Today’s episode features our interview with The Rev. Mike Wallens, co-chair of the Rio Grande Borderland Ministries (RGBM) for the Diocese of the Rio Grande, and Nellie Fagen, project coordinator for Rio Grande Borderland Ministries (RGBM) through Blueprint.

Mike Wallens is the Vicar of an Episcopal church in Marfa, Texas and serves four other churches in the Big Bend region of Far West Texas. The Rio Grande Borderland Ministries which Mike serves covers all of New Mexico and Far West Texas. The ministries of Rio Grande Borderland Ministries include working with the Anglican Diocese of Northern Mexico as well as shelters on the U.S. side of the border. Mike helps coordinate responses to the humanitarian crisis along the southern border of the United States, maintaining open communication with the Border Patrol in the Big Bend Sector and supporting Rio Grande Borderland Ministries partnership with Boquillas Beyond Mexico Mission, Inc.

Nellie Fagen serves as project coordinator for Rio Grande Borderland Ministries and focuses on developing and implementing strategy for marketing, communications, and fundraising. Nellie has passions for social justice, advocacy, and community building.

Be sure to learn more about Rio Grande Borderland Ministries at their website riograndeborderland.org. Sign up for their monthly newsletter and stay up to date on their ministries and ways you can be involved.

Follow Rio Grande Borderland Ministries on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @RioGrandeBorderlands.

Follow EMM on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees.

Join in the ministry of welcome by making a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. No gift is too small, and all gifts are used to support and grow our work resettling refugees, supporting asylum seekers, and creating welcoming communities for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999.

Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com