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Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics
The global crisis of forced displacement is growing every year. At the same time, Western Christians' sympathy toward refugees is increasingly overshadowed by concerns about personal and national security, economics, and culture. We urgently need a perspective that understands both Scripture and current political realities and that can be applied at the levels of the church, the nation, and the globe. In Refuge Reimagined , Mark R. Glanville and Luke Glanville offer a new approach to compassion for displaced a biblical ethic of kinship. God's people, they argue, are consistently called to extend kinship―a mutual responsibility and solidarity―to those who are marginalized and without a home. Drawing on their respective expertise in Old Testament studies and international relations, the two brothers engage a range of disciplines to demonstrate how this ethic is consistently conveyed throughout the Bible and can be practically embodied today. Glanville and Glanville apply the kinship ethic to issues such as the current mission of the church, national identity and sovereignty, and possibilities for a cooperative global response to the refugee crisis. Challenging the fear-based ethic that often motivates Christian approaches, they envision a more generous, creative, and hopeful way forward. Refuge Reimagined will equip students, activists, and anyone interested in refugee issues to understand the biblical model for communities and how it can transform our world.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
32 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Mark R. Glanville
7 books17 followersDr Mark R Glanville is Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at Regent College, Vancouver, and an Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) scholar. Mark's recent scholarship explores dynamics of kinship and ethics in the Old Testament. Prior to joining Regent, Mark pastored for 14 years in both Canada and Australia. Mark has been bi-vocational, combining reflective (justice-seeking) pastoring with biblical scholarship. He has published in numerous top tier biblical studies journals (including JBL, JSOT, and CBQ). He is an Aussie, and he likes to express his masculinity by snapping a crocodile's neck with two fingers. Mark is also a trained jazz pianist who plays on the Vancouver jazz scene.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 24, 2021
I’m writing this review a few days after news reports surfaced of US Border Patrol on horseback, chasing down Haitian refugees at the southern border. With that backdrop, let me simply say that Refuge Reimagined is a necessary book. I am also writing this review just a few miles away from a US military base that has all but shut down its hospital temporarily to move medical staff to places where Afghan refugees have been evacuated. “The Refugee Crisis” is complex, multi-faceted and covers many different people groups, countries, and reasons for refuge. There is one thing that isn’t complicated, or at least shouldn’t be: Christians are called to care for those who need refuge. Unfortunately, even that simple statement has been lost in political complexities and expediencies.
Mark Glanville is an Old Testament scholar whose academic focus has been on immigration issues in the Old Testament, particularly Deuteronomic law on “adopting the stranger.” Luke Glanville is an expert in international relations and professor at Australian National University. It’s a dream team-up that makes Refuge Reimagined the perfect work for the brothers to collaborate on. The Glanvilles divide the book into four parts:
1. The Bible – What does Scripture say about the treatment of refugees?
2. The Church – How can the church live out kinship with refugee groups?
3. The Nation – How should our national systems deal with refugees on the political level?
4. The World – How can we develop a global kinship with refugees?
The first two parts, obviously, fall into Mark’s wheelhouse while the last two parts are within Luke’s expertise. The stepping-stone structure of the book is useful because, in my experience, the arguments I’ve heard from Christians against welcoming refugees starts at the biblical level but inevitably shifts toward the national/cultural level. There is a sense that even if Scripture told us to welcome the refugee, that doesn’t mean our nations have to. In this movement, Mark Glanville can thoroughly address the biblical argument then hand the baton off to Luke to finish the race.
The section on Scripture focuses, as one might expect, on Deuteronomy and the Law’s vision for the stranger (Heb. Ger). Glanville is comprehensive, yet accessible. He clearly and cogently breaks down these laws in their historio-cultural setting to make a solid case for welcoming the refugee. In particular, Glanville contrasts his exegesis with James K. Hoffmeier’s The Immigration Crisis. Hoffmeier, also an Old Testament scholar but with an academic emphasis on archaeology, is much more critical of welcoming immigrants. His work has been particularly influential as it was part of a prominent Bible study ran for members of Congress during the Trump Administration. Using Hoffmeier as a foil, Glanville is not only able to develop a robust defense of welcoming the refugee, he also dismantles the typical arguments and stances from Christians who take a more critical view.
