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We believe in the dignity and humanity of everyone. We believe that ALL people are created in the image of God. We believe that people of different cultures, languages, and belief systems are as brilliant, creative, passionate, and important as any of us. We believe that every child is worthy of love, education, and opportunity. We believe that every man, woman, and child deserves safety and security, and that our needs are no greater than their needs — yet we do NOT believe that compassion and security are mutually exclusive.

At the core of our ethos is a posture of humility and a readiness to listen and try to understand culture, context, and consequence. It’s important to be informed, balanced and respectful of people on all sides of any issue (and there are always more than 2 sides). However, it is also important to understand the consequences, both positive and negative, of our decisions/actions and the decisions/actions of our leaders; and subsequently, the responsibility we have to one another…and one another includes our brothers and sisters around the world.

With that in mind, we join many other international aid and development organizations in our concern about the ramifications of The Executive Order on immigration and refugee resettlement. We hope and pray for a quick resolution that results in the safety and security of the many refugees, immigrants, dual citizens, travelers and families who are directly affected by this ban.

As global citizens, we have a moral responsibility to care for refugees and displaced people that goes beyond and takes precedence over organizations and politics. Moreover, there exists a real concern that any widening of this current trend will directly impact Help One Now operations and the people for whom we are caring and advocating. While we do not wish to make decisions based on rumor, we must be prepared if our communities receive an influx of displaced people or if funding for necessary medicines, treatment, and other health programs are cut or eliminated.

(image courtesy of Lamar Stockton)