01 — Encounter
Following Jesus is a journey – one that will continue for all eternity.
This guide is intended to be a resource for you to gain a better understanding of the Christian faith and to provide direction for the next steps of your journey.
VOUS history 101
VOUS Church exists to bring those whoare far from God close to Him. This is not just a mission — it’s a movement, rooted in individual transformation and collective impact. We believe everyone belongs, even before they believe.
Our lead pastors, Rich and DawnCheré Wilkerson, have a heart to reach our city and beyond with the life-transforming message of Jesus. We believe in the next generation and value the wisdom and guidance of those who have gone before us.
Our Values
01. Jesus: Is Our Message
02. People: Are Our Heart
03. Generosity: Is Our Privilege
04. Excellence: Is Our Spirit
05. Servant Leadership: Is Our Identity
06. Honor: Is Our Calling
07. Passion: Is Our Pursuit
Encounter God
Encountering God is the foundation of all growth. You can’t grow in your faith without encountering Jesus.
Sin breaks our close relationship with God. It causes us tofear God and try to live our lives outside of His will.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ... may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better...”
Ephesians 1:17-18
God has already done His part to restore our relationship to Him. He took the initiative. Now He waits for each of us to individually accept what He has done for us.
Who is God?
We believe there is ONE God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal. We call this, the TRINITY.
REFERENCES: John 1:1,14, 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; I Timothy 2:5
What Is Salvation?
Salvation is one of the most important concepts in Christianity, but what does it mean? Salvation is a GIFT FROM GOD. You are saved from the eternal consequences of your sin and given eternal life. It’s not about what you can do for God, but what God has already done for you.
Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
What is Sin?
Now, we need to understand why we need salvation in the first place. Sin causes a SEPARATION between humans and God.. God is perfect and holy, and when we act in ways that are out of line with His nature, we create a divide between ourselves and our Creator.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This sin creates a barrier between us and God. But the good news is that God didn’t leave us in our sin.
JESUS is God’s answer to sin. He came to bridge the gap and RESTORE our relationship with God.
The good news
All have sinned and fall short of God’s standard. JESUS is God’s answer to sin. He came to bridge the gap and RESTORE our relationship with God.
Jesus died not just for us, but AS US, taking our place on the cross.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Why Did Jesus Need to Die?
Jesus died the death that we deserve so that we could live FOREVER in relationship with God.
In doing this, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the one who would suffer on BEHALF of humanity.
Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
How Am I Saved?
Salvation happens when you TURN AWAY from your sin, repent, believe in Jesus, and confess Him as Lord. You don’t have to work for salvation; you just believe in what Jesus has done. This is the first and most crucial step in your journey.
Who is his Church?
God’s plan to completely RESTORE humanity back to a perfect relationship with Him is done through Jesus’ sacrifice, and through the empowerment of His Church. God’s Kingdom is in part here now, but also still to come. The advancement of God’s Kingdom is carried out through His Church. The hope of the world is the LOCAL CHURCH.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. - Ephesians 2:19-22
02 — Establish
Explore the Ministry of VOUS Church and find out how to connect in our community.
At VOUS we believe in these things:
— We believe in GATHERING
— We believe in CONNECTING
— We believe in SERVING
— We believe in GIVING
— We believe in MATURING
VOUS Teams & I Love My City
Why we serve?
All of us were created by God to make a difference in the life of another person. God has a place for you where your unique abilities and passions can impact the lives of others. We believe your life will never make sense until you find, develop and fulfill that PURPOSE.
1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.
Ways you can serve
- VOUS Teams: Discover in StepFOUR!
- I Love My City Outreaches: Visit VOUSChurch.com/ILMC
- Additional Serving Opportunities: Discover in StepFOUR!
Tithing & Generosity
Generosity is our privilege:
Generosity is about giving more than what is required. We see generosity as a PRIVILEGE. We're generous with our time, talents and treasure. We go first in our giving. God has given richly towards us, it's our honor to give back to him.
Proverbs 11:24-25
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
What is the tithe?
We believe in honoring God with our TITHE. To tithe means giving the first fruits or 10% of income weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
Spiritual Practices
Maturity happens OVER TIME not overnight. As we pursue Jesus, we believe these spiritual practices will guide you on the journey of maturing in Christ Jesus.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Prayer is a pathway to building a genuine relationship with God. Prayer is not a formula, but rather a CONVERSATION with our creator.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you
The Bible is the WORD OF GOD, written by faithful men and women chosen by God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness...”
