In my current role as the Main Representative to the United Nations for the United Church of Christ, my ministry is humanitarian advocacy for justice with emphasis on Gender- Based Violence, Peace and Security, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. I work with women in conflict situations and chose to explore the topic of forced pilgrimage and the impact of storytelling for those forced on the journey as well as those who hear the stories.

Pilgrimage, in this project, is defined from historical roots as a transformative process applied in contemporary social justice contexts and viewed through the lens of the World Council of Churches Pilgrimage for Peace and Justice (PJP). From this basis, the project considers the pilgrimage of those who are forced on a journey into a pilgrimage not chosen.

Research was conducted in Nigeria, primarily in the northern state of Kaduna where kidnapping is rampant, particularly among faith communities and schools. There is a brief inclusion of the historical conflict in the Delta region where oil extraction has created environmental and societal devastation for the Ogoni.

Storytelling is viewed as a critical means of healing from the trauma for the individual, and a powerful transformative tool in effective advocacy. The reality and details of the struggle and conflict are necessary so we might advocate for peace, bringing the stories to the places where decisions are made, thereby affecting societal change.

Storytelling and Story Listening have transferable application for the local church and community. They are tools that foster community, provide strength for the journey, and create opportunities for advocacy and change for a more just world.