PSP 37 | I Don't Feel Like I Belong... What Do I Do?

At some point, almost everyone struggles with feeling like an outsider in your local church. It can be when you first join or it can last for years. Pastors Calvin, Connor and Lindsey share personal stories, address emotional barriers to belonging, and offer practical advice—like taking initiative, embracing vulnerability, and serving others—to help listeners build authentic community. While churches can create welcoming environments, we actually play the key role in forming connections. That is actually good news for all of us. We hope you are encouraged to take intentional steps and trust that genuine belonging is possible.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast
The Art of Community: 7 Principals for Belonging by Charles Vogl

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Transcript

Narrator 00:00:10  You're listening to the new reality podcast from Reality Church. Each episode is a conversation about what it means to be real people pursuing a better reality in Jesus.

Lindsey 00:00:28  Welcome to the Pursue Reality podcast. My name is Lindsay and I'm excited that you are with us for our final episode in a series we've been doing on the local church, and how to find one and find your way into one. Find your way out of one. Talking about how to leave a church. but I'm excited for this episode where we are going to be talking or asking the question. I don't feel like I belong at my church. What do I do? And I have got two resident experts with me. I have got Pastor Calvin and Pastor Connor with me. Why don't you guys both say hi?

Calvin 00:01:07  Hey, hey. Yeah. Hi. Hello.

Lindsey 00:01:10  It's good to have you guys with me today and talking about this. I'm excited for this conversation because I think it is a common feeling where if you ask people, not just here at our church, but at any church, like, what's it like at your church? Do you like it? Do you like that? You go there and people kind of often have this feeling like, I don't I don't really feel like I belong there, like it's a nice church.

Lindsey 00:01:37  I like the worship or like the messages or whatever it is they like about it. but I don't like that. Like, and I, I don't think most people like that. They actually would prefer to have that feeling of like, I really feel like this is my church, I belong here. and so how do you from that point, how do you navigate beyond that point? What do we do? So I would like to start with a question for you guys. Have you ever been in a season where you felt that way yourself at a local church, and what did you do when you found yourself in that position?

Calvin 00:02:09  Yeah. yeah. For me, I think it goes up and down. Like for me personally, I, I've always struggled, with friendships just in general, especially with, like, other men. Like, I personally have, have not always found a lot of common ground with, with other men. I, I like I find myself kind of resolving to the shallow end in those relationships of, like, just striving to find common ground.

Calvin 00:02:39  Like sports and stuff like that. And I'm not really into those things anymore. Like, I don't pay attention to that. So I often struggle to to connect and make those friendships because it's hard not to go at it from a place of like, what do you like? Do we like the same things?

Lindsey 00:02:54  Yeah.

Calvin 00:02:54  You know. Yeah. And I fall. I still fall prey to that trap, but I. But I think over the years I've learned like that the best of friendships. Like they, they don't really need that. But sometimes the, the, the initial step like of breaking that ice is difficult when you don't have. Yeah. Have that.

Lindsey 00:03:11  So so you feel like that's something that you, you can find yourself in there easily of. Like no one really knows me. I don't really know people.

Calvin 00:03:18  Yeah, yeah. And just struggling to have like substance to, to engage in with somebody is is hard. Yeah yeah.

Connor 00:03:27  Yeah I, I always struggled this is like just my personal history and going to church and stuff like that.

Connor 00:03:35  I always struggled with going from like I moved a lot as a kid. And then, you know, I, I really was never a part of a church unless I worked at it, which is kind of interesting, but going to a place where there's reestablished community and then being the new guy and trying to figure it out. So like, yeah, as we're talking about this, I was thinking about my first time at reality. Like there's a thriving group of young adults. I'm like, gosh, four years ago. So I was, you know, mid 20s and stuff like that. And I'm like, me and my wife are literally looking for community. And so early on it was exciting, but it was like, gosh, everybody's already friends.

Calvin 00:04:17  It's all set in stone.

Connor 00:04:18  It's all set in stone. And and a lot of people, naturally, this is not a bad thing, by the way. I don't think this is a bad thing. I think it's a very natural thing that when you have your people, like, sometimes you're not really looking to bring more people into your group.

