Prayer Newsletter

Missionary’s Tony & Becky Rizzo Share Their Story

Get to Know Your Missionary: Tony Rizzo

A Journey from the Streets to Serving America's Youth

In the mid-1970s, on the streets of Morton, PA, a group of teenagers could often play pickup games of football, basketball, and street hockey. Among them was a young Tony Rizzo, who, by his admission, was running with a crowd that wasn't the best influence on his life. He didn't realize then that these street games would become the unlikely foundation for his life's calling.

During this time, a group of young adults in their mid-to-late twenties, including Ed Ellis, Ralph Wrigley, Bob McLaughlin, and Gus Sareyka, began reaching out to Tony's neighborhood. These dedicated youth leaders saw beyond the rough exterior of the local teens and recognized their potential. Their method of connection? Joining the teenagers in their passionate—and often brutal—games of tackle football.

"We were faster and tougher," Tony recalls, "and we would beat them up to a despicable mess." Yet after each game, these persistent mentors would share their testimonies and preach the gospel, demonstrating a genuine concern for the teenagers' well-being. Their consistency and authentic care gradually began to make an impact. Several of the older teens began to give their lives to the Lord, and by age 19, Tony was ready to make the same commitment.

This transformative experience became the blueprint for Tony's calling. For the past 44 years, he has dedicated his life to reaching young people throughout the Middle Atlantic region through Youth Action Ministries. "Someone took time to reach me with the gospel as a teenager in the street," Tony explains, "and now I want to take that same message to young people in similar situations."

Under the mission statement "Missionaries to the Teens of America," Tony and his team venture into inner cities, neighborhoods, and communities, sharing the gospel with young people and their families. Their work hasn't been easy—as Tony notes, "How many people do you know are missionaries to the teens of America?"—but it has been tremendously fruitful. The ministry has seen over 57,000 young people and adults trust in the Lord as their personal Savior.

The impact goes beyond initial conversions. Tony and his team invest in discipleship, helping new believers grow through evangelistic meetings, youth outreach programs, and church involvement. Many of these young people have overcome significant community challenges to build lives centered on their faith.

As Tony continues his mission, he remains grateful for those early mentors who showed patience and dedication in reaching out to a group of challenging teenagers on the streets of Morton. Their example proves that sometimes the most potent ministry happens not from a pulpit but on a neighborhood football field, where love and persistence can transform lives for generations.

My greatest passion remains ministering the gospel to America's youth, and I'm constantly seeking new opportunities to share God's word in various settings.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Becky and me. We deeply appreciate your prayers and encouragement as we continue our missionary work with American youth.

*Please keep Tony and Youth Action Ministries in your prayers as they continue their vital work reaching America's youth with the gospel message.*

Youthfluential: Digital Safety Zones

Our Youth Digital Safety Zones has made effective outreach and inroads in ministering the gospel to many students and families searching for truth. It is our great privilege to be used in this ministry. Here are some remarkable statistics from our journey:

In the past five years, we have reached 5 million views across all our media platforms and built a community of 10,000 followers across our platforms. This outreach is a testament to the impact of consistent, effective ministry. We humbly ask for your continued prayers as we balance our digital outreach with our Safety Zones Ministry.

Kids Safety Zones

Our ministry seeks to be a blessing to churches wanting to reach students with the gospel. We bring the gospel message to children and families nationwide through our Tony's Tales Conferences. We minister to your families and children for a week or a few days.

Want to learn more? Visit our website at ​www.YouthActionMinistries.com​ or email us today: DrTonyRizzophd@YouthActionMinistries.com. Youth Action Ministries Financial Report is available to be looked at on our website. www.YouthActionMinistries.com. 

Executive Summary: Over the past 24 months, our youth evangelism ministry maintained consistent weekly outreaches across Inner City Philadelphia and the East Coast, conducting 64 events and traveling 40,000 miles to reach over 5,000 individuals with the Gospel message. You can read more about this brief of our ministry on our website support page.

Special Prayer Request

• Tony is traveling to several Evangelism and Family conferences this spring. Please pray for Tony as he prepares the many different messages and presentations.
• Becky is still learning to manage her ongoing physical symptoms. There are many different tedious steps in her pain management.
• Please pray for our Safety Zones Outreaches this new year of 2025 to reach 1000 students for Christ.

Tony and Becky Rizzo have been traveling to many different destinations in the United States to minister the gospel to the youth of America. Tony travels extensively to churches to minister with the Kids and Youth Safety Zones. One of the ways we travel is by our RV. Do you know Tony has been trailering with his wife and family for the last 37 years at times? We would love to visit your church, park our RV, and minister to your youth and families. Different conferences were held this last year. These are the Tony’s Tales conferences, Safety Zone Outreaches, and Church-wide Family and Evangelism Conferences.

In Christ Love, Dr. Tony Rizzo Joshua 1:8 Executive Director ​Youth Action Ministries​ ​Statement of Faith​