A time to pause and REST from work.
Mark 2:27
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath”
Fasting is the ancient practice of choosing to ABSTAIN from food for a certain period of time
Ezra 8:23
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
03 — Equip
VOUS Church is called to equip God’s people for his work. We know that two of the most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. God gives us tools to develop and strengthen the body of Christ.
As Jesus ascended into heaven, He left us with a gift, the greatest gift we could receive on this side of eternity. That gift being the very SPIRIT OF GOD. We may be aware of his presence in the Trinity, but often, we can treat the Holy Spirit as a supporting character, when it is solely through Him that we may come to know Jesus.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16-17
Equip means God gives you tools for your purpose, and the firstand greatest tool is the Holy Spirit.
● Not a force, but a Person — He leads, speaks, comforts, and convicts.
● Your Helper, Counselor, and Guide (John 14–16)
Imagine being told to build a house, but you're given no tools.That’s what life feels like without the Holy Spirit and intentionaldevelopment.
God not only gives you vision — He gives you the tools to accomplish it:
● The Holy Spirit equips you supernaturally
● The church equips you practically
● The Growth Track equips you intentionally
He GUIDES you
He STRENGTHENS you
He EMPOWERS you
Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)
The proof that the Holy Spirit lives in you isn’t just power — it’s character:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,Gentleness, Self-control
These fruits show the Spirit's work in you
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
The two greatest days of your life are the day you’re born — and the day you DISCOVER why.
Like Moses, you may feel unqualified, but God equipsthose He calls. When you know who God is and whoyou are, you’ll live with clarity and confidence.
The Holy Spirit has gifted each one of us to do good works. Take the Spiritual Gifts Test to discover yours.
Personality Assessment
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
1. Join a team
2. Participate in Crews
3. Apply to VOUSCOM
Your results have been saved!
04 — Empower
Connect to the opportunities at VOUS to live out your purpose and use your gifts serving others.
Welcome to the Growth Track! We are so glad you have decided to take the next step in your journey at VOUS.
Empower
At VOUS Church, we want every person to serve on a team. Saved people, serve people.
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28
You will never walk in the full contentment of your calling until you adopt the mindset and the principle of what Jesus taught, that real leadership is service.
If serving is beneath you - leadership is beyond you
Make a difference
Activate Your Gifts
1. God empowers us through the Holy Spirit
2. Your natural talents and spiritual gifts work together.
Harvest Hands
People are our heart
To begin serving
1. Conversation
2. On-boarding
3. Serve
Department Overview
This team of directors, producers, videographers, and editors capture and communicate stories through the power of film on a wide array of projects in varied settings.
This team weaves shape, color, texture, and text into graphic designs that serve a function and stand alone as individual expressions of collective creativity.
This team communicates key information to targeted audiences through multimedia content, articles, stories, direct marketing, and advertising.
Through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Periscope, this team forms a digital expression of the in-person experience of our church.
This team of photographers, editors, and photo curators skillfully capture our weekend services, Crew meetups, and special events
expressing their point of view through scheduled shoots and creative assignments.
This team of web designers and developers create opportunities for online connection within our community and with those beyond our four walls.
This area focuses on the first impressions of every family's VOUS Kids experience. From the first time a family comes to the time the child graduates VOUS Kids, the All Stars provide an atmosphere where the entire family knows they belong. We value connecting with families and reassuring them that we are here to partner with them as they raise their world changers. We believe in the power of first impressions, and desire to create intentional moments with families to build lasting relationships.
We believe that every Dreamer is set apart by God. They are a miracle in motion, and are here on purpose for a purpose. We are devoted to the details in this space because we know how much they matter. Our loving team is dedicated to caring, praying, engaging and speaking life over our Dreamers.
There is nothing too big for these Heroes. Their size shouldn’t be underestimated, and their personalities are larger than life. During these years where our Heroes are absorbing the world around them, we are intentional with the words we speak. We are focused on declaring God’s word over their lives as they grow to be Heroes in this life.
They are paving the way by creating a legacy of love and grace. These are pivotal years for our Legends where they are discovering who God is and finding their identity in Christ. We are committed to teaching and declaring the message of Jesus. Our Legends are future world changers, and it's our mission to develop leaders who are passionately in love with Jesus.