Connor 00:04:33  And so there's also like this understanding like, oh, I don't want I'm not trying to force myself in. That's my tendency. I don't want to force myself into a situation. So yeah, there was there's seasons when I moved like to a new school, go to college, get a job that I don't. I didn't want to force myself in. And then. So naturally there's a feeling of loneliness or be even worse, I think not just being lonely, but being an outsider. Yeah. When you watch because you're you're there on a church on Sunday morning and so you might stay after or whatever, and you see everybody hanging out laughing. You're like, I don't know how to get myself in that situation. So yeah, I've I've definitely had plenty of those. I'm sure many people have felt that way before.

Calvin 00:05:19  And we've we've kind of touched on this in an earlier podcast, I think around like we do have these misconceptions when we're in those spaces of like, I'm the new guy. Like, I'm the outsider.

Calvin 00:05:31  And there's probably actually a number of outsiders in that circle.

Connor 00:05:34  Like, yeah, we just way more than you think.

Lindsey 00:05:36  Yeah, yeah. And I'm the one, the only one who feels like an outsider. Yeah. Like you look at the picture and everybody's like. And everybody's friendly.

Calvin 00:05:43  And everybody knows that I'm the outsider.

Connor 00:05:46  Yeah, dude, why do we have that insecurity?

Calvin 00:05:49  Just, I don't know.

Lindsey 00:05:50  We all need to call our therapist after this.

Connor 00:05:52  Yeah. No, it's a real thing that we all think like we're the outsider and that we're the one who doesn't belong to the church. Or, you know that we're not connected. But really, there's probably, like 50. Like at a church our size. Not we're not huge, but you could easily say like 50 people who feel like I'm not connected. I don't know these people. And I feel like an outsider, when really it's just a group of people who, if they just chatted with one another or or made the effort maybe, or whatever it may be, to get connected, they could get connected.

Lindsey 00:06:24  I think you're highlighting both having something very significant, because I feel that way too, when I'm in, in churches, in previous churches, I feel like nobody likes me, not like I'm a terrible person. But like, all these people are connected. No one's going to want to be friends with me, and I'm scared to make friends with them. I'm like, I don't know if I can trust these people. you know, I might as well just stay on the edges. And I think a lot of people assume, like they might look at me and think, oh, well, she's an extrovert, which I'm not. I'm not an expert at all and think like, well, it's just my personality or it's just hard for me or I'm a hard person. Like, there's a lot of mental things that go in to, like, we show up in a space like a church. We want it. Our hearts desires for it to be community. But I'm just listening to our conversations and all that's going on in their heads.

Lindsey 00:07:17  Like, for me, I'm not necessarily looking at everyone connect. And I'm like, who would want to be friends with me? And who would actually like me? Like I'm the weirdo in this room that doesn't quite fit in. Which again, I know this because of how people perceive we how we perceive each other. People think, oh, Lindsay doesn't think that I totally do.

Calvin 00:07:37  Yeah, yeah, like I do.

Lindsey 00:07:39  Yeah, I do for sure. and I think it's really important listening to you guys to realize that if we want to move from, like the edges of a church community to actually belonging in a church community. We have to call out with ourselves as obstacles that are probably inhibiting us. Like, for me, it's like I'm holding. It's definitely I'm holding myself back. So I'm like, no one's going to want to be friends with me. I'm not from Lancaster. I'm the weirdo in this county. Yeah. Or, you know, I guys don't like to talk about.

Lindsey 00:08:11  Which may be true. Yeah. But it doesn't mean that's not true about every guy.

Calvin 00:08:15  Yeah.

Lindsey 00:08:17  Do you know what I mean? Totally. Or everyone's already connected, so there's not going to be a place for us here. And there's, like, a lot of mental conversations that hold us back.

Calvin 00:08:25  Yeah. Our insecurity inflates our our perceptions. Yeah. Yeah.

Connor 00:08:29  And it's a new anxious moment, too. Like, you might be bringing your kids to church and you're dropping them off, and you're trying to, like, your body's already, like, on high alert when you're in a new place. In a new crowd, too. Yeah. And for those of you who are listening, like, maybe this is, like, your first time checking out church. Ever.

Lindsey 00:08:47  Ever. You're like, I don't know.

Connor 00:08:48  So that's a huge step in itself. So you had all these together and all the insecurities, all of that comes to the.

Lindsey 00:08:55  People are talking about things. You're like, I don't know those words or those.

Lindsey 00:08:59  They're talking about things I don't know about, which is very feels disempowering.

Connor 00:09:04  They know more about Jesus in the Bible than I do. Like, yeah. Yeah.

