Day 20: Linda Gracey
Linda Gracey
Altoona Mirror
301 Cayuga Ave.
Altoona, PA
Dear Ms. Gracey,
My name is Emmett Eldred. I am a resident of Hollidaysburg attending school at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. 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 that I will write to public figures and media 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 remarkable story of the EYN in the Religion section of the Altoona Mirror. Your readers will have a particular interest in their story because the Altoona Mirror covers much of one of the most populated regions in the Church of the Brethren, meaning you have many Brethren readers. Moreover, the EYN’s story is a remarkable testament of faith and lived gospel in the midst of a terrible situation.
I’m sure you remember the 276 schoolgirls from northern Nigeria who were kidnapped by Boko Haram. Roughly three-fourths of those girls belong to the EYN. In fact, few groups have suffered from the violence as severely as the EYN, and their situation continues to worsen.
However, what makes the EYN’s story so moving and challenging is not just their suffering, but the courageous, inspiring way that they have responded to their suffering. The Church of the Brethren, including the EYN, is a historic peace church. The EYn have been faithful and steadfast in their commitment to peace, despite their horrific trials.
In the face of great hatred, fear, and division, the EYN have responded with far greater love, courage, and unity. They understand that as Christians they must be beacons of Christ in a community darkened by violence. They are leaders in working to peacefully and sustainably restore community, dialogue, and the dignity of all Nigerians, even when it means sacrifice.
I hope you will learn more about the EYN and feature their story. They represent a Christ-shaped hope for peace in Nigeria, but they need our help to make that hope a reality. By sharing their story, you will be bringing a moving issue to the attention of readers who will be inspired to take action, and challenged by provocations of their own faith. Your readers will have to ask what I’ve had to ask myself many times: If I was in the EYN, could my faithfulness be so great?
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 
