The Giraffe and the Hippo: A Parable for the Church
Once, in a distant savanna, there lived a tall, slender giraffe and a big, friendly hippo. The two were good friends and loved spending time together. One day, the giraffe proudly invited the hippo over to its home. The giraffe’s house was tall and narrow, with high ceilings and furniture placed up high—perfectly suited for the giraffe’s build.
The hippo, eager to see its friend, accepted the invitation. But the moment it arrived, it became clear that the house wasn’t built with the hippo in mind. The doorway was too tight for its broad frame, and once inside, everything was either out of reach or uncomfortably sized. The hippo did its best to adapt—stretching, squeezing, even standing on tiptoes—but it still couldn’t fit in comfortably.
The giraffe, noticing the struggle, offered kind but unhelpful advice: “Just stretch a little taller—then everything will work for you too!” But no amount of effort could change the fact that the house had been built for a giraffe, not a hippo.
Eventually, the hippo stopped coming around—not because it didn’t like the giraffe, but because the space didn’t work for it. The giraffe was confused. It had tried to be welcoming. It just hadn’t realised that the very structure of its home excluded its friend.
This story reflects the experience many people have when entering spaces not designed with them in mind—even when those spaces are filled with well-meaning, kind people. It’s especially true in church communities. A church may be friendly and welcoming, but still be shaped by one dominant culture, making it difficult for others to feel like they truly belong.
In multicultural places like London, this challenge is very real. Churches are often built around the language, customs, and worship styles of one group, which might feel completely natural to some, but foreign or uncomfortable to others. For many, no matter how much they try to adapt, they can end up feeling like the hippo—unseen, misunderstood, and quietly excluded.
At Home Church, we recognise that good intentions aren’t enough. Hospitality must go beyond politeness—it must be practical and sacrificial. True gospel community means not expecting everyone to adapt to a dominant way of being, but learning how to reshape our spaces, our habits, and even our assumptions to honour the diversity of Christ’s body.
This isn’t just about diversity—it’s about discipleship. It’s about living out the gospel of grace that welcomes the outsider, breaks down dividing walls, and builds a new household where all can belong. That kind of community doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intentionality, humility, listening, and a willingness to change. It means asking not only “Are we friendly?” but “Is this space built for all of us?”
Join us at Home Church as we seek to build not just a place where people are welcomed, but where they can truly feel at home.
A place where different cultures enrich our fellowship.
A place where each person is seen and valued.
A place where Jesus is not only preached but made visible in the way we love one another.