Along the way, Glanville also provides an explosive explanation of the problematic Canaanite destruction texts, noting that the narrative has shown that Canaanites can be brought into the Israelite camp (e.g Rahab) and Israelites can be shown to be of Canaan at heart (e.g. Achan). Thus, Canaanite becomes a metaphor for unfaithful Israel and the destruction texts function as a mirror through which to see and understand the destruction of Israel. It’s a somewhat tangential point, but I wish Glanville had spent more time on it just for my own intellectual curiosity.
The second half of the book deals with international relations and political policy. A lot time is still on the theological side, contrasting the Trump Administration’s interpretation of Romans 13 with a, well, a more accurate interpretation. Glanville writes that we are to be neighbor-loving nations. He also gives a quick overview of the major reasons for migration and why refugees issues are so important in this day and age. The result is a political theology that urges nation-states to care for vulnerable outsiders and welcome them as kin.
This is such a needed book. The Glanvilles provide a theological and political basis for refugee care, outlining practical and pastoral applications for individuals, churches, communities, and political leaders. They powerfully argue that caring for refugees is being morally, fiscally, and spiritually responsible. Whether personally or institutionally, we cannot ignore the plight of these in whom the image of God dwells. The Kingdom of God demands better.
Mark Glanville is an Old Testament scholar whose academic focus has been on immigration issues in the Old Testament, particularly Deuteronomic law on “adopting the stranger.” Luke Glanville is an expert in international relations and professor at Australian National University. It’s a dream team-up that makes Refuge Reimagined the perfect work for the brothers to collaborate on. The Glanvilles divide the book into four parts:
1. The Bible – What does Scripture say about the treatment of refugees?
2. The Church – How can the church live out kinship with refugee groups?
3. The Nation – How should our national systems deal with refugees on the political level?
4. The World – How can we develop a global kinship with refugees?
The first two parts, obviously, fall into Mark’s wheelhouse while the last two parts are within Luke’s expertise. The stepping-stone structure of the book is useful because, in my experience, the arguments I’ve heard from Christians against welcoming refugees starts at the biblical level but inevitably shifts toward the national/cultural level. There is a sense that even if Scripture told us to welcome the refugee, that doesn’t mean our nations have to. In this movement, Mark Glanville can thoroughly address the biblical argument then hand the baton off to Luke to finish the race.
The section on Scripture focuses, as one might expect, on Deuteronomy and the Law’s vision for the stranger (Heb. Ger). Glanville is comprehensive, yet accessible. He clearly and cogently breaks down these laws in their historio-cultural setting to make a solid case for welcoming the refugee. In particular, Glanville contrasts his exegesis with James K. Hoffmeier’s The Immigration Crisis. Hoffmeier, also an Old Testament scholar but with an academic emphasis on archaeology, is much more critical of welcoming immigrants. His work has been particularly influential as it was part of a prominent Bible study ran for members of Congress during the Trump Administration. Using Hoffmeier as a foil, Glanville is not only able to develop a robust defense of welcoming the refugee, he also dismantles the typical arguments and stances from Christians who take a more critical view.
Along the way, Glanville also provides an explosive explanation of the problematic Canaanite destruction texts, noting that the narrative has shown that Canaanites can be brought into the Israelite camp (e.g Rahab) and Israelites can be shown to be of Canaan at heart (e.g. Achan). Thus, Canaanite becomes a metaphor for unfaithful Israel and the destruction texts function as a mirror through which to see and understand the destruction of Israel. It’s a somewhat tangential point, but I wish Glanville had spent more time on it just for my own intellectual curiosity.
