#WeWelcomeRefugees

There are hundreds of news articles and gifted writers that have said this more eloquently than I ever can. But here is what I got. We are looking at the worst refugee crisis since WWII. Hearing that hit me hard. You might not know but I love studying WWII. Let me tell you this. In WWII there were 15 million military deaths and 45 million civilian deaths! (Click this link to read about death tolls of each country for WWII.) Right now 11 million people are displaced. Syria is in mass chaos and violence. And other countries in the Middle East are in turmoil. They don’t have a place of rest and comfort.

Ann Voskamp wrote an article titled “5 Ways to Stand Up and Be the Church” that woke me up. Read it. Also has great links explaining how this happened and different organizations that are helping.

I’ve often thought what would I have done if I had lived during WWII and known about the concentration camps in Germany. Would I have sent money? Would I have spoken out and talked to my friends, local church, my city, and my government? Especially when some of the persecuted practiced a faith I did not. Because that’s what I would want to do. I wouldn’t want to live in regret. I don’t want to live in regret now over the refugee crisis. What if this moment is in our history books? What if it gets worse? And what if I did nothing?

I’m a Christian and I believe in the Bible. Jesus was very clear about helping the helpless. Open the Bible and you can’t miss it. Here’s Jesus in Luke 14:12 – 14

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

But even if you aren’t a Christian, whatever you believe, if you love people, your heart can’t help but hurt seeing this unfold.

So I’m going to act. I want us all to act. Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” That is what is needed.

This Thursday and Friday all profits from my etsy shop will go to World Relief to help the refugee crisis. They are a wonderful organization that is helping tremendously.

I also reached out to my friends who are small business owners to see if they wanted to help! Salt of the earth people. And if you run a small business and want to do something like it, start it! And please let me know! I’d love to share it!

Kristen Ley’s powerhouse company thimblepress is going to donate all profits this Thursday and Friday to World Relief!

Jessica Maloan of Pine Street Makery is donating 50% of her sales for one week (starting Thursday) to Migrant Offshore Aid Station.

Sarah Jo Burch of Sarah Jo Knits is donating half of her sales for all of September to World Vision.

Please share with your friends! And if you want to get involved, visit wewelcomerefugess.com!

Kate