Day 34: William Anderson

William Anderson
The Christian Post
1400 Eye St NW
Suite 375
Washington, DC 20005

Dear Mr. Anderson,

My name is Emmett Eldred. I am one of many youth and you 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 share the EYN’s inspiring and Christ-centered story with your readers. I’m sure you remember the 276 schoolgirls from northern Nigeria who were kidnapped by Boko Haram. About 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 remarkable response to their suffering. The Church of the Brethren, including the EYN, is a historic peace church. The EYN have been steadfast and faithful in their commitment to living and building peace, despite their horrific trials.

In the face of grew hatred, fear, and division, the EYN have consistently responded with far great love, courage, and community. The 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 encourage your readers to partner in their ministry of reconciliation. The EYN represent the possibility of peace in Nigeria, but they need our awareness and partnership to make that possibility a reality. They have been faithful disciples of Christ, and they are working tirelessly and courageously to unearth and spread good in a situation filled with evil. Your readers must ask themselves what I have 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