Lindsey 00:09:08  So, okay, so we're all sitting there with that whole little firestorm up in our brains and our hearts. so what do you do? Like, just from your guys's perspective? Like, we don't want to stay in that place. I think I sincerely believe 99% of people, they truly, if you ask them, would say, I want to go to a church where I feel like I do belong. And if I could just define for a second when I say, when we're on this podcast talking, when we say do belong, we're not talking about, I know everyone at the church. No. And I'm best friends with everyone, if that's what you want. The reality is, honestly not for you. If you're at our local church, like maybe a smaller church would be better. but like when we say I belong, that means I found my community within the larger community.

Lindsey 00:09:54  Yep. I've got people that know me and I know them that are loving me. I'm loving them.

Calvin 00:09:59  I like the way Danielle put it in an earlier podcast. Like a place where people know me and know, like I've shared my story with someone.

Lindsey 00:10:06  Know my story. That's really good. Yeah. So how do we move from, like, this little mental conversation in our head to taking first? Like, how do we get there?

Connor 00:10:15  Yeah, I so I just read a book called the Art of community. it's a fascinating book. Not necessarily Christian. the guy who who wrote it, I think he's like a, he's a Christian of some sort, I think. And this was so fascinating. This actually blew my mind that when people think in communities, it's all about like different developments and levels of being a part of a community and all that stuff. but one of the things he said is the highest satisfaction rate of people who are in a community are people who actually serve and help others or think outside of themselves, rather than think of themselves and their own needs.

Connor 00:10:57  And so let me make this pretty practical, and I'll actually use this story. And we didn't talk about this before, but I remember when I first came to reality, me and my wife and I'll never forget, kind of like mingling with some of the younger crowd and stuff like that. And I remember Calvin's wife, Jacqueline looks at me and goes, we need to have you and your wife over for dinner. And it was like, okay, so if you like, actually think and break that down for a second, maybe they were thinking about gaining a friend or something like that. But if you knew them at that time, your guy's capacity was like like you had so many people who you were connecting with. You were leading the young adult like group at the time and stuff like that. So you didn't need more friends. It was a thinking outside of themselves and inviting us into. And now, my gosh, our kids are going to get married. One like. It's like they hang out all the time.

Connor 00:11:53  We're best friends.

Calvin 00:11:54  When they're listening to this.

Connor 00:11:55  Years and years from now.

Calvin 00:11:56  You guys will be together.

Connor 00:11:58  Olive and Roman. Yeah, but like, now we're, like, close. As thick as, blood, you know? And so it's just one of those things. A lot of people come into church. and I'm not trying to, like, take a shot at anybody, but I do it myself. We come in with a consumer mindset. Yeah, yeah. What can I get out of this?

Lindsey 00:12:18  And who's going to take initiative with me?

Connor 00:12:20  Who's gonna take. And I and I will I will just confess this here on this podcast. That's me. Like, I go into a community, go. Who's gonna come up to me? Yeah, who? I'm gonna sit in the corner and I'm gonna. We all do. We all do it right. And so can I just encourage you to think outside of yourself? I'm not talking about getting into a serving space yet. Maybe that is what you need to do, actually.

Connor 00:12:44  But man. Think outside of yourself. Invite somebody to a cup of coffee, dinner. You know, do the whole dating fear like reach out. I, you know, making friends as an adult is a little bit like dating in your mid-twenties. Absolutely. You just gotta take the risk, you know?

Calvin 00:13:03  And this this podcast probably is not going to be for you if you think that, like, the church's job and maybe we'll touch on that a little bit more. but like we just provide the space and like what we're getting at is it. It does. It takes effort. It takes like action and uncomfortable, like pushing out of your comfort zone. If I since you started practical, if I could go a little bit like more heart internal, kind of centered, I would say like you, when you think about people who are in your life that you really admire, just who they are, It's the people that are really confident and comfortable in their own skin. Yeah. And I'm not saying that we can flip on that switch, but like, maybe you need to pray about that.

Calvin 00:13:48  Like God. Like, remind me who you've made me to be and allow me to walk in that comfortably and confidently, like it's not the people, like the people that I look up to and admire their personality. It's not that they have the traits that I have and I'm like, oh, they're like me, that's great. No, it's just like, oh man, I just like you think about those people. Like, oh, they're just they're just unapologetically, unapologetically them. Like and I that's admirable. Like, so be I think just be you. And and people are going to be drawn to that. Like you don't have to put on something else. Just be who you are.

