Lessons from 15 years of VOUSCon and what it really takes to build something that lasts.

If you’ve ever tried to plan a church event, you know it’s no small thing. The vision is clear, but the details? Not always. The energy is high, but so is the pressure. We’ve been there. And we’re still learning.

After 15 years of VOUSCon, we’ve found that the fruit doesn’t come from doing everything perfectly. It comes from staying faithful over time. One step at a time. One conversation at a time. One team meeting at a time.

Whether you’re just starting or scaling something big, we hope this guide offers encouragement and tools to help you keep building.

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1. Start early and stay consistent

Planning for VOUSCon starts 12 months in advance. By the time one year’s conference begins, we’ve already landed the theme, created the trailer, and launched the next website. We announce it live so we can ride the momentum forward.

It’s easy to think success is about making something big happen all at once. But most of the fruit we see is from slow, steady effort. The best momentum is the kind you build while people are still leaning in.

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2. Be open to something new

This year, we introduced something we had never done before. The Road to VOUSCon. Our team ran 400 miles from Jacksonville to Miami, stopping in cities along the way to partner with churches, serve communities, and give back.

We didn’t have a playbook. Just a willingness to stretch. What unfolded surprised us. Churches opened their doors. Teams ran together for a purpose. Our team grew stronger in the process. And what began as a bold idea turned into a meaningful journey that prepared hearts for what was ahead.

If you’re looking to try something new, you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. We created a minute-by-minute spreadsheet to help us keep track of every handoff, route, outreach, and schedule.

You can view or download it here:

Road to VOUSCon Minute-by-Minute Planning Spreadsheet

Sometimes the growth isn’t in the arrival. It’s in the stretch. Even if the idea feels uncertain, God often meets you right in the middle of it.

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3. Growth needs structure

Selling out a conference sounds amazing. But if you don’t have the right systems in place, growth can be overwhelming. This year challenged us to think about how we lead at scale.

How do we invite more people into the process? How do we organize teams and clarify roles? How do we stay healthy while moving fast?

We doubled down on preparation and communication. We made sure people knew what to expect. And it helped us move forward with clarity and confidence.

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4. Maturity shows up in the unexpected

One of our team members said this was the most mature year we’ve ever had. Not because everything went according to plan, but because when things didn’t, we stayed steady.

That’s the gift of doing something year after year. You learn what really matters. You trust your team. You know how to pivot without losing your peace.

Maturity in ministry looks like having margin. It looks like choosing presence over pressure. It looks like leading with faith instead of fear.

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5. Make space for the moments you can’t plan

There were a lot of powerful moments this year. Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell brought a message that hit home. Abbie Gamboa led worship that created space for people to meet with God. Prayer Night overflowed with expectation.

These are the moments we can’t manufacture. But we can prepare for them. We can build spaces that invite God to move. And when we do, He shows up in ways we could never script.

If you’re building something in your church, whether it’s a conference, a new ministry, or a team, we hope this encourages you. You don’t need to rush. Just keep showing up. Keep building. Keep trusting God with the outcome.

Because the process won’t just shape what you’re building. It’ll shape you too.

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Want to see more from VOUSCon?

• Pastor Philip’s VOUSCon message drops Thursday, August 28, on the Friends + Family Network
  
• Pastor Rich sits down with Abbie Gamboa on the Mature Me Podcast, out Tuesday, August 29
  
  

Subscribe so you don’t miss a moment.

→ Subscribe to Friends + Family Network on YouTube

→ Subscribe to Mature Me Podcast on YouTube

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