You weren't meant to do this alone.

Turned away by a church?

If you, or someone you love, has ever been shamed or pushed out of a church because of how you dress, how you look or where you come from, we're so sorry. That church wasn't following the Bible. God shows no favoritism, and he tells his people not to either (James 2:1–4My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?James 2:1–4 (ESV) · Read it in context). Church leaders will give an account to God for how they've cared for his people (Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.Hebrews 13:17 (ESV) · Read it in context).

The truth is, none of us deserves God's mercy and grace. That's what makes it grace (Romans 3:23–24for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,Romans 3:23–24 (ESV) · Read it in context). So it's hypocritical for anyone in the church to hold it back from anyone else. Jesus welcomed the very people the religious leaders looked down on (Luke 15:1–2Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”Luke 15:1–2 (ESV) · Read it in context), and he still does.

Please don't let one church keep you from Jesus, or from finding a church that will love you well.