only through powerful services, but through faithful, humble service.

 

Chapters

 

00:00 — Welcome: Serving Your City and the Purpose of the Church

00:50 — Introducing Roger Valse: Former Pastor, Engineer & City-Serving Pioneer 

02:00 — City Gene Philosophy: Why Churches Exist for Their City, Not Just Their Building 

05:20 — From Come to Send: Shifting from Attractional to Missional Church 

08:10 — Measuring Success: Raised Hands vs. Real Kingdom Impact 

10:40 — Biblical Focus: Saved People Living the Story, Not Just Conversion Moments 

13:50 — Practical Application at Valley Christian: Serving Nonprofits, Schools & the City 

18:00 — Tension in Ministry: Balancing Internal Needs with External Mission 

22:40 — The Great Commission & Great Compassion Working Together 

27:10 — Launching City Serve: Uncomplicating Help & Training Good Samaritans 

32:30 — How City Serve Works: Sitting with People in Despair + Mobilizing Resources 

37:40 — Evangelism Through Service: Being the Gospel Before Telling It 

42:00 — Final Wisdom: You Don’t Have to Be the Savior — Just Play Your Part 

46:40 — Closing Encouragement: Mobilize the Church to Serve as Much as We Gather