The second half of the book deals with international relations and political policy. A lot time is still on the theological side, contrasting the Trump Administration’s interpretation of Romans 13 with a, well, a more accurate interpretation. Glanville writes that we are to be neighbor-loving nations. He also gives a quick overview of the major reasons for migration and why refugees issues are so important in this day and age. The result is a political theology that urges nation-states to care for vulnerable outsiders and welcome them as kin.
This is such a needed book. The Glanvilles provide a theological and political basis for refugee care, outlining practical and pastoral applications for individuals, churches, communities, and political leaders. They powerfully argue that caring for refugees is being morally, fiscally, and spiritually responsible. Whether personally or institutionally, we cannot ignore the plight of these in whom the image of God dwells. The Kingdom of God demands better.
December 17, 2020
This was a superb collaboration addressing the need to rethink (especially) Western Christianity's posture toward immigration and refugees. Mark is a biblical scholar and pastoral theologian, and Luke is an international relations scholar, so I can't imagine a tag-team better suited for this task. The book anchors the call to welcome refugees in Scripture, and avoids abstraction (while holding ideals) by grounding its discussion of the biblical call to welcome the stranger in the stories of Israel, the Church, and through contemporary reflections on how individuals, communities, and nations can take action to address the 79million+ displaced persons worldwide. Some of the stats and stories are staggering and painful, but the book leaves me with hope. I'd love to see Churches study this book, study Scripture, and then ask, "Okay, what does this mean for us?"
December 30, 2021
Summary: A case for welcoming refugees based on the biblical ethic of kinship, and the responsibility of kin to provide a home for those who have none, with applications to the church, the nation, and the international community.
In 2019, 79.5 million people in the world had been forcibly displaced from their homes. Causes range from political and religious persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, and the breakdown of the rule of law. In 2020, the United States admitted just 11,814 of these people, less than the 18,000 places allotted. Similar numerical disparities exist in many countries while poorer neighbors often absorb higher numbers, many in refugee camps.
Faced with these great needs and the reality that sending many people back to their homes is a sentence to a quick or slow death, many countries are closing their borders to refugees, claiming they have more than enough to do caring for their own people. Many church communities support these restrictive policies, citing scriptures supporting the rule of law and even the idea that the passages about welcoming the alien and stranger apply only to “legal” immigrants.
The authors of this work are involved in a community, Kinbrace, in Vancouver providing refugee housing and support. Out of their careful reading of scripture and their experience, they argue that the biblical idea of providing kinship hospitality runs through scripture as God provides a home for Israel as slave-refugees and enjoins this hospitality with others, exemplified beautifully in the story of Ruth. In the New Testament, the story is one of reconciliation both to God and across all human boundaries. The shared table, feasting together as the family of God is a prominent symbol of that reality.
They then build on their biblical study to address three areas where kinship may be practiced. First is the church and they explore a variety of ways churches can practice this ethic in worship and welcome. Then they turn to nations. They consider what it is for nations to practice justice with refugees, and address the objections of maintaining national identity and the argument that scripture only requires care for those who enter the country “legally.” They show that no such biblical warrant exists. Finally, they address the climate of fear that tinges these discussions, reminding us in the words of Marilynne Robinson: “Fear is not a Christian habit of mind.” Finally they argue for an ethic of kinship in the global community, challenging the approach of political realism.
I found myself in full agreement with the biblical arguments of kinship, and particularly, their relevance to believing people who are called to “…welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7, ESV). I was more troubled by the way in which it seemed they were calling on Christians to advocate with national governments and international bodies to do this. I would have liked to see more of the book devoted to addressing how churches and other organizations can fully prepare to become refugee welcoming communities. Instead of saying to governmental leaders, “we want you to open the borders to more refugees,” with the inference that federal, state, and local governments would bear the weight of this effort, imagine the reaction if church leaders came to government and said, “we have mobilized a network of 10,000 churches and organizations, who are trained and prepared according to best practices to welcome 100,000 refugees and integrate them into our local communities. We’re asking you to work with us to make that possible.”
