Day 23: Maria Santelli

Maria Santelli
Center on Conscience and War
1830 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20009-5706

Dear Ms. Santelli,

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 follow 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 over the next year to public figures and community leaders about the Ekklesiayar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria.

It is my hope that you will be inspired, moved, and challenged by the story of the EYN like I have been. I’m sure you remember the 276 schoolgirls who were kidnaped by Boko Haram. Roughly three-fourths of those girls belong to the EYN. In fact, few groups have suffered from the violence in Nigeria as the EYN.

However, it is not only the suffering of the EYN that makes their story so remarkable, but also their courageous, inspiring response 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 consistently with even greater love, courage, and community. They understand that they must be beacons of Christ’s love to a landscape darkened by violence. They have become leaders in working to restore community, dialogue, and the dignity of all Nigerians, even when it means sacrifice.

These people fill me with hope, and I will never stop advocating for them.

I hope you will learn more about the EYN and consider how you can partner in their ministry of reconciliation. The EYN represent the possibility of peace in Nigeria, but as their own safety becomes more tenuous, they need our partnership to make that possibility a reality. Please, share their story, get involved.

With thanks and the love of Christ,

Emmett Eldred
Carnegie Mellon University SMC# 2046
Pittsburgh, PA 15289
eeldred@andrew.cmu.edu
814-502-8349