From Jordan to Israel, Lagos pilgrims in quest for spiritual rebirth arrive safely in Amman

 

BENJAMIN OMOIKE I Monday, December 23, 2024

 

AMMAN, Jordan – A total of 354 pilgrims from Lagos, in addition to some others from Abuja; Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board officials and Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) officials, have landed safely in Amman, the capital city of Jordan, to kick off the year 2024 pilgrimage exercise, with the theme: “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration” (Joel 2:25).

The pilgrims, led by Rt. Reverend Adegbite Stephen, Executive Director, NCPC, departed the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Sunday, December 22, via Air Anka flight JAV3102, after the flag-off ceremony of 2024 Main Pilgrimage, an event which held at the Chapel of Christ The Light Church, situated at number 1, IPM Road, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Lagos Pilgrims arrived safely in the historic Land of Jordan on Monday, December 23, at exactly 7am Jordanian time. They were warmly welcomed with festive fanfare by their Jordanian hosts, led by the General Manager of Tabar Tours, Ms. Shada, who expressed her joy that the Lagos contingent had deemed it fit to visit the holy land yet again. Shada said this batch of pilgrims were indeed fortunate to be visiting Jordan and Israel at this time.

This year’s pilgrimage exercise is special in so many ways for Lagos, as this batch of pilgrims would be the first to land in the holy land to kick-start this year’s exercise; more so, with the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Rt. Reverend Adegbite Stephen leading the delegation to the holy land.

Reverend Adegbite expressed satisfaction with the exercise so far, and believes that it would end well. He stressed that this year’s pilgrimage would be a special one, which would cause a spiritual rebirth in the lives of the pilgrims. He urged them to be of good conduct and worthy ambassadors of Nigeria while on the exercise, while urging them to focus on their spiritual encounter with the Lord. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for their support and magnanimity in ensuring that this year’s pilgrimage, against all odds, became a reality.

The NCPC boss prayed for the President and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; the governor of Lagos and his wife, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; the government and people of Lagos and Nigeria, insisting that the best is yet to come for the nation – in terms of peace, prosperity, progress and righteousness.

Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs Yetunde Gbafe, was highly elated that the trip to the holy land became a success, after all the challenges experienced before now. She admonished the pilgrims to comport themselves well during the entire exercise, asking them to pray for the nation, the nation of Israel, and by extension, the entire Middle East.

Some notable and historic sites to be visited by the pilgrims include: Mount Nebo, Allenby Border (Entrance into the Promised Land), Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Chapel of Ascension, Gethsemane, The Church of St. Anna, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Church of Nativity; Jericho and the Dead Sea Region, Kalia Beach, Galilee – Nazareth, Cana, Mount Carmel, Mt. Tabor, Mount of the Beatitudes, Capernaum, River Jordan, among other interesting spiritual sites in the holy lands of Israel and Jordan.

The Pilgrims are expected to spend three days in Jordan, before embarking on a journey to Israel. They would return to Jordan to jet back to Nigeria on January 1, 2025.