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Acts 8:26-40 ESV
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Additional Scripture References: Romans 8:28, Acts 8:26-31, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 8:32-33, Acts 8:35, Acts 21:8-9
Do you ever feel small and insignificant? In a world that views success as bigger and better, it’s easy to feel like we don’t measure up. But God’s measure of success isn’t more — it’s obedience. As the early church steadily grew in numbers, they were never striving; they simply did what God asked them to do. For Philip and the eunuch, one small moment of obedience on a desert road led to the Gospel spreading through an entire continent. The people who are willing to do something small are often the ones who accomplish something big.
A mature church celebrates faithfulness over success
We’re called to be led by the Holy Spirit. Many times, obedience will lead us down a desert road. It’s not an attractive path, and it rarely aligns with our own plans, but it’s a path full of deep purpose. At the end of the day, God’s purpose takes priority over our preferences. As Philip chose the desert place, he encountered a divine opportunity.
The opportunity to evangelize is all around us. God led Philip to the desert road to meet with one man – there was no crowd, no fanfare, no audience. By asking the man one simple question, the door was opened for a conversation. Philip told him about Jesus, and after hearing the Gospel, the man took the message of Jesus to the continent of Africa. A small moment of obedience yielded immeasurable results.
As Philip walked down the isolated desert road, he was met with the opportunity to display faith and obedience as he carried out the work of the Gospel. If we want to accomplish big things for the Kingdom, we have to be willing to listen and follow the instructions God gives. Whatever path God leads us to, maturity comes as we take one step of obedience at a time.
Take time this week to reflect on areas you may need to walk in obedience. Ask the Holy Spirit to equip you with boldness and courage as you choose to step into what God has asked you to do.
In Pastor DawnCheré Wilkerson’s newly released book, Slow Burn, you are invited to see waiting not as punishment, but as a sacred process of transformation. Whether you're longing for healing, breakthrough, or change, this season is an invitation to draw closer to a faithful God. With honesty and hope, this book offers strength for your soul, helping you live fully right where you are, confident that even in the slow burn of faith, God is powerfully at work.
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On Wednesday, May 14th, all VOUSCon teams will gather large at VOUS SoMi for a time of worship and encouragement. When we break into team workshops, some will stay at SoMi while select teams head to the Watsco for on-site walkthroughs and details.
If you're not signed up to serve VOUSCon yet, this night is for you, too! Come learn more about what it looks like to help host thousands of leaders from around the world. Discover all of the ways you can serve at VOUSCon and get registered.
To RSVP for Team Night, please click here!
Where: VOUS SoMi
When: Wednesday, May 14th
Time: 7:00 PM
Address: 6767 Sunset Dr, Miami, FL, 33143
ILMC will be taking place Saturday, May 17th.
This month's spotlight initiative is on Foster Care. We will partner with organizations such as 4KIDS, One More Child, His House & Citrus Family network to support Foster Care Parents and children currently in foster care.
To get more information about serving opportunities, click here
On Sunday, May 18th, we are having baptisms on the beach in Key Biscayne! If you are interested in being baptized, please click here to sign up.
Where: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
When: Sunday, May 18th
Time: 8:30 AM
Address: 1200 S Crandon Blvd
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Pavilion #: C16 (near Lighthouse Compound)
VOUSternship (Ages 18-28) applications are open for FREE now through May 9th! This is your chance to jump into a summer of purpose, growth, and hands-on ministry experience. Spots are limited and we kick off in just a few weeks—don’t wait! Apply today and take your next step at vouscollege.com/apply!
Join us on the road to VOUSCon as we embark on a 40-day relay run through the state of Florida. From Jacksonville to Miami, runners from every region are invited to participate in carrying the good news. Our finish line? VOUSCon 2025. Led by a core VOUS team, we’ll link arms with partner churches along the way, spotlighting the body of Christ and championing the local church through weekly outreach initiatives.
Starting Line: Sunday, May 11
Finish Line: Thursday, June 19
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS DD
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10AM / 12:00 PM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack
