The Executive secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev Uja Tor Uja has said that anybody investing in a pilgrim is making an investment that will turn Nigeria around. He said this recently at the Commissions’ Headquarters in Abuja during a strategic meeting of Board Members with Chairmen and Secretaries of States Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards (SCPWBS) and representatives of the Ground Handlers and Air Carrier in preparation for the 2018 November-December pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Rome and Greece.
The NCPC boss stressed that Christian pilgrimage journey to the Holy Sites has a lifetime spiritual and developmental impact on the life of every Christian who undertakes it and so the need to deliberately and consciously invest in it as an individual, leader of a group and as a nation. According to him, “Sometimes we think the human being is made only or much more of matter and not of the spiritual and so we neglect the spiritual. If u neglect the spiritual, you are creating a catastrophe for the physical. We can see that it is very great to sponsor pilgrimage because it changes people, it builds people, and most importantly, it enhances lives. Pilgrimage enables people visit and bring back something positive that remains with them for life for an all-round development of our nation.”
He urged the pilgrimage leaders to see 2018 pilgrimage exercise as another opportunity to render their service to God and humanity as they have the biggest opportunity to project Nigeria. His words, “As we prepare for 2018 pilgrimage, let us provide things that are lacking, rebuild things that are broken down, re-arrange things that could be made better, and ensure that pilgrimage every time it is undertaken, produces something progressive, something glorious and above all, something very spiritual for our people. We should move beyond being religious to being godly, advance beyond being church goers to being the expression of faith in Christ that makes people a changed people, a people of leadership capacity and finally, a people of spiritual content.”
He further urged every Nigerian and especially those who think they have any leadership capacity to be positive about Nigeria and be problem solvers and not fault finders. His words, “Once you see yourself as a man with leadership capacity or you find yourself at any leadership position, be it organizational, social or group level, be more positive, be more progressive in your mind, be more adventurous in restoring and repositioning Nigeria locally and in the global sphere.”
Speaking also, the chairman of NCPC Board, Rev Yomi Kasala stated that the meeting with these key players and stakeholders became apt so as to have a very robust interactive sessions to see how best to deliver services that will ensure that pilgrims have a great experience while on pilgrimage for the 2018 November – December. According to him, “NCPC as a Commission is committed to serving Christians on pilgrimage to the Holy Sites through the best possible means to ensure that all pilgrims have a great experience and come back better and changed. We believe that a pilgrim cannot have a great experience while on pilgrimage if we cannot guarantee air safety, best hospitality, deep spiritual experience and affordable cost. As a Commission, we will do nothing to compromise our standards, our values or to lower the expectations of Nigerians.”
He further made a passionate appeal to Nigerians to see the need to invest and sponsor pilgrims for the 2018 November- December pilgrimage. His words, “As a Commission, we want to appeal to the well-meaning Nigerians, rich Nigerians and many Christians to see this is one way you can show love to your neighbours. Christianity is about loving your neighbours as yourself, and your real neighbours is that person who does not speak your language, does not have your social class and may not be able to come back to you to say thank you. This is one way your money can touch the lives of the less privileged, the down trodden and the lots of religious leaders and people out there that cannot afford the cost to go on pilgrimage.”
The meeting was well attended by all the Chairmen and Secretaries of States Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards, representatives of the Ground Handlers and Air carrier, Board members and management of NCPC.