Lindsey 00:14:23  So, like you, you dropped something there that I want to, like, circle back to. And who's like, who's job? How much is this the church's job and how much of this is you? And I. Because sometimes I'll talk to people. And this isn't just in our church. This is every church.

Lindsey 00:14:42  Yeah. I, I went to your church, and I came for three straight Sundays, and nobody asked me what my name was.

Connor 00:14:50  Nobody talked to me.

Lindsey 00:14:51  Nobody talked to me. And now I would say how we're set up, that we don't like that. No. Like, definitely. But it's so interesting. And I kind of buy my tongue because it'll come across as real weird, to be honest. Like, did you go talk to somebody? Yeah. Like, maybe you're the person, you know that should be asking someone's name so they can be like, someone asked me my name, but, like, there is probably some churches that maybe are a little closed off. Like, how much is this on you? How much is this on the church? Is there like, the perfect community church? I don't know. What can I. How do we sort that out in our brains?

Connor 00:15:26  I think if I, if I will say I always like to defend our church, but I will say from the behind the scenes and what we want to develop as a culture, we want to make those steps as easy as possible for you.

Connor 00:15:38  Like, we don't want the holy huddles. We don't want the clicks. We want this to be the most welcoming church it can be like that is who we are. That's our pastor, Pastor Joe. Like that is that is who we are. And so yeah, there's things that we can we can tweak and do those things. But at the end of the day, we're we are not the matchmakers. It's like, what what Calvin just said, we set up the environments so that you can take the risk to then make the connections. And so yeah, it it happens. These might not be the people that you want to connect with or that you can't connect with. That's totally fine. I think we have an episode about finding a church. Yeah. You know, that's important. but it does take a level of effort for you to go out of your way and find the connection, asking people, joining different small groups or whatever it may be. and there's a point, like if you remember at reality, like we're growing and stuff like that.

Connor 00:16:37  We as pastors like kind of running out of people to connect you with in some regard will point to a small group. But, I think so. Just so you know, like we are working on our ends because it is part of the church to not have a cliquey, unwelcoming environment. And we are working on that. We're growing in that and we want to be better at that.

Calvin 00:16:56  But yeah, I, I like the way Lindsay that you like titled this episode because it says, I don't feel like I belong at my church. What do I do? So like as a pastor, I'm like, oh, I love that you asked that question because you're already thinking internally because I, I, I don't know if I could put a like a, a full blown fraction or a percentage on it, but maybe 80, 20 you. Yeah, I like, I, I think like the church. The pastor like is more visionary. Like we have a vision for this community. It we want it to look like this.

Calvin 00:17:28  Like you think about like the, the authors of the New Testament like writing letters to churches saying like, this is the way that we want the church to look. They're like, then the church has to go and do that. And and so like we provide the space, we provide the vision, we provide guidance and hopefully that guidance that comes from the Lord and from Scripture. And but then it's on you to, to take those steps and it's not always easy or comfortable.

Lindsey 00:17:56  I, I, I think it's really good what you guys are saying because it feels hard like 80, 20 it's on you, but that if you're listening, that can actually be the most freeing thing you can hear. Because if you're caught in this lie that my relational health and prosperity is dependent on somebody else walking up to me and saying, I think you're great. Let's hang out more. Like, that's so disempowering. That's so like, I'm just stuck. I'm stuck at the mercy of finding the perfect church or the perfect community.

Connor 00:18:30  Or the expectation.

Lindsey 00:18:31  Yeah, and it's empowering and hopeful to actually realize you can make choices and pursue people. And not everyone you pursue will become your best friend. I've had coffee with lots of people are like, they're really nice. I'm probably not going to go coffee with.

Connor 00:18:46  Them, totally.

Lindsey 00:18:47  But I loved hearing their story. But it's through the doing the wraps. And I was thinking of a story of one of our great, great, great small group leaders, who was had a small group and it was a new group and everybody's, you know, getting to know each other. And they're actually talking about building community and what holds them back.

Calvin 00:19:06  And who was it I want to know?

Lindsey 00:19:09  Can I say.

Calvin 00:19:10  Well well.

Connor 00:19:11  Well Bleep it out.

Lindsey 00:19:13  I actually can't say it was awesome.

Connor 00:19:14  That's nice. Oh my god.

Lindsey 00:19:16  I'm not gonna leave that out because he's amazing. He's one of my community leaders. So he's like a leader of leaders.

