‘We Bear It in Tears’ shares voices of Nigerian Brethren affected by Boko Haram violence

Brethren Press is publishing a book in which Nigerian Brethren who have suffered violence at the hands of Boko Haram tell of their experiences and their heartache. Titled “We Bear It in Tears,” the book is a collection of interviews recorded by Carol Mason, with photographs by Donna Parcell. It may be pre-ordered from Brethren Press at www.brethrenpress.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=9780871782915 .

Mason recorded the interviews from Feb. 16-March 29, 2017. Each person who was interviewed was asked “Where were you when the Boko Haram attacked?” and “How did it affect you?” The people who were interviewed represented a wide variety of experiences and various populations and areas of northeast Nigeria. “Together they are a significant effort at establishing a sustainable peace in Nigeria,” said the Brethren Press description of the book.

Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) has suffered untold violence. Hundreds of thousands of EYN members have been displaced at one time or another over the course of the Boko Haram insurgency. Tens of thousands Nigerian Brethren have been abducted or killed, including the 276 girls abducted from the school in Chibok in 2014. Hundreds of churches have been looted and burned.

“The outside world has seen the pictures and tallied the numbers but has not truly heard from those affected by the violence,” said the Brethren Press description. “This book attempts to share the experiences of those involved in the crisis of northern Nigeria and gives voice to the women, men, and children who have suffered. By hearing their stories, we share their burden of tears. By seeing their faces, we witness an enduring faith and a commitment to nonviolence. These are not merely symbols of violence, but individuals with real stories, real families, and real pain.”

Go to www.brethrenpress.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=9780871782915 or call Brethren Press at 800-441-3712.

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