After the Last Border
by Jessica Goudeau
After the Last Border by Jessica Goudeau is a deeply moving and timely book that invites readers to reflect on the meaning of welcome, hospitality, and justice through the lived experiences of refugees. Centered on the stories of two refugee women—one from Myanmar and one from Syria—the book reveals how immigration policies are not abstract decisions but realities that shape families, faith, and futures.
Goudeau skillfully intertwines these personal stories with the history of refugee resettlement in the United States. One woman’s journey reflects perseverance, faith, and the life-giving power of community support, while the other exposes the heartbreak caused by restrictive policies, prolonged uncertainty, and family separation. Together, their experiences remind us that the path to refuge is often long and fragile, even after reaching what is believed to be a place of safety.
For people of faith, this book resonates deeply with biblical teachings. Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to welcome the stranger, care for the sojourner, and defend the vulnerable (Leviticus 19:34; Matthew 25:35). After the Last Border challenges readers to ask whether our systems and attitudes reflect these sacred values. It invites reflection on how fear, politics, and misunderstanding can overshadow compassion and justice.
What makes this book especially powerful is its emphasis on dignity. Refugees are portrayed not as problems to be solved but as beloved children of God—parents, workers, and community members—seeking safety, belonging, and hope. Goudeau’s writing encourages readers to see refugees as neighbors and to recognize God’s presence in their resilience, courage, and faith.
After the Last Border is more than a book about immigration; it is a call to faithful action. It encourages churches and individuals alike to consider how they can extend hospitality through advocacy, prayer, accompaniment, and tangible support. In a world marked by displacement and division, this book reminds us that welcoming the stranger is not optional for people of faith—it is central to our witness and our calling.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn S. Reid
Author Connection
I learned of this wonderful opportunity from a recent post by Emily Jones, United Women in Faith executive for Racial Justice, in the Reading Enthusiasts group on the United Women in Faith digital platform on Mighty Networks. Check it out!
If your United Women in Faith group is currently reading Ever-Expansive Spirit of God, or is planning to do so later this year, the author, retired UMC Bishop Peggy Johnson, and her spouse, Mary, have generously offered to make themselves available to meet virtually with your group at no cost. This is a wonderful opportunity to read a beautiful and uplifting 2026 Reading Program book (Spiritual Growth category), to talk directly with an author, and to deepen your group’s understanding of — and capacity to mobilize around — trans rights in a time of increasing transphobia and anti-trans violence. Bishop Johnson shares her remarkable experiences in a lifetime of ministry, which are at various times painful, courageous, embarrassing, inspiring, sad, happy, and even humorous. Her story is told in a way that is understandable to the average person; challenging to clergy and laity alike, progressive and traditional; and helpful to all people of good will who are trying to grapple with these issues.
Reading Enthusiasts – reading to understand the world, change the world, and grow in our faith.
Kathy M Johnson,
Conference Program Resource Mission Coordinator
Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds is a powerful and deeply moving novel set during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. Through the eyes of Elsa Martinelli, we experience the harsh realities of poverty, drought, and displacement—but also the unyielding strength of a woman determined to protect her family and hold onto hope, a woman who discovers her inner courage as she struggles to provide for her family, amid hardship and loss.
Elsa’s journey from a quiet, uncertain young woman to a courageous mother who fights for justice and survival is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Hannah vividly captures the suffering of those called “Okies” as they fled the Dust Bowl for a better life in California, only to find new struggles awaiting them there. Through Elsa’s journey, we witness the incredible resilience that grows from love —especially a mother’s love —and from the unshakable hope that things can get better, even in the darkest of times.
One line that truly stands out says. “Courage is fear you ignore.” This simple, profound reminder calls us, as women of faith, to continue standing strong in times of uncertainty—to care for others, to advocate for justice, and to trust that God is with us in every storm.
Much like Elsa, we, too, are invited to move forward with hope, grounded in faith and guided by love.
Marilyn Reid