Connor 00:19:21  Austin and jazz legend.

Lindsey 00:19:22  And he was I loved how he shared.

Lindsey 00:19:24  He's like, I was sitting there thinking like, what's holding me back? And the whole room was silent and everyone's kind of like, I don't want to say it. And he's like, I just. I stepped out and felt like a lot of courage and said, I don't think anyone will like me. Wow. And then he said, he said he went around the group and person after person was like, same.

Speaker 5 00:19:45  Yeah, dude.

Lindsey 00:19:46  And these are like, what I want people to hear is these are adults. This is how we feel when we're five and when we're 50 and when we're 60, like, like we need that in our lives. And it takes showing up at the group, stepping out, being vulnerable and really pursuing, really pursuing that.

Connor 00:20:07  Yeah, I would even I would just say to highlight what you just said, is vulnerability. And taking a step in vulnerability is huge. Whatever, whatever that might be for you. being vulnerable might be like the, the ask for, like, getting together, but it's also like what you shared with with Austin.

Connor 00:20:30  Like being like honest, open and transparent in a small group setting like that changes everything. And once somebody does that, it's a domino effect because it opens everybody up to like it's it's crazy how like open everybody gets when one person is transparent and open about those things.

Calvin 00:20:50  So yeah, everybody's shoulders relax a little bit. Yeah. You know.

Connor 00:20:53  Yeah that's good. Yeah yeah yeah.

Lindsey 00:20:54  So this this is really good. this is, we're having our middle school. How do I, I need to make friends.

Speaker 5 00:21:03  Yeah, yeah.

Lindsey 00:21:04  But this actually is one of the biggest questions that I see with people is we get to adulthood. And if you look developmentally at our lives, you you're born generally into some sort of family setting. So community is given to you. You go to school. Community is provided for you. Youth group. Community is provided for you a little less, but it's there. You go to college, you have this common experience. Those college friends living together. You're living together.

Lindsey 00:21:34  It's like best.

Calvin 00:21:35  Friends. Everyone you look at is your age.

Lindsey 00:21:37  Everyone. Yep. Similar age. Similar. Like going through the same type of thing. Yeah. but then you get out of there and now you're an adult. And it actually is a very common thing. I don't know how to make friends. I don't know where to find people. You got a job in a community you've never lived in before. Yeah. You're like, how do I do this? You show up at reality church and you're like, these people. No one said hi to me, and I, we want to love you well and say, man, it's within your power to pursue it, but you got to pursue it and you got to take those steps and go after it. And God's going to do stuff like Jacqueline walking up saying, I want, let's have you guys over for dinner. But for people to hear, you have to do that too. Yeah. Like and to pursue that and create that in a church, whether it's reality or another church that obviously has an open community.

Lindsey 00:22:27  They're not a cult. Yeah.

Calvin 00:22:29  Yeah. That's important.

Connor 00:22:29  The cult thing's important.

Speaker 5 00:22:31  Don't. Yeah. They're not closed.

Lindsey 00:22:32  Off. And you gotta check a bunch of boxes to belong. let me close with this. I think I think this is super helpful. So I'd like to us all to kind of give a final thought that if someone's listening or feeling like. I so identify with these guys. I mean, maybe you're listening and you're like, I'm, I'm. I'm killing it.

Speaker 5 00:22:52  I put all my friends.

Lindsey 00:22:54  I've got my church community, which is awesome for you. But if someone's listening, I'm feeling like, yeah, I kind of still feel like I don't totally belong. I haven't found my community within a community. What's one thing you would leave them with, like one next step or perspective shift you would encourage people to consider? As we finish up this episode.

Connor 00:23:12  Yeah, I would I would make a plan. Whether so if you're married, make a plan with your spouse.

Connor 00:23:19  If you have kids, you know, think through that, aspect if you're single, Whatever. but I would honestly make a plan and a goal of in some way, shape or form, whatever fits your context, who you are, your temperaments, all those things. if you feel like you're struggling, like maybe you've tried reality for a little bit, or you're brand new, what I would do is just say, hey, for the next six weeks, I'm going to do X, Y, and Z. And so I've given a few examples in this, but it's like I'm going to ask one person out for coffee every Sunday or five people for coffee, and I'm going to have my calendar ready. And I'm just gonna I'm going to plan it. I'm not going to say we should get together for coffee. Like you're going to go, hey, what time works for you? Right. We're all busy. We all have things going on. Don't let that, like, hold you back.

