Mature Me w/ Rich Wilkerson Jr.

It’s one thing to sing about surrender. It’s another thing to have to live it. This week on Mature Me, I sat down with one of my friends and heroes @joelhouston . We had such an honest conversation about stepping away from the platform, wrestling with disappointment and finding God in the middle of unanswered questions. Joel has helped so many of us put words to our worship through Hillsong UNITED...

How do you know if it’s God speaking or just what you want to hear? This week on Mature Me, I’m joined by Dr. Allen Tennison and Dakota Duron to talk about hearing God’s voice and learning to trust His direction. I think so many of us can relate to wanting a clear answer. We want to know which decision to make, which door to walk through, what comes next. But becoming familiar with God’s voice sta...

This week on Mature Me, I’m sitting down with my dear friend @jabinchavez, whose new book, “What to Do in the Valley,” released TODAY!  I’ve known Jabin for decades and I loved this conversation about how we grow through the seasons we wouldn’t choose. Even in the promised land, there are still hills and valleys. Being where God called you doesn’t mean you won’t face difficult days. There are thin...

Is the Holy Spirit welcome or is He needed in your life? This week on Mature Me, I sit down with my friend Russell Johnson lead pastor of The Pursuit NW, for a conversation about bold faith and what it means to stay dependent on God. We go after the things we want in life, but when it comes to our faith, we can settle for being open. Open to a miracle. Open to God moving. But are we pursuing Him?...

You can believe what God says about everyone else and still struggle to believe it about yourself. This week on Mature Me, I’m sitting down with @hellomanouchka and @dakotaduron to reflect on 11 years of VOUS Church and our recent “Confessions” collection at @vouschurch. We talk about the early days, the friendships that have sustained us and the beliefs we’ve had to confront along the way. “I’m n...

Your calling can be clear while your development is still incomplete.
 This week, I’m sharing a message from last week’s staff meeting about growing with what God is doing around you. A growing church needs growing people, and a growing staff needs growing leaders.
 Growth requires humility. Stay curious. Keep asking questions. No matter how experienced you become, remain teachable.
 Don’t rush Go...

Men, when you look in the mirror, do you see the man God has called you to be? This week, I’m sharing a commissioning charge from our Man Alive Prayer Breakfast: Stand firm in the faith. Be strong. Act like men. To be a man is to be meek, accountable and needed. To know you are a loved son, fight for your character, and carry the burdens of others. Real strength isn’t about flexing. It’s about gua...

What if the thing you keep excusing is the very thing destroying you?
 This week on Mature Me, I’m sharing a message I preached at @motiongen called “Don’t Live With It.”
 The enemy doesn’t start by destroying you overnight. He starts with compromise. One small excuse. One hidden habit. One line crossed so many times that conviction becomes easier to ignore.
 Jesus warned us that the thief comes t...

You don’t notice balance until you lose it. Right before night one of VOUSCon, I shared a message titled “Get Your Balance Back” In a world of extremes, spiritual maturity is learning how to hold the tension. Grace and truth. Conviction and compassion. Awareness without obsession. Because if you can’t balance, you can’t stand. If you can’t stand, you can’t walk. And if you can’t walk, you certainl...

There’s a difference between leading from your calling and leading from your cracks. This week I’m sharing a message from a staff meeting titled “Insecurity Is Not Your Identity” We look at Peter’s story, from boldly declaring who Jesus is, to denying Him, to being restored and reminded that his failure never canceled his calling. God already knew Peter would deny Him, and He still chose him. The...

When something isn’t growing, don’t be so quick to blame the seed.
 On this episode of Mature Me, I sit down with my new friend @lukelezon . I found a clip of him preaching the gospel using The Lion King and knew I had to get him on Mature Me 🔥 Luke is a husband, father, and pastor of @quaychurch. We dive into all things leadership, culture, communication, trust, and forgiveness. Whether you’re b...

Everyone wants the platform. Few embrace the preparation. On this episode of Mature Me, I sit down with my friend @mannyarango Manny is a husband, father, pastor of @thegardenchurchhtx, and one of the most joyful leaders I know. I've wanted to have this conversation for a long time, and it was worth the wait. We talk about his salvation story, preaching for the first time at just eleven years...