There’s a lot of heavy lifting with this idea. But I don’t hear the authors discussing the heavy lifting we are asking governments to do, often against the political grain of their populace, to embrace a kinship ethic. I wonder if more hearts may be won by local communities across the country who are becoming known for their generous hospitality, in which others around them see how much fun they are having doing this, and how their communities are enriched by those they welcome, as they fill needed jobs, start businesses, and add the richness of their cultures to our towns and cities.
That said, the appeal to kinship, to expanding our boundaries of “neighbor,” and to trade our fears for the joy of the festive table is compelling. I suspect the beginning in many places are for groups to study and discuss this book, begin learning about groups like Kinbrace, who are involved in refugee work, and pray, dream, and work to mobilize the resources needed in their community. What I hope will arise are supporting structures without bureaucracy to amplify the efforts of these local groups through advocacy, training, and networking. It seems to me, given the magnitude of the crisis, which is likely to grow, that this kind of mobilization is key if we would extend the wings of refuge to more than just a token few.
____________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
In 2019, 79.5 million people in the world had been forcibly displaced from their homes. Causes range from political and religious persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, and the breakdown of the rule of law. In 2020, the United States admitted just 11,814 of these people, less than the 18,000 places allotted. Similar numerical disparities exist in many countries while poorer neighbors often absorb higher numbers, many in refugee camps.
Faced with these great needs and the reality that sending many people back to their homes is a sentence to a quick or slow death, many countries are closing their borders to refugees, claiming they have more than enough to do caring for their own people. Many church communities support these restrictive policies, citing scriptures supporting the rule of law and even the idea that the passages about welcoming the alien and stranger apply only to “legal” immigrants.
The authors of this work are involved in a community, Kinbrace, in Vancouver providing refugee housing and support. Out of their careful reading of scripture and their experience, they argue that the biblical idea of providing kinship hospitality runs through scripture as God provides a home for Israel as slave-refugees and enjoins this hospitality with others, exemplified beautifully in the story of Ruth. In the New Testament, the story is one of reconciliation both to God and across all human boundaries. The shared table, feasting together as the family of God is a prominent symbol of that reality.
They then build on their biblical study to address three areas where kinship may be practiced. First is the church and they explore a variety of ways churches can practice this ethic in worship and welcome. Then they turn to nations. They consider what it is for nations to practice justice with refugees, and address the objections of maintaining national identity and the argument that scripture only requires care for those who enter the country “legally.” They show that no such biblical warrant exists. Finally, they address the climate of fear that tinges these discussions, reminding us in the words of Marilynne Robinson: “Fear is not a Christian habit of mind.” Finally they argue for an ethic of kinship in the global community, challenging the approach of political realism.
I found myself in full agreement with the biblical arguments of kinship, and particularly, their relevance to believing people who are called to “…welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7, ESV). I was more troubled by the way in which it seemed they were calling on Christians to advocate with national governments and international bodies to do this. I would have liked to see more of the book devoted to addressing how churches and other organizations can fully prepare to become refugee welcoming communities. Instead of saying to governmental leaders, “we want you to open the borders to more refugees,” with the inference that federal, state, and local governments would bear the weight of this effort, imagine the reaction if church leaders came to government and said, “we have mobilized a network of 10,000 churches and organizations, who are trained and prepared according to best practices to welcome 100,000 refugees and integrate them into our local communities. We’re asking you to work with us to make that possible.”
There’s a lot of heavy lifting with this idea. But I don’t hear the authors discussing the heavy lifting we are asking governments to do, often against the political grain of their populace, to embrace a kinship ethic. I wonder if more hearts may be won by local communities across the country who are becoming known for their generous hospitality, in which others around them see how much fun they are having doing this, and how their communities are enriched by those they welcome, as they fill needed jobs, start businesses, and add the richness of their cultures to our towns and cities.