VOUS Buddies is our inclusion ministry for children with special needs. At VOUS Kids, our desire is to provide every child with an opportunity to learn about God's love. Our VOUS Buddies team is here to partner with your family as you participate in the life of VOUS Church by providing a VOUS Buddie to join your child throughout the entire VOUS Kids service.
Your child’s VOUS Buddie will help ensure their experience is fun by empowering them to engage in the service, supporting them as they overcome any challenges, and creating an environment for them to participate in our VOUS Kids services. We believe we are not meant to do life alone. When you journey alongside others it makes the journey that much better!
VOUS High is the junior high and high school community of VOUS Church. We are committed to creating a place where young people can belong, grow, and encounter God.
6th - 8th Sunday Experience
6th - 12th that sit together in service
Monthly gathering for all VOUS High
Small groups for 6th - 12th
Facilitates the experience by setting up before service and taking down after service.
Creates an atmosphere for connecting guests to the life of the church.
Loves people and makes them feel at home here at VOUS Church. They welcome guests with a smile, encouragement, and a personal touch so that hearts are open to the Gospel message.
Provides an overall excellent guest experience through hospitality. Their smiles and energy set the atmosphere and by hosting guests to their seats they ensure everyone has a space to feel at home.
Prepares people for a positive worship experience by welcoming and assisting them to a seat, facilitating the offering and maintaining a distraction-free environment.
Utilizes the gifts of administration and organization to keep people connected and accounted through check-in, data entry and follow ups.
Creates an environment to help facilitate people on their next steps as they journey with God.
Provides Bibles, books, and other resources as people grow in their walk with Christ. They also set up pop-up stores for special events and VOUS Merch.
A specialized team of individuals who have experience and/or training in labor skills (i.e. construction, building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing). This team supports special projects across VOUS Church locations and helps maintain the cleanliness and organization of VOUS Church storage projects
Welcomes guests as the first friendly face people see as they pull into the parking lot of our church, seamlessly organizing the flow of cars in all parking areas.
Provides the security and safety of our church. This team also consists of medical professionals trained and available to respond to any emergency that may occur during a VOUS event.
From dreaming to designing, installing to breakdown, this team makes VOUS spaces and events inviting and inspiring.Building, carpentry, use of power tools, and interior design are some skills that are useful on this team.
From our live experiences to studio projects and video production, this team works to mix and master audio.
This team displays & captures all live content at VOUSChurch. From lyrics to IMAG display, this team oversees our live production broadcast.
Working in spaces as varied as storied theaters, production studios, and middle school classrooms, our lighting team illuminates the spaces around us and the subjects that fill them.
Wearing all black, this team is behind the scenes, service producing, discreetly shifting stage elements, and assisting individuals to enter and exit stage areas. This team ensures the service flow is seamlessly executed, safety is prioritized, and the guest experience is distraction-free.
Provides Spanish and Portuguese translation and resources to our guests.
Across varied contexts, settings, and gatherings, this team of vocalists and instrumentalists use their gifts to lead our church in worship. This is an audition-based team, and you can directly submit your audition video at vousworship.com/auditions
We believe in the next generation, and that it starts with empowering young leaders to be better servants on and off the platform. Our Next Gen Worship department is composed of vocalists and musicians that love Jesus, and have a gift to worship him through music. If you love to sing or play an instrument, we would love to hear from you! This is an audition-based team, and you can directly submit your audition video at vousworship.com/auditions
To be the light in darkness and to be a connection to the forgotten. We aim to bring hope, joy and restoration to our criminal justice system at all levels through being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Exists to recruit, equip and encourage families who are feeling the call to foster as well as provide security and love to children who are in need of a place to call home.
Baptisms are a huge celebration! We love getting to celebrate as people take this biblical step on the journey of faith. The Baptism Team helps plan and coordinate all details for each baptism.
Provides intercessory prayer for services, teams and events at VOUS Church.
Facilitates serving opportunities for I Love My City outreaches and other community events, locally and globally. We partner
with different organizations to serve our city and world.
At VOUS, we say that generosity is our privilege. The Bricklayer Team embodies this core value through their sacrificial generosity. Our church believes in the tithe, but a Bricklayer goes above and beyond in their giving. Bricklayers are committed to accelerating the vision of VOUS Church.
Next steps
1. Complete all four steps of the Growth Track.
2. Join a VOUS Crew. Visit the Connect Corner or vouschurch.com/crews
3. Join a team.