What you can withstand? THAT’S what leadership is On this episode of Mature Me, I sit down with my dear friends @earlmcclellan, @jabinchavez, and @johntermini for a conversation about vision, leadership and the cost of following God’s call.
 Sometimes vision is not a full picture. It is simply enough light for the next step. We talk about how vision gives pain purpose, why your burden may be conne...

We don’t get filled just to stay full. We get filled so we can be poured out. Sat down with one of my friends @chelseaplankk for this week’s episode of Mature Me Chelsea is a wife, artist, singer, songwriter, and Worship Director at SEU. Her music has blessed so many people, including one of our favorite worship songs, “What A God” On this episode of Mature Me, we talk about following the peace of...

Peace is YOURS. Jesus left it for YOU. On this episode of Mature Me, I sit down with my dear friend @upsetthegram . Husband, father, pastor, communicator, podcaster — someone who has spent years helping people find language for faith, healing, and freedom. This conversation goes a lot of places, but at the center of it is a deep invitation into peace. We talk about change, calling, controversy, th...

Imagine a bunch of Pastor’s Kids in a room recording a podcast… that’s exactly what we did for the Mature Me 100th episode I sat down with @grahamfurtick @charliehughez @dakotaduron on a special episode diving into all things being a pastor’s kid, Gen Z, and ministry. We talk about the story behind @thelivingroom.clt - a young adult Bible that became a movement We get into next gen leadership, gro...

What would change if we recognized that the Holy Spirit isn't optional... he’s essential!   On this episode of Mature Me, I sit down with a dear friend @alexseeley. She shares the journey from a young woman praying for purpose to helping build The Belonging Co, while unpacking the message behind her new book, The Divine Counselor. We dive into the topics like why prayer language is an evidence...

Did you wake up sober this morning? How about zealous for good works? This week I get to share a conversation that I’m still thinking about. I got to sit down with my friend @triplee a rapper, teacher, worshipper, song writer, husband and father. From being in the christian hip-hop scene for nearly two decades to recently launching his new collection Brag Worship — Trip has a heart to bring theolo...

We don’t talk about the God of suffering enough… On this episode of Mature Me, I sit down with my friend @samueljames.kelly, a husband and father of three, and the youth pastor of @fellowshipchurch. His life has been shaped by a deep conviction and valleys with God on top of a calling to lead the next generation. We talk about the spiritual openness we’re seeing right now. A generation reaching th...

Today’s Mature Me episode is a reminder that maturity has nothing to do with age and everything to do with surrender On this episode of Mature Me, I sit down with my  friends @Malikbrookins and @emymoorebrookins. They are pastors, teachers, podcasters, influencers, newlyweds, and two people who have inspired me from afar with their hunger for the Lord. Emy and Malik share their story, how they met...

Are we good neighbors? It’s a simple question, but it reaches deeper the longer you sit with it. On this episode of Mature Me, I sit down with @jedidiahthurner. Through Love Has No Limits and Good Neighbor Day America, Jedidiah is helping mobilize people across the country to believe that kindness can change a day, a life, and a community. We talk about kindness, discipleship, generosity, forgiven...

Maturity is learning how to steward your mind, your body, your habits and your soul. On this episode of Mature Me, I sit down with Dr. Amen, a leading voice in brain health who has spent his life helping people understand the connection between the brain, the mind, the body, and the spirit. We talk about why mental health is not just a mental issue, but a brain health issue. Dr. Amen breaks down w...

I love conversations that sharpen how we lead.
 This week we’re releasing a panel from The Assembly 2026. I sat down with friends and leaders I deeply respect, Manouchka Charles, Mark Pettus, Bobby Chandler, and Sheldon Andrus, and we talk on culture, leadership, and building what lasts.
 Culture doesn’t happen by default, it happens by design. We talk about raising leaders, solving problems, and...

This week I’m excited to share a message straight from The Assembly ’26 The Assembly is a space where we get pastors and leaders together in one room to equip the saints. The year I shared a message titled “Now & Later.” Jesus says, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” He lived with the cross in His sight, showing us that real love finishes what it starts. S...

This week on Mature Me, I sit down with @davidnasser — an author, pastor, and friend whose story and conversation holds both weight and wonder. David grew up in Iran during political unrest, watching his father be taken at gunpoint and learning at a young age what fear, loss, and displacement feel like. Over his life the battle has shifted — from physical survival to emotional survival. Bullying,...