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Suffer the Children
As I sit here a little boy is crying. He’s not quite a year old, and he and his mother are from an East African country. For reasons...
Joseph Givens
22 hours ago3 min read
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These Poems are All Lies
Listen Hush. Listen. You don’t have to be afraid Anymore. The Sun is Still Shining If you Follow me, I can show you The sun. The Lie...
Joseph Givens
Apr 241 min read
12 views
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A Different Kind of Resurrection
My friends, Easter is here. Easter brings with it that most universal of things: consumerism. Walking into a grocery store, you’re...
Joseph Givens
Apr 193 min read
32 views
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Carrots and Screen Time: Parenting Fails, Love Wins
“Dad, when I grow up I’m going to make a high speed maglev train that can take people to the UK. It’s going to have two cars for people...
Joseph Givens
Mar 163 min read
17 views
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A Shared Fast, A Shared Calling
I sit a moment, reflecting. I seldom get a chance to sit quietly and think amidst the constant activity of the Maria Skobtsova House or...
Joseph Givens
Mar 33 min read
76 views
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God is an Eritrean Woman
I was tired. Irritation arose in me Like a branch bent beyond The breaking point. // Green leaves lost, forgotten, I snapped. “God, where...
Joseph Givens
Feb 281 min read
8 views
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You Must Drink Tea
I roll over at 8:00 am. The light gently passes through the curtains. I consider how I feel: Rested, ready to face the day. I have been...
Joseph Givens
Feb 92 min read
66 views
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Sickness and Sea Crossings
I’m at home sick today. It’s not that I really feel all that bad. I have a cough, a stuffy nose, and fatigue. In other words, it’s...
Joseph Givens
Feb 72 min read
32 views
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A Christmas of Joy and Sorrow at Maria Skobtsova House
Merry Christmas, my friends! I wish you all the blessings of the peace of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate on this day. It’s a day...
Joseph Givens
Dec 25, 20244 min read
81 views
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A Threat to Society
After that night A spark of police flairs And teargas Bombs, The night lit up Like midday. Another “migrant,” Helpless, Is harmed By The...
Joseph Givens
Dec 6, 20241 min read
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A Thanksgiving Welcome
These are the words I shared at the Thanksgiving celebration in Calais tonight: Good evening, my friends, Before we begin the...
Joseph Givens
Nov 30, 20243 min read
86 views
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A Journey of Hope: The Unseen Impact of Kindness on Refugees
Well, it’s that time of year again. Over the last two weeks we’ve taken our annual trip to the United Kingdom to visit former guests from...
Joseph Givens
Oct 31, 20244 min read
44 views
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Let it Break You
I’ve only been back a week. In that time, I’ve seen people leave, some to take the train in relative safety to other parts of Europe,...
Joseph Givens
Sep 10, 20242 min read
46 views
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Their Only Crime Was Seeking Safety: Why Policy Must Change
I attended another commemoration tonight. Two days ago a small boat sank in the English Channel again. This time twelve people died and...
Joseph Givens
Sep 4, 20243 min read
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From Calais to El Paso: Discovering Kindred Spirits at the Border
“I’m so happy to finally meet you!” The woman says as she throws her arms around Rachel. Rachel really likes hugs, so she reciprocates...
Joseph Givens
Aug 19, 20245 min read
225 views
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The Good Kind of Mennonites: Stories of Faith and Generosity
Hi, my friends, I’m in our pop-up camper in a state park in Texas at the moment. Thankfully we had the foresight to rent a T-Mobile...
Joseph Givens
Jul 26, 20243 min read
57 views
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Calais in My Heart: A Missionary’s Story
Well, here I am again. Back across the Atlantic Ocean, sitting in a camper on a hot, humid day in Indiana. So far, we’ve had the chance...
Joseph Givens
Jul 15, 20243 min read
42 views
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Bad Weather, Beautiful People
This morning’s interactions weren’t unusual. I walked the boys to school. On the way back, I decided to walk by our local bakery and get...
Joseph Givens
Jun 7, 20243 min read
58 views
0 comments


In the Wake of Tragedy: How Privilege Shapes Our Response to the Migrant Crisis
What more can I say? What can I add to the conversation that I haven't already mentioned countless times? I feel now like whatever I say...
Joseph Givens
Apr 25, 20243 min read
60 views
0 comments


From Calais to Easter: Embracing Hope in the In-Between
Easter is here. Today is the day between Good Friday, when we remember our Lord's death and Easter, when we celebrate his resurrection....
Joseph Givens
Mar 30, 20242 min read
176 views
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