Day 15: James Denton
James Denton
World Affairs
American Peace Society
PO Box 15189
Washington, DC 20003
Dear Mr. Denton,
My name is Emmett Eldred. I am one of many youth and young adults within the Church of the Brethren 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 that I will write to public figures 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 you will feature the story of the EYN in your journal. It is a story that is bound to be of interest and more importantly of mobilization to many of your readers. I’m sure you remember the 276 schoolgirls from northern Nigeria who were kidnapped by Boko Haram. Roughly three-fourths of those schoolgirls belong to the EYN. In fact, few groups have suffered from the violence in Nigeria as severely as the EYN, and their situation continues to worsen.
However, it is not just the suffering of the EYN that makes their story so compelling, but also the courageous way that they have responded to their suffering. The Church of the Brethren, including the EYN, is a historic peace church. The EYN has taken their commitment to peace very seriously, despite their tremendous hardship.
In the face of great hatred, fear, and division, the EYN constantly responds with even greater love, courage, and community. The EYN have resolved to be beacons of Christ’s love in a climate so darkened by violence. They are leaders in taking practical, nonviolent steps in working to restore community, dialogue, and the dignity of all Nigerians, despite the sacrifice.
These people fill me with hope, and I will never stop advocating for them.
I hope that you will learn more about the EYN and present their stories to your readers. Theirs is a story of how peace has the potential to overwhelm violence. However, they need the attention and assistance that many of your readers would feel compelled to provide. I truly believe that the EYN is one of Nigerian’s brightest hopes for sustainable peace in Nigeria, but they can’t do it alone. Please partner in their ministry and share their story.
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 
