Pamela Eboh, Awka 20/09/2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved a total number of 850 pilgrimage slots for Anambra State.

Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara, disclosed this in Awka when he paid a courtesy visit to the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano. Opara said he was on a sensitisation tour to explain to the governor the need to support the commission by encouraging Christians in the state to embark on pilgrimage to the holy land, Israel.

Opara also used the occasion to hand over the 2014 pilgrimage booklet for the state to the governor. The NCPC secretary noted that the trip to the holy land was not a jamboree but a tool for transforming both spiritual and physical aspects of the lives of those who undertake the exercise.

He explained that the pilgrimage is divided into three stages: the Easter stage, the family stage and the main stage. He said the family stae was created to encourage families to travel together for pilgrimage in order to create rich spiritual awareness among families while the main stage is for individual adults going on a specific mission.

“A family that prays together stays together. Christians need respite to think on their lives and make positive changes where necessary,” Opara said.

He informed the governor that the state pilgrim commission chairman, Dr. Levi Monanu, has been elected the National Vice Chairman of the conference of states, adding that it was the first time such a position was coming to the South-East.

Opara said that the total cost of the 2014 pilgrimage is N390,540, saying that the cost was reduced this year because of the Federal Government’s decision to encourage more Christians to undertake the exercise as part of the transformation agenda of the oodluck Jonathan administration.

Responding, Gov. Obiano assured the NