January 29, 2010

ELGIN, IL – Two ministers of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN – the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) died in the violence that broke out in the central Nigerian town of Jos on Sunday, Jan. 17, and continued on Jan. 19.

Ecumenical News International (ENI, related to the World Council of Churches) reported on Jan. 25 that the violence claimed the lives of about 500 people.

An update received by the Church of the Brethren's Global Mission Partnerships staff from the pastor of an EYN congregation in Jos, included information that two ministers in EYN have been killed: Shadrach Dzarma, a student at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria; and Obidah Hildi, an evangelist working in Bukuru, a town close to Jos.

"Though the number of lives and property cannot be ascertained now...the damage is overwhelming," the pastor reported. "While Shadrach met his death from a street bullet on his way from the town, Obidah was slaughtered and burnt with his house. This was discovered two days later...."

The pastor wrote that the EYN Church in Bukuru, a town near Jos, was started in Hildi's house and worship continued there for five or six years until a sanctuary was completed in 2001. "Obidah has been a peacemaker during the previous crises in that ward before he fell prey to wicked people during the crisis. That house was burnt to ashes and Obidah's wife was left behind a widow and homeless. I and my wife went and consoled her yesterday." The home of another EYN member, also a widow, was burnt to ashes but she was able to escape.

Various EYN leaders have reported that they have been among those working for peace between Muslims and Christians. The EYN pastor from Jos reported that he and his family helped give refuge to Muslims during a previous outbreak of violence in 2008. "A Muslim man that we hosted in 2008 crisis ran to us for refuge because his life was threatened," he wrote. "Even at the time I was writing this mail, he is still with us. We share the little food we have with him and other boys too in the neighborhood. Though hard it is to do such things and regardless of what people may say to us, we have to love everyone as Christ told us to do."

"I write you this mail to thank you for your prayers," he wrote. "I believe you have been praying for us and God in his infinite mercy has spared us. We believe that God knows why those who died as result of this incident, because no sparrow falls to the ground without the knowledge of the creator. Please continue to pray for us in Nigeria especially the EYN Church. It is a great challenge for a peace church in Nigeria."

Church of the Brethren mission workers Nathan and Jennifer Hosler were not in Jos at the time violence erupted, although they were visiting just before the crisis. They work at EYN's Kulp Bible College, located at the church's headquarters in eastern Nigeria near the town of Mubi.

"Please pray for the city of Jos and Plateau State," the Hoslers requested. "This is not a religious conflict per se, but has ethnicity, resources, and politics involved. There has been much destruction of lives and property, with damage to an extent that appears worse than the 2008 crisis.

"Please pray for safety and for the lives of both Muslims and Christians. Pray for those on both sides who are mourning. Pray for healing and reconciliation. Pray for truth, that rumors would not ignite more violence. Pray for mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in Jos and Nigeria as a whole."

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 125,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service