Day 34: CBN

The Christian Broadcasting Network
977 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, VA 23463

To whom it may concern,

My name is Emmett Eldred. I am one of many youth and young adults who belong to an active, passionate movement with 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 share the EYN’s remarkable and Christ-centered story with your audience. 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 in Nigeria as severely as the EYN, and their situation continues to worsen.

However it is not only the suffering of the EYN that makes their story so remarkable, but also their inspiring and Christ-like 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 building peace, despite their horrific trials.

In the face of great hatred, fear, and division, the EYN have concisely responded with far great 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 has meant great 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 share their ministry with your viewers and readers. The EYN represent the possibility of peace in Nigeria, but they need our awareness and partnership to make that possibility a reality. Please, pray for the EYN and the people of the Nigeria, and get involved. Your audience must ask themselves a question that I’ve had to ask myself many times: 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