When Churches Forget the Margins:

A Prophetic Plea for MORE Compassion, less rituals and traditions

I had previously mentioned that several years ago, while driving around aimlessly I was struck for the first time in my life to take my life in a different direction. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I trusted that if I put forth the effort everyday…God would direct my path. I lived in a new area where I knew no one and had all the time in the world to do…something. On a Wednesday afternoon, I pulled into a random Church parking lot and went inside. I introduced myself, explained I was new to the are and asked: “What can I do to help?”

They said they would call me if something came up and they would spread the word. That was almost 5 years ago, and the phone hasn’t rung yet. This began my passion to create my own church, especially not in a building.

In the Gospels, Jesus never built a platform—He walked among the poor, the sick, the outcast. He didn’t wait for the marginalized to come to Him; He went to them. So why do so many churches today seem to forget the margins?

The Biblical Mandate to Remember the Forgotten

From Genesis to Revelation, God’s heart beats for the vulnerable:

• Isaiah 1:17: “Seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
• James 1:27: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God… is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.”
• Luke 14:13: “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind…”

This isn’t optional. It’s foundational. Compassion isn’t a ministry—it’s a mandate.

The Comfort Trap: How Churches Drift from Mission

Many churches begin with fire and mission, but over time, comfort creeps in. Budgets prioritize buildings over benevolence. Sermons soothe rather than stir. Outreach becomes marketing instead of mercy.

When churches forget the margins, they:

• Preach prosperity but ignore poverty
• Celebrate growth but neglect grief
• Build programs but bypass people

The result? A sanitized gospel that no longer resembles the radical love of Christ.

A Prophetic Plea: Reclaiming Compassion as Core

This is not a call to shame—it’s a call to awaken. Prophets in Scripture didn’t condemn—they cried out. They reminded God’s people of their covenant, their calling, their compassion.

We must ask:

• Who is missing from our pews?
• Who feels unsafe in our sanctuaries?
• Who has been silenced by our systems?

If our churches aren’t uncomfortable, they’re not Christlike. Jesus disrupted religious norms to embrace the rejected. So must we.

Practical Steps Toward a Margins-Focused Ministry

1. Audit Your Outreach: Are you serving the poor, the addicted, the mentally ill, the formerly incarcerated?
2. Empower the Marginalized: Don’t just serve—invite them to lead, speak, and shape the church.
3. Preach the Whole Gospel: Include justice, lament, and the cost of discipleship.
4. Partner with Local Needs: Homeless shelters, food banks, counseling centers—be present, not just generous.
5. Train for Trauma Sensitivity: Equip leaders to recognize and respond to deep wounds.

Final Word: Compassion Is the Currency of the Kingdom

Jesus didn’t say, “They’ll know you by your theology.” He said, “They’ll know you by your love.” If our churches forget the margins, we forget the Messiah. But if we remember the least, we reflect the Lord.

Let Heartfelt Guidance be a voice that reminds the Church of its true mission—not to entertain the saved, but to embrace the suffering. This is your prophetic plea. And it’s one the world desperately needs to hear.

Dr. Lanny R Morrow II