NCPC TO FLAG OFF 2020 DECEMBER GENERAL PILGRIMAGE IN THE NORTH EAST.

NCPC TO FLAG OFF 2020 DECEMBER GENERAL PILGRIMAGE IN THE NORTH EAST.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Yakubu Pam has said that the Commission would flag off this year's General Pilgrimage to Israel, Greece and Rome in the North East geo-political zone. He stated this in Bauchi during a stakeholders meeting with the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and members of the state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Committee.

The NCPC boss stated that the idea of flagging off this year's pilgrimage from the region is to encourage and identify with the people of the North East states who had suffered seriously from the incidence of insurgency. The Executive Secretary also spoke on the importance of peace building, stating that without peace there would be no meaningful development. In the words of the NCPC boss, "you cannot buy peace with money because it is very expensive, the one that can give us peace is Jesus Christ".

Rev. Yakubu Pam who is an ambassador of peace affirmed that it was not a coincidence that he was visiting the state on a day when the United Nations set aside the 21^st September as an International day of peace.

He explained that Bauchi state had been experiencing peace over the years in recent times because the people have decided to co–exist inspite of their religious differences.

He thanked the church leaders for their fervent prayers which had been sustaining peace in the state. He also enjoined them to look for a common ground that would bring all of them together just like in the days of the apostles. He further stressed that the church could change the history of Nigeria through the power of prayers.

He urged them to ensure they speak to their congregations on the importance of Holy Pilgrimage to Israel, stressing the need to build a rewarding relationship with Jerusalem.

He tasked them to encourage self-sponsorship of pilgrims to the Holy Land because the church has resources to do so. He posited that the era of depending on government sponsorship is over. He explained that sponsorship of Christians to the Holy Land is part of building the kingdom of God.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Bauchi chapter Rev. Joshua Maina, informed that the stakeholders meeting was the second to be held in Bauchi since the inception of the Commission. He commended the NCPC boss for his initiative to meet with critical stakeholders in the state.

Rev. Maina affirmed that the faith of pilgrimage lies in the lands of the Church and so the church should take ownership of pilgrimage by sponsoring their members and also by encouraging self-sponsorship.

He admonished the church leaders to sensitize their members on the importance of pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

NCPC MEDIA