Day 14: Sarah Thompson
Sarah Thompson
Christian Peacemaker Teams
PO Box 6508
Chicago, IL 60680-6508
Dear Ms. Thompson,
My name is Emmett Eldred. I am one of many youth and young adults who belong to an active, passionate movement within the Church of the Brethren to better reflect the love and teachings of Jesus in our everyday lives. I am writing to you as part of a series of over 1000 letters I will write to public figure and community leaders over the next year about the Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria.
It is my hope that CPT can connect with the EYN to support their ministry of building peace in Nigeria. I’m sure you remember the 276 schoolgirls from northern Nigeria who were kidnapped by Boko Haram. Given your organization’s close ties with the Church of the Brethren, you may realize that three-fourths of those girls belong to the EYN. In fact, few groups have suffered from the violence in Nigeria more severely than the EYN, and their situation continues to worsen.
However, it is not only the suffering of the EYN that makes their story so important to hear, but also their creative, non-violent response to their suffering. As part of the Church of the Brethren, the EYN has clung to their devotion to building peace, despite their terrible hardship.
In the face of great hatred, fear, and division, the EYN constantly responds will far greater, transformative love, courage, and community. They understand as you do that they are to beacons of Christ’s love in a climate so darkened by violence. This means being leaders in taking subversively non-violent steps towards working to restore community, dialogue, and the dignity of all Nigerians.
These people fill me with hope, and I will never stop advocating for them.
I hope you will reach out to the EYN and build a relationship upon which your organization can support them in your shared ministry of building peace through Christ centered measures. I truly believe that the EYN and like -minded Nigerians constitute the best hope for sustainable peace in Nigeria. However, the EYN’s situation continues to grow more dire. Please reach out to them and begin providing them help and partnering in their ministry of reconciliation.
With thanks and the love of Christ,
Emmett Eldred
Carnegie Mellon University SMC# 2046
Pittsburgh, PA 15289
eeldred@andrew.cmu.edu
814-502-8349
Dunker Punks 