That said, the appeal to kinship, to expanding our boundaries of “neighbor,” and to trade our fears for the joy of the festive table is compelling. I suspect the beginning in many places are for groups to study and discuss this book, begin learning about groups like Kinbrace, who are involved in refugee work, and pray, dream, and work to mobilize the resources needed in their community. What I hope will arise are supporting structures without bureaucracy to amplify the efforts of these local groups through advocacy, training, and networking. It seems to me, given the magnitude of the crisis, which is likely to grow, that this kind of mobilization is key if we would extend the wings of refuge to more than just a token few.
____________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
January 12, 2026
an honest reading of both Levitical law and Jesus’s commandment to “welcome the stranger” make God’s heart for His people clear - our worship of Him is incomplete if it does not enfold the “foreigner” residing amongst us and seek creative justice for the lowly and marginalized within our spheres of impact.
this book is an excellent, important, heart-breaking but also incredibly hopeful read for the church, particularly for this cultural moment.
this book is an excellent, important, heart-breaking but also incredibly hopeful read for the church, particularly for this cultural moment.
July 6, 2021
An extraordinarily helpful, and even beautiful, book. Brothers Mark and Luke Glanville discuss, from their extensive experiences in theology and political science, the realities of refugees in our current world. They speak to the Church, to nations, to the world, and to individuals and communities, making a plain and persuasive case that we not only can, but should rearrange the way we see and welcome refugees. This is not simply to be “good people” who help those who are in need, nor simply because the Lord commands it. The Glanvilles take the discussion away from the charity model, and even from the strict social justice model, and locate it instead within the understanding of “kinship.” This is a profound and important switch in the way we view our brothers and sisters from around the world.
June 30, 2021
How should the church respond to the large number of refugees around the world? In Refuge Reimagined, Mark and Luke Glanville show how a Biblical understanding of kinship calls Christians to welcome refugees in their communities and advocate for refugee rights nationally and internationally. The authors are experts: one is a scholar of the Old Testament and pastoral theology and the other an expert in international relations and ethics. There are many footnotes with recent academic work that provides the reader with additional information about the subject and show the breadth of scholarship incorporated into their analysis. The book is a fast-paced and deeply researched explanation of how individuals and states can respond to refugees in a Christian manner.
The book opens with a rich discussion of kinship in the Old Testament and Gospels. The authors reflect on how foreigners are treated and do not shy away from challenging Biblical passages. Of course, relations between community members and “outsiders” were different at that time: our modern world has defined nation-states, demarcated borders, passport control, migrant detention, and refugee camps. However, the authors argue the ethic of welcoming displaced persons as kin found in the Bible should influence actions and politics today.
In later sections of the book, the authors explore how Biblical theology should inform our response to refugees. They contrast the Biblical principle of inclusive kinship with the actions of politicians in Australia and the United States who exclude refugees as well as prominent Christian voices who justify such responses. The authors call churches and nations to embrace a calling to public justice that celebrates diversity and is not afraid of refugees and migrants but embraces, as kin, individuals who seek safety in a new land.
The book contains frequent examples that bring the scholarly analysis to life. This includes a focus on Kinbrace, a Vancouver organization that houses and supports refugee claimants as well as other examples of refugee advocacy in North America and Australia.
One area that could be further explored is how refugee sponsorship programs and other Complementary Pathway programs might provide long-term solutions for refugees: these have been identified by the United Nations as important in future refugee strategies and are areas where churches in Canada have played a significant role, but the authors do not mention this in their book. In addition, in the version I read, there was some confusion in the numbering of chapters – I am sure this was rectified in later versions of the book. These oversights notwithstanding, the book is a deeply researched account of how the Bible calls us to respond hospitably to individuals seeking a better, more secure, future. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in thinking Biblically about refugee issues.
