BENJAMIN OMOIKE I Monday, December 30, 2024
NAZARETH, Israel – Lagos Christian pilgrims, representing the bulk of first flight of the year 2024 Christian Pilgrims, who arrived Nazareth from Jerusalem on Saturday, December 28, have received their Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP) certificates in Israel.
The award ceremony, which held at the Tabar Hotel, henceforth, confers on the pilgrims the title, JP.
The award ceremony came after a combined Sunday service earlier in the day, which featured a Bible lesson read by Hon. Mrs. Omowunmi Ogunlola, Federal Commissioner representing South West in the Board of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC). The lesson, taken from Joel 2:18-27, dwelled on God’s restoration of Israel’s glory.
Bishop Akinpelu Johnson, Chairman of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, delivered a sermon titled “Restoration of Nigeria’s Hope”, in which he emphasised the need for collective prayer and cooperation with God to restore Nigeria’s glory.
The pilgrims offered prayers for Nigeria, its leaders, and citizens, seeking God’s guidance, wisdom, and restoration. The prayers focused on the restoration of Nigeria’s glory, guidance and wisdom for leaders, circumcision of leaders’ hearts for sacrifice and service, and grace for leaders to finish strongly.
At the award ceremony, Miss Shadia Srour, General Manager of Tabar Tours, who is the chief host, along with her team, was on ground to facilitate events of the day. She expressed her profound gratitude to the Nigerian government and people, for their continued support, cooperation and relationship, which had yielded fruitful dividends over the years with regards to the pilgrimage exercise.
She heaped praises on the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rt. Revd. Stephen Adegbite; as well as the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Board (LSCPWB), Mrs. Florence Yetunde Gbafe, for their unflinching support and continued trust in Tabar Tours over the years.
The colourful ceremony had in attendance dignitaries such as Apostle Fagbamila Oyewole; Deputy Director & Head Media and Public Relations NCPC, Celestine Toruka; Bishop Ogedengbe Stephen; HRH, Oba Possi Oyekan, the Oba of Badagry West; Chief Hon. Clement Nweke, Federal Commissioner South East; Hon Barr. Omowumi Ogunlola, Federal Commissioner South West; Mr Ode Ikwe, Ag Charge de Affairs Nigerian Embassy, Israel; Miss Shadia Srour, GM Tabar Tours; Mrs Yetunde Gbafe, Board Secretary LSCPWB; Bishop Akinpelu Johnson, Board Chairman LSCPWB; Mr Yahaya Adamu, Head, Zonal Office Unit NCPC; Ven. Dr. Joseph Chibuogwu, NCPC, and Revd. Dr. Dele Ajayi.
The pilgrims were highly elated to receive their certificates and lapel pins; many saying it was worth the while, especially considering the rigours of the extensive exercise which they had been subjected to in the last one week. They looked forward to functioning in their new positions as Jerusalem Pilgrims, thanking the Nigerian and Lagos State government for the opportunity and kind gesture.
Pilgrims were admonished to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, Lagos State and their families, as they set out to be worthy JPs. They were told to be peace makers wherever they found themselves, and good representatives of Jesus Christ.
In his earlier sermon, Bishop Johnson expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for facilitating this year’s pilgrimage exercise, despite the challenges posed by the Hamas militant group’s attack on Israel last October.
The first flight of Christian pilgrims have been in the holy land for seven days, having departed Nigeria on December 22. The pilgrimage exercise continues with prayers and reflections on the theme “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration.”
