by Christiana Gokyo, Jos 

JOS: Plateau State contingent of Christian pilgrimage for this year has commenced in earnest. While addressing the 800 intending pilgrims to the Holy Land, the State Governor, Barr Caleb Mutfwang, charged them to be tolerant of each other during the Holy trip and to ensure they propagate the Gospel of Christ, in the course of the exercise. 

He was speaking at a Farewell Service for the 2024 ‘Spill-Over’ to 2025 Main Pilgrimage for the State’s Christian Pilgrimage, held at the Church of Christ In All Nations (COCIN) Headquarters in Jos.

While admonishing them not to make their pilgrimage trip a congregational journey, the governor reminded the intending pilgrims of the biblical story of Anna’s encounter with God during Israel’s Shiloh event, and urged them to consider the event as a platform for them to rather endeavour to have a personal encounter with the Saviour. 

The governor assured that, government was putting in place measures towards upgrading the Jos Airport to enable it airlift pilgrims directly to the Holy Land, and urged them to commit such projects into prayers. 

Earlier, Chairman of the State Christian Pilgrimage Board, Reverend Jwan Zhumbes, attributed the issue of “spill-over” of the pilgrims to the unfortunate events enfolding from the Middle-East.

He, however, stated that the essence of the exercise is to give them an opportunity to physically “see and fill” what they have been taught from the scriptures. 

In an exhortation, while speaking on the topic, ‘New Jerusalem Weather,’ Rev. Associate, Professor Caleb Dami, charged the intending pilgrims to concentrate on the spiritual benefits of the pilgrimage and ensure they come back as better version of themselves, spiritually. 

Speaking shortly after the service, Executive Secretary of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Wanson Yusufu Bagu, said the first batch to be lifted this week would be nothing less than 255 out of 800 Pilgrims expected to perform the 2024 pilgrimage.

According to him, “Arrangements have been concluded for airlifting of the first batch from the State intending Christians Pilgrims, from Jos to Abuja, for the pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Israel and Jordan by tomorrow.”

He assured that, based on the conclusive arrangement now, they were so confident and sure that people that would be lifted for the first batch would be not less than 255 pilgrims. 

Speaking on the safety of the pilgrims in the face of Middle East crisis, he said, “It is obvious that in the Middle East there has been crisis for over years.

“It is not a new phenomenon, but as per last year, if you were aware of our appropriation, we initially had the plan to leave our programs for Easter pilgrimage, which would have been taking place between in April and June.

“But, we suspended it because this insecurity was very tense and, as per October/November, everything was becoming calm. We have received assurance that there are some measures that will curtail possible challenges, and that is why we quickly swing into action,” he stated.

Rev. Bagu further stated that, no nation would want to risk its citizens and expose them to great challenges of insecurity, and that, the second trip has returned yesterday successfully.

He called on the people of the state to exercise patience because everybody has the potential to improve where they believed they have failed; and as human beings, they have observed the challenges.

He urged the people, saying, “Believe in us, believe in the government, and believe that we are capable to adjust to improve, in order to serve you better.” 

Our correspondent recalls that, in an interview last year – with Rev Manson Yusufu Bagu, on the preparation for the pilgrimage – he explained that, the 800 pilgrims were sponsored by the State Government and Local Government Councils, while about 3 from other states were self-sponsored.

It is also noted that, Special Prayers for the intending pilgrims were offered by the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo. 

By MbNewss

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