The book opens with a rich discussion of kinship in the Old Testament and Gospels. The authors reflect on how foreigners are treated and do not shy away from challenging Biblical passages. Of course, relations between community members and “outsiders” were different at that time: our modern world has defined nation-states, demarcated borders, passport control, migrant detention, and refugee camps. However, the authors argue the ethic of welcoming displaced persons as kin found in the Bible should influence actions and politics today.
In later sections of the book, the authors explore how Biblical theology should inform our response to refugees. They contrast the Biblical principle of inclusive kinship with the actions of politicians in Australia and the United States who exclude refugees as well as prominent Christian voices who justify such responses. The authors call churches and nations to embrace a calling to public justice that celebrates diversity and is not afraid of refugees and migrants but embraces, as kin, individuals who seek safety in a new land.
The book contains frequent examples that bring the scholarly analysis to life. This includes a focus on Kinbrace, a Vancouver organization that houses and supports refugee claimants as well as other examples of refugee advocacy in North America and Australia.
One area that could be further explored is how refugee sponsorship programs and other Complementary Pathway programs might provide long-term solutions for refugees: these have been identified by the United Nations as important in future refugee strategies and are areas where churches in Canada have played a significant role, but the authors do not mention this in their book. In addition, in the version I read, there was some confusion in the numbering of chapters – I am sure this was rectified in later versions of the book. These oversights notwithstanding, the book is a deeply researched account of how the Bible calls us to respond hospitably to individuals seeking a better, more secure, future. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in thinking Biblically about refugee issues.
March 23, 2021
Exceptional. I haven't read a great book in such a long time and Refuge Reimagined is that, A Great Book that needs to be read.
The writer starts a journey of what is an emigrant, the concept of kinship and how God sees these through his perspective,there are statements from western thinkers and the Bible.
We read stories, statistics and examples through the Israelites' pilgrimage, the way Jesus approached the topic, how the church experienced then and the responsibility that we have now as the new generation.
Page after page, chapter after chapter you are submerged and the book brings you to the reckoning of how you and the church should see emigration and what our part is when Jesus said to love your neighbor as loving yourself. I think that this book shouldn't be just for a western church but for the global church.
Will definitely recommend this book to be translated into spanish and any other language.
Your church and life will be enriched after you read this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and InterVarsity Press for providing this book for review.
All opinions expressed on this review are mine alone.
I just reviewed Refuge Reimagined by Mark R. Glanville; Luke Glanville. #RefugeReimagined #NetGalley
The writer starts a journey of what is an emigrant, the concept of kinship and how God sees these through his perspective,there are statements from western thinkers and the Bible.
We read stories, statistics and examples through the Israelites' pilgrimage, the way Jesus approached the topic, how the church experienced then and the responsibility that we have now as the new generation.
Page after page, chapter after chapter you are submerged and the book brings you to the reckoning of how you and the church should see emigration and what our part is when Jesus said to love your neighbor as loving yourself. I think that this book shouldn't be just for a western church but for the global church.
Will definitely recommend this book to be translated into spanish and any other language.
Your church and life will be enriched after you read this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and InterVarsity Press for providing this book for review.
All opinions expressed on this review are mine alone.
