Nigerian Pilgrims Arrive In Israel

Nigerian Pilgrims Arrive In Israel

Nigerian Christian pilgrims have arrived in Israel for the Holy pilgrimage with high expectations for spiritual rebirth.

The 324 pilgrims were made up of contingents from Kaduna , Plateau, Zamfara, Kogi and Benue states as well as Abuja , the Nigerian capital.

Mr. Simeon Gana, the Director of Administration, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, urged the pilgrims to see themselves as Ambassadors of Christ. 

''Pilgrimage is one of the Nigerian government's foreign policies, so as you are Ambassadors of Christ according to the biblical injunctions, in like manner you are Ambassadors of Nigeria. Whatever you do reflects what Nigerians do because one finger soils the others,'' he admonished them.
According to Gana, no death has been recorded since the beginning of the 2010 pilgrimage to Israel and Rome  on November 13 , 2010.
 
Among the pilgrims is Bishop Yohana Jaja of the Methodist Church , Kano , who said his expectation was centred on prayers that would heal Nigeria and the souls of its citizens.
 
''My expectation is also for the contingents to be changed spiritually so that God will give listening ears to our prayers,'' he said.   
 
Dr. Doreen Nwosu, a member of the medical team to Israel , said that she felt fulfilled as a Christian, being in the holy land for the first time.
 
''I feel fulfilled immediately we landed because being in the Holy Land for spiritual rebirth will improve my Christianity, it is a dream come true,'' she said.

NAN/Margaret/Yinka