Church for the Lost

**[Intro]** Rain on the stained glass, dust on the pews Every scar got a story, every choice left a bruise If heaven keeps a ledger, mine is written in blue Came looking for a reason, found a road to choose **[Verse 1]** Mama hid the rent money deep inside the Bible I kept fear by my side, thought the blade made me vital Corner-store prophets posted up by the payphone Said a man gets measured by what he can bring home My brother took a shortcut, disappeared in the county I wore his name like armor when the cold streets surrounded me Friends became witnesses, promises turned vapor Learned the price of loyalty from a courtroom paper Every night, sirens asking questions through the silence Was I made for the fire, or addicted to the violence? Saw a kid with my eyes waiting underneath the bus stop Told him, “Don’t let this hard world tell you what you’re not.” **[Chorus]** I’m looking for a church for the lost Where the broken count the scars, not the cost If I fall, let the truth be what I carry If I rise, let me lift somebody with me No crown, no throne, no clean disguise Just a little more mercy than I had last night I’m looking for a church for the lost Trying to find my soul before it’s gone **[Verse 2]** Temptation pulled up smelling like a new car Said, “You could own the whole block if you forget who you are” I thought about the empty fridge, the eviction notice Heard my father say, “Don’t confuse power with purpose.” So I walked past the money with my hands still shaking Past the ones calling me brother while they plotted my breaking Loyalty ain't silence when the innocent are bleeding Morality ain't weakness when the strong refuse the easy I got enemies who know the man I left behind And a few real ones who stayed when I had nothing but time Now I write names on paper, not walls for retaliation Turn a night full of rage into a road toward salvation If the city is a sermon, I’ve been both sin and witness Still the door stays open for the ones seeking forgiveness **[Chorus]** I’m looking for a church for the lost Where the broken count the scars, not the cost If I fall, let the truth be what I carry If I rise, let me lift somebody with me No crown, no throne, no clean disguise Just a little more mercy than I had last night I’m looking for a church for the lost Trying to find my soul before it’s gone **[Bridge]** Is redemption loud, or does it whisper? Does it come with clean hands, or a heart that still remembers? I can't undo the footsteps, can't unring the warning But I can meet the dawn and choose different tomorrow **[Verse 3]** Now the same block sees a man they nearly buried Teaching young ones how to leave before the load gets heavy No halo over me, just sweat beneath the collar Turning old regrets into something I can offer Keep the family close, keep the circle getting smaller Trust gets built in quiet rooms, not shouted from a corner When the night gets heavy, I don't pretend I'm fearless I call the ones I love and let ’em know I’m still here Maybe purpose ain't lightning falling from heaven Maybe it's the hand you give when you barely got seven Maybe every scar becomes a doorway if you face it Maybe lost don't mean forgotten — just unfinished in the making **[Final Chorus]** I’m looking for a church for the lost Where the broken count the scars, not the cost If I fall, let the truth be what I carry If I rise, let me lift somebody with me No crown, no throne, no clean disguise Just a little more mercy than I had last night I’m looking for a church for the lost Trying to find my soul before it’s gone **[Outro]** Leave one light on for the ones still running Leave one seat free for the hearts still coming I walked in with a past I couldn't bury Walked out with a purpose I could carry