Amid all the headlines and turmoil coming out of the new America, there is one piece of good news which has largely been overlooked. It’s the way the church is responding to the global refugee crisis and to America’s own internal crisis of undocumented immigrants.

There has been much in the US press on the Christian faith’s pro-life stance, but being pro-life is not just about defending the rights of the unborn, it is also about the sanctity of life for all – regardless of race, faith, gender, status or religion. Being pro-life means being pro-refugee. This is Christianity. Refugees are our friends, colleagues and neighbours from different cultures and we are invited to love them. Jesus’ call was clear – when we welcome the stranger, we welcome God himself. And that welcome means the opening of our homes, our lives and, yes, even our cities and lands.

The ancient poets of Israel wrote passionately about the perspective they believed God had towards those without a safe place to call home. This also came out of their own experience of oppression and displacement. They expressed God’s desire to gather together those without a home this way: “They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away; yet they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight path to a city where they could settle.” (Psalm 107:5-7).

Watch: Trump’s refugee ban sparks outrage across United States

It seems the path is anything but straight for the millions of refugees in our world today. This is equally true here in Hong Kong. With little dignity shown by our own administration to would-be asylum seekers, it is not surprising that many here feel even more uncertain of their future.