April 19, 2024
Amajor Christian denomination with headquarters in Adamawa state and church branches mostly across the North East, Ekklesiyar Yan’uws of Nigeria (EYN), has told the story of its resilience in face of attacks by Boko Haram.
The EYN, also known as the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, which faced severe attacks by Boko Haram in 2014, relocated its headquarters to Jos in Plateau State.
However, it has since returned to Adamawa.
During its general meeting at its headquarters in Kwarhi, Adamawa State, the EYN stated that it has rebuilt 87 churches destroyed by Boko Haram over the last eight years.
At the 77th General Church Council meeting in Kwarhi, Adamawa State, President of the EYN, Rev Joel Billi who is rounding off his eight-year tenure, spoke of how the church sourced funds to rebuild the 87 church buildings, among other projects that his leadership has implemented between 2017 and now.
The projects include establishment of the church’s Brethren Microfinance Bank in 2017; completion of the headquarters office complex and church auditorium and provision of furniture; establishment of a college of health technology in Galkida, Adamawa State; setting up of a confectionary company that produces table water and bread in Kwarhi, among others.
Throwing further light on how the church has overcome its challenges, General Secretary of the EYN, Dr Daniel Mbaya said the church has advanced by not focusing on the crises it faced.
“We were in Jos when we (outgoing executives) were elected. The first major thing we did afterwards was to return the administrative structure here (Kwarhi) to pursue effective rebuilding,” the EYN general secretary said.
The Nation reports that the EYN which entered Nigeria 101 years ago as an offshoot of the Church of the Brethren in America, is today the largest national body of the Church of the Brethren in the world.