Connor 00:24:10  But I would just stick it, like, really practical. I would say I'm going to sign up for at least one small group. which small group season? is probably coming up here soon when this releases. and so, you know. Yeah. Whatever it is, it's really hard to contextualize for your life, but somebody has kids play dates. Like, seriously, my wife has done that a lot with with some new moms and stuff like that. Come to our to, like, moms community stuff, all those different things that are opportunities come out. You know, maybe it's serving. Make a plan, though, sit down with your spouse or just have something ready for. Put reminders on your phone, whatever it may be. Have a plan. That's that's my thought.

Calvin 00:24:54  That's good. Yeah. I think for me, I just feel led to encourage just kind of double down on what I said earlier of of just like speaking to whoever's listening, like, like people like you, like you're you are a likable person.

Calvin 00:25:08  Yeah. Like the way that God's uniquely created you, is somebody who's likable. Sure. We all have traits that are not likable about us. and each one of us have have those things. But, like, you yourself, just be you. Like you are somebody that that's worth being friends with, that's connecting with your. You're somebody who's worth. experiencing a sense of belonging in a, in a community. so I just pray that you step into that, that God gives you courage. And if I could make it practical if if there's anybody that you like, you've seen somebody and you've wanted to just talk to them at church, then this Sunday, just go talk to them. Just go. And the nice thing about the church community is you can kind of make it spiritual and just and it's a little bit accepting, hey, I just feel like God wanted me to introduce myself to you.

Speaker 5 00:25:57  So we're.

Lindsey 00:25:58  A podcast I was listening.

Speaker 5 00:25:59  To this week.

Lindsey 00:26:01  I would, if I love both of you guys advice, and I think I would echo something a little bit similar.

Lindsey 00:26:11  this is dating advice I give people and it applies to building community is so you get two for one on this.

Speaker 5 00:26:18  Oh, what a deal for single.

Lindsey 00:26:21  I would say this. Be open to the possibilities and available. So open and available and the open the possibilities is just be open to who God might bring. I think sometimes people walk in, they see, like a certain community, be like, I want to be friends with those people. And I.

Speaker 5 00:26:39  It's like.

Connor 00:26:39  That's.

Speaker 5 00:26:39  So it's.

Lindsey 00:26:40  Like Calvin or nobody or I see someone on stage or like, there's this whole group that meets and I want to be part of that group. Well, maybe yes or no. I would actually encourage you don't constrict. Be open to the possibilities of who could be. And that could you might have ten coffees and two of them end up being closer friends, or you're part of their small group and get to know each other. So be open to the possibilities. And the other, the open and available is you have to be available like you have to put yourself in social situations.

Lindsey 00:27:09  That and again, this isn't a promo to serve, but like or join a group. It is. It always is. But it is. It's just what I.

Calvin 00:27:17  Tell people of our job.

Lindsey 00:27:18  Well, it's what I tell people daily and they're like, there's just no men out there, no women. I'm like, well, are you putting yourself where people would see that you're available? Like, because you haven't met a single person in the last year. So yeah, it's you're going to go on zero dates in that situation and it's not a bad thing to say, I'm going to join this group. I'm going to get serving because I just need to be and I'm going to pursue it. Yeah. Like I'm going to like Connor said, I'm going to have people over for dinner, have the play dates, whatever, but be open to the possibilities and put yourself in situations where you're available to those social connections and to start build those things. And it works for dating. Two, by the way.

Connor 00:27:57  100%.

Lindsey 00:27:58  Just I'm just saying. Yeah. So it's not a formula it guarantees, but it kind of works. So just a.

Connor 00:28:03  Little bit just a little bit.

Lindsey 00:28:04  So thank you guys for just having this conversation together. And thank you everyone for listening. I hope that you feel empowered and hopeful and probably a little challenged to, to take steps out there to build the community. We feel that this isn't just your heart's desire. This is God's heart for you. You're a likable person. He wants you in community. He wants your local church to be a place where you feel like you belong. And there's actually ways to achieve that. You're not stuck or destined to be an outsider. You can take steps and God will meet you in that place and open up doors that will, I think, be really special. So thank you for listening and hope that you have a great week. Talk to you soon.

Narrator 00:28:51  Thanks for tuning in to the Pursue Reality podcast. Reality church is a local church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Narrator 00:28:57  To learn more or get connected, visit us at.