You know the statistics. (If you don't, go here.)

You've seen the picture of three-year-old Aylan, washed up on shore. (If you haven't, go here.)

I am not here to plead with you to help, because I hope you are already prepared to do so. Honestly, I do not see how we cannot, but here are seven tangible ways that you can help ameliorate this situation in even the smallest way.

1. Educate yourself.

The biggest reasons people are not stepping forward to help is either because they do not know the situation, or because it seems too bleak and unconquerable. Whatever your reasoning, I urge you to educate yourself on the situation so that you can competently advocate for these refugees, pray for them and know exactly where your support is going. We have been uneducated long enough; let's not let our ignorance be the reason these people perish.

Here is a comprehensive list of sources that will help you understand the situation.

2. Advocate.

If you read those sources and learned something new about the refugee crisis, chances are you friends and family members didn't already know it either. So share it on Facebook. Talk about it in your schools. Rally your church congregation. Let's make this a ripple effect, where the ball does not stop with you and me, but instead we use the many resources available to us to educate our communities. If more people were aware of the urgency of the situation, I have to believe more people would help.

3. Volunteer.

Chances are there are organizations in your region that are dedicated to helping refugees, and chances are they would gladly welcome your time and energy. Use this map to determine what organizations are in your state, and how you could partner with them. World Relief is a wonderful example, with 20 offices around the United States that could use your help in a variety of ways, from helping refugees to resettle in their new home, educating them on how to apply for citizenship, providing youth services, teaching or tutoring ESL or simply being their friend. If you would do these any of these things for a struggling friend, could you step forward and do it for these refugees who are people just like you and me?

4. Knit or crochet winter necessities.

If you know how to knit or crochet, now is the time to break out those needles, hooks, and yarn! And if you don't know how...learn! There are numerous organizations that accept donations in the form of handmade hats, scarves, gloves, socks, and blankets. Knit Aid allows you to send a handwritten note along with your gift, and Knitting for Charity accepts donations of all kinds - crocheted, knit, sewn, or even store-bought, as long as they will keep Syrian refugee children warm during below-freezing winter nights.

5. Sign a petition.

MercyCorps urges us (and makes it easy for us) to send a letter to Congress urging against the potential cuts in foreign aid for the 2018 fiscal year that would significantly alter the amount our nation is funneling toward the refugee crisis. We Welcome Refugees invites us to "Stand in Solidarity with Refugees" and sign the advocacy statement. Support the BRIDGE Act, which allows immigrants who came to the United States as children to enter the work force, pursue an education, and continue their lives here free from the worry of deportation. See World Relief's list of other ways you can help through petitioning for refugees and through calling or emailing elected officials.

6. Donate.

This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to contribute to the many needs refugees have, yet it is one of the hardest for many of us to do. I only ask you to consider, are there truly better ways your money is being spent now? You donation could save a life, or at the very least bring hope to a nearly hopeless life. Doctors without Borders, RefugeeOne, WeWelcomeRefugees, World Relief, and World Vision are some of the many reliable causes you could send your support to, knowing that your money will be well spent.

7. Pray.

If you are a praying person, I urge you to join me in praying for what is consistently one of the greatest prayer needs in our world today. Read this article for specific ways you can pray or download a prayer card here, but please... just pray. I challenge you to start with simply five minutes a day of additional prayer time, offering up these specific needs to our Father who listens when we seek Him and who is ultimately in control. Truly, there is no more powerful, effective or obedient response to this gut-wrenching, mind-numbingly tragic situation.

I know it seems as if one signature on a petition, a one-time $50 donation or five minutes in prayer will not make a long-term difference in the refugee crisis. But if we all think that way, how would we get anywhere? I urge, hope and pray that you obediently and humbly join the fight against this injustice in whatever way you can.

It could change a life--theirs or yours.