VOUSCon 2025 — Message by Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr.

We live in a world where everyone wants to stand out. We brand ourselves, promote ourselves, and try to reinvent ourselves, but few of us are willing to deny ourselves. At VOUSCon 2025, Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. opened the weekend with a message from John 21 that wasn’t just inspirational—it was a challenge to anyone who’s ever prayed, “God, use me.”

In this final recorded interaction between Jesus and Peter, we see something deeply human. Peter is back on the boat, not chasing a dream but retreating into disappointment. He had denied Jesus. The story felt over. So he did what many of us do when life doesn’t go the way we planned—he went back to what was familiar. But Jesus didn’t leave him there. He met him in the middle of that mess, not to shame him but to restore him.

Jesus gives Peter a fresh commission: “Feed my sheep.” And then He tells him the truth—this road will cost you everything. “When you are old, you will stretch out your hands...” It was a prophecy. Peter would be crucified for his faith. This wasn’t a glamorous call. It was a painful one. But it was real. It was a purpose. And it was worth it.

Pastor Rich unpacked three truths from Peter’s story that show us what following Jesus really looks like. First, it will take you beyond yourself into places where comfort won’t carry you and only grace can sustain you. If the dream doesn’t stretch you, it might not be God-sized.

Second, calling often leads you beneath yourself. Jesus tells Peter someone else will dress him and lead him where he doesn’t want to go. It’s not just about crucifixion, it’s about surrender. God shapes leaders in quiet obedience, not just public moments. If serving feels beneath you, leadership may be beyond you.

Third, following Jesus keeps your focus beside you, but not on others. When Peter asks, “What about him?” Jesus replies, “What is that to you? You must follow me.” It’s a warning we all need. Comparison clouds our calling. God’s assignments aren’t mass-produced. They’re personal.

Pastor Rich shared a moment of yelling to get a distracted driver’s attention. The car kept moving, not because it couldn’t hear, but because it wasn’t looking. The same is true for many of us. We say God’s not speaking, but we haven’t fixed our eyes on Him. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us: look to Jesus. When we look, we hear. When we hear, we follow, even when the path isn’t easy.

Peter’s journey ends with contrast. He followed Jesus to a cross. John followed Him into exile. Two paths. One purpose. It’s not about their story. It’s about yours. The real question isn’t “What about them?” It’s “What about you?”

If you’ve been walking through a season where obedience feels costly, where the dream feels distant, or where the calling feels unclear, this message is for you. You weren’t called to blend in. You were made to be different. But different isn’t about standing out. It’s about laying down your life so that Christ can raise something new.

We invite you to experience the full message, “Dying to Be Different,” premiering today at 7:30PM on our YouTube channel. This message set the tone for everything that followed at VOUSCon 2025. Let it stir your heart and reignite your yes.

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Watch the premiere at 7:30PM on https://www.youtube.com/@VOUSFnF

And don’t stop there. VOUSCon 2026 is already on the horizon and it’s time to say yes to what’s next. The theme is Born to Live and tickets are officially on sale. If God spoke to you through this message, don’t hesitate. Bring your team. Bring your church. Come ready to receive and be sent.

Get your tickets now at vouscon.com