I just reviewed Refuge Reimagined by Mark R. Glanville; Luke Glanville. #RefugeReimagined #NetGalley
January 23, 2024
To begin, I believe there is a strong argument for the Christian support of providing refuge for asylum seekers - however I felt the authors relied too heavily on over-simplified extrapolations of data, skimming over some horrific crimes in Germany, France, and throughout Europe. Using language like selfish, unjustifiable, and grave moral error - tries to pain the other side as an untenable position rather than building a strong enough case on its own foundation. I believe a Christian perspective on refuge should be built upon a radical love for a mankind that exists within the Imago Dei, but I think perhaps the authors took a few leaps theologically and in other areas that I find difficult to take in stride. Despite this, there were some inspiring calls to action for Christians to love their neighbours - however I found a lot of this were via inserted quotes rather than the body of the text. Still probably worth a read, but also acquaint yourself with some background information, particularly the aftermath of Merkel’s decision to open borders in 2015, which is heralded in this book but many of its shortcomings simply explained away
February 19, 2021
This book is beautiful to read. The overarching message mirrors the very heart of the Gospel – that God embraces all people as family, and we have the privilege of doing likewise. And it is written with creativity and love. The authors have collected the stories and voices of many people, from those with lived experience and people working in the sector. The collective experience and wisdom recorded in the book is rich and relational. The authors have brought life and soul to a topic which too often becomes distanced behind heavy statistics.
Refuge Reimagined will take you on a rich journey. It paints a festive picture of God’s design for restored relationships and community. It is a picture the Church desperately needs for guiding our treatment of people from refugee backgrounds and for our treatment of one another.
Refuge Reimagined will take you on a rich journey. It paints a festive picture of God’s design for restored relationships and community. It is a picture the Church desperately needs for guiding our treatment of people from refugee backgrounds and for our treatment of one another.
March 30, 2021
A fresh, practical, biblical look at refugee care
A compelling call to lead in refugee care because of the biblical call to kinship, with local, political and global application. Well written, thoroughly researched, with the unique perspective of two brothers representing two fields, respectively based in 2 countries. They walk us across the bridge from Biblical story to community application and global influence, complete with illustrations from an intriguing local ministry.
Shameless disclaimer - Mark Glanville is married to my niece, an English professor. Our personal interactions make me more inclined to recommendation. Their lives, along with both extended families, have long consistent records with what this fine book. - Lee Nanfelt, York, Pennsylvania
A compelling call to lead in refugee care because of the biblical call to kinship, with local, political and global application. Well written, thoroughly researched, with the unique perspective of two brothers representing two fields, respectively based in 2 countries. They walk us across the bridge from Biblical story to community application and global influence, complete with illustrations from an intriguing local ministry.
Shameless disclaimer - Mark Glanville is married to my niece, an English professor. Our personal interactions make me more inclined to recommendation. Their lives, along with both extended families, have long consistent records with what this fine book. - Lee Nanfelt, York, Pennsylvania
August 8, 2021
Brilliant and timely survey of the issues that orbit welcoming the stranger. Particularly grateful for the kinship focus…a more compelling invitation than many other offerings. Joyful and hopeful. Highly recommended.
March 28, 2021
Wonderful to read...an oasis of welcome in the desert created by fear of the outsider. As the refugee coordinator for Tenth Church in Vancouver I am humbled by the blessing it is to extend kinship to refugee claimants as described in 'Refuge Reimagined'. Our lively community grows each week as newcomers hear that Tenth will extend a familial welcome to all. As much as the church advocates for refugees, our refugees have become advocates for the church in a city that seldom appreciates the relevance of the Christian faith.
February 20, 2021
Am I my brother’s keeper? I am breaking my rule of no ratings in 2021 to celebrate the important perspective and message of this new work. The invitation to welcome the stranger, becoming kin, is not going away. Eye-opening, informative, convicting and hopeful throughout. Please read this.
July 15, 2021
This book is incredible: Well written, well researched, and full of heart. As enjoyable as it is inspiring.
The deep scriptural call to creative kinship that crosses borders can be the difference between a vibrant spirit-filled church and one which is withering.
The deep scriptural call to creative kinship that crosses borders can be the difference between a vibrant spirit-filled church and one which is withering.
August 30, 2021
Pretty good. These guys are both fine scholars and have written a thorough book. It makes some theoretical and theological leaps which I cannot make. But it was a good challenge at points, and a useful read.
November 17, 2022
This topic is not taught on sufficiently in churches, given the priority God gives it. Thanks Mark and Luke for this engaging description of biblical truth.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews