Iraqi refugee citizen Alhussein Al Saadi shares Wednesday night (Feb. 15, 2017) on his struggles and vetting to come to America at World Relief’s Refugee and Immigration Advocacy Night at Aurora’s United Methodist Church. He noted to the audience of a couple hundred that “Jesus was a refugee.”

The hour and a half session featured the WR’s DuPage/Aurora Executive Director, Susan Sperry, and her staff. They explained the nuances of the Jan. 27 refugee executive order for President Trump. The Obama administration had the limit of refugees at 110,000 for fiscal 2017 and the new order reduced it to 50,000.

WR leading expert on immigration and author Matt Soreans noted that since 1980 that three million refugee immigrants have come to the United States and not a single person has committed any crime that resulted in death. Death for lightning is more likely than from the hand of an refugee immigrant. The chance is 1 in 3.6 billion.

World Relief’s Midwest Regional Mobilizer, Liz Dong, highlighted some points of advocacy for the crowd. The points included 1) call, write, or meet your elected officials; 2) host a public event; 3) write an op-ed or letter to the editor; and 4) educate yourself and others – use WR resources and curricula and lift up with stories.

WR officials also felt that elected representatives should be praised when they do what is right.

The evening also had a sad note when Sperry referenced layoffs due to Trump’s executive order. (see WR press release)..

John Ross

John Ross on Saturday, April 23, 2016 launched XPian News, a part of  Daybreak Communications, Inc. Ross is the facilitator of Aurora Christian Ministry Network (ACMN) and a member of the Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance (FVCMA). He serves on the boards of Wayside Cross Ministries and the Kiwanis Club of Aurora. As a follower of Jesus, he has been for some 40 years a member of First Presbyterian Church - Aurora. He has an M.A. - Christian Leadership from Wheaton College Graduate School and undergraduate at Trinity International University.  editor@xpian.news