Pushed Away: The Quiet Ways Church Culture Fails the People It Should Reach
What happens when the place that promises grace becomes the very place that breaks your spirit?
Pushed Away is a bold, compassionate, and unflinching look at the unspoken dynamics within church culture that leave too many people feeling like they no longer belong. It is for the ones who sat in the pews quietly aching. For the ones who walked away not because they stopped believing in God, but because they stopped believing there was room for them in His house.
This book is not an attack on faith. It is an honest examination of the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, ways spiritual communities can alienate the very people they claim to welcome. From the language we use to the pressure to appear spiritually strong, from the silent judgments to the demand for conformity, Pushed Away peels back the layers of church life and reveals how easily love can be lost in performance, and how easily truth can be buried beneath culture.
Inside these pages, you will find:
Real stories from those who felt unseen, unheard, or unworthy in their faith communities
A deep dive into the language, attitudes, and systems that quietly exclude people who are searching for connection
Reflections on the pain caused by spiritual performance, legalism, and hypocrisy
A call to leaders and believers alike to build churches that reflect humility, empathy, and true grace
Hope for those who still believe in God but feel lost when it comes to the modern church
Pushed Away explores questions many are afraid to ask. Why does church sometimes feel more like a stage than a sanctuary? Why do people leave, and why does no one follow up? Why does faith come with so many unspoken rules? And most importantly, how can we do better?
Author Dominick Leon brings a unique voice to this conversation. As a veteran, minister, and nonprofit leader, he writes from a place of both personal experience and deep compassion. He does not come with condemnation, but with a desire to help faith communities grow more honest and more whole.
This book is for:
People who love God but have been hurt by church
Seekers who have felt judged, dismissed, or pressured
Believers who want to create more welcoming, authentic spaces
Leaders who are ready to hear hard truths and lead with courage
Anyone who has questioned their place in the faith world but still longs to belong
If you have ever felt spiritually exhausted, pushed aside, or silenced in your search for truth, Pushed Away will meet you where you are. It will remind you that you are not alone, that your questions are valid, and that your faith is still alive.
This is not a book of easy answers. It is a book of honest questions and necessary conversations. It is a guide for healing, for reflection, and for rebuilding what was lost.
And above all, it is a reminder that you were never meant to earn grace by being perfect. You were meant to receive it as you are.
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