August 9, 2026 marked a historic moment in the story of VOUS Church as we launched VOUS South Beach, our fifth location. Years before there was a building or a launch date, Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. carried a vision for a thriving church in the heart of South Beach, a place where the light of Jesus could shine brightly in one of Miami’s most influential communities. What began as a prayer has become a reality. Today, VOUS South Beach stands as a testament to God’s perfect timing, divine provision, and faithfulness across generations of prayers.
From July 20–23, students gathered at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg for our largest VOUS High Camp to date. Designed to remove the distractions and pressures of everyday life, VOUS High Camp created space for middle and high school students to encounter the presence of God, deepen their faith, and build meaningful community. This year marked a significant first as students were baptized onsite on the final day of camp, a powerful picture of a generation choosing to follow Jesus. We believe what happened at camp will extend far beyond those four days. God is moving in the next generation, and this is only the beginning.
VOUS Worship exists to put theology to melody, creating songs rooted in Scripture that carry the truth of Jesus into every season and every room. This season, Life In Color continued that mission, reaching listeners around the world with songs anchored in the freedom of 2 Corinthians 5:17, the sufficiency of grace in 2 Corinthians 12:9, and the call to follow Jesus in Luke 9:23. The album expanded beyond the music through a collectible Life In Color vinyl and Design District Sessions Vol. 01, creating new expressions for the message to travel and the sound of our house to reach people wherever they are.
VOUSCon exists at the intersection of faith and culture, championing the cause of the local church and creating space for transformative conversations around faith, leadership, and the future of the Church. In our 16th year, we gathered for our largest VOUSCon to date, welcoming voices including Pastor Steven Furtick, Pastor Michael Koulianos, and many more.
Thousands gathered from around the world to worship, encounter God, and be strengthened for the work of building the local church. We surpassed the total 2025 tickets registered by 7.4%, marking another significant year of growth and outreach. As we celebrate all God did in 2026, we look toward 2027 with fresh expectation, ready to declare together: “Let the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO.”
Serve Day is a global expression of the local church in action, thousands of people stepping beyond the walls of the church to meet practical needs and demonstrate the love of Jesus.
This year marked a historic Serve Day for VOUS as, for the first time, all five locations mobilized across Miami to serve the communities we call home. Through projects across our city, Servant Leaders gave their time, energy, and resources with one shared conviction: as we serve our city, God will change it. Every project was an opportunity to make the love of Jesus known and visible.
Every year, our Back to School Drive gives us the opportunity to come alongside students and families across Miami as they prepare for a new school year. Through the generosity of our church, backpacks and school supplies were collected across all VOUS locations and distributed to families in our community.
This year, that impact expanded as we hosted our Back to School Bash in two locations for the first time: Charles Hadley Park and VOUS Miami Gardens. More than providing supplies, these gatherings created an opportunity to celebrate students, pray over families, and send them into the school year knowing they are seen, supported, and loved.
When crisis strikes, we want to be a church that is ready to respond. In the wake of the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, VOUS partnered with Convoy of Hope to provide critical disaster relief to individuals and families facing unimaginable needs.
Through the generosity of this house and the reach of trusted partners on the ground, compassion became tangible, providing practical help when it was needed most. We are grateful for partners who enable us to respond beyond our geographical location and for every person who gives faithfully. Together, we have the privilege of carrying the hope and love of Jesus to people in their moments of greatest need.
This November, our VOUS Missions team will return to Watoto for the third time, continuing our partnership with Watoto Church and coming alongside the life-changing work happening through their ministry. It is our privilege to return not simply to serve, but to learn, build relationships, and strengthen a partnership that extends the mission of the local church across borders.
As our team prepares to go, we are praying for protection in every part of the journey, meaningful opportunities to share the gospel, and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We believe what God does through this trip will leave a lasting impact, not only in the communities we serve, but in every person who is sent.
On November 21, we will gather for Thanksgiving Bash, one of our largest I Love My City outreaches of the year. Through our annual Thanksgiving Drive, we have the opportunity to come alongside families across Miami, providing a Thanksgiving meal and reminding our neighbors that they are seen and there’s a church that loves them and is praying for them.
This year, we are believing for our greatest reach yet. As we prepare and collect, we are praying for abundant provision, for every family who will walk through our doors, and for practical generosity to become a pathway to encounter the love of Jesus.
Since launching VOUS Miami Gardens in 2024, we have witnessed extraordinary growth across Sunday services, VOUS Kids, Crews, Teams, and outreach. Week after week, people are encountering Jesus, finding community, and building their lives in the local church. What began as a step of faith has become an epicenter of ministry for North Miami and the surrounding communities.
Now, we are praying for the space to match the growth God is bringing. The proposed Miami Gardens Auditorium + Kids expansion would create room for approximately 1,500 people while increasing capacity to serve children and families throughout the week. This expansion is about making room for more people, more families, and more stories of life transformation. As God continues to grow His house, we want to be ready to make room.
