Dimitri's Generosity Story
Dimitri Valentino |
October 27, 2021
My name is Dmitri Valentino, and I've been a barber for 21 years. I have been coming to the Vineyard since 2005. What I like about serving is that I know that I'm doing work for God and it makes me humble. It's helped me to see that I'm helping someone else as well as myself.
I started cutting hair in 1999, after finishing barber school and got my license in 2000. I got the idea of giving haircuts for free from reading in the book of Proverbs, where the Lord talks about how he who helps the poor or the needy, God will do for them, or pass his favor to them.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. — Proverbs 19:17
It's been a blessing to me. God has provided for me and reading His Word and applying it to my barber business, which I have sometimes prayed and asked God, "What should I do in this business for you, Lord?"
When I was first in barber school, I had the idea of going to Africa to cut as many poor children's hair for free as possible. That was the first idea that God gave me, but since I wasn't able to go to Africa yet, I believe that I was able to be used here by the Lord and complete the duty here.
I've been able to give back to help people and God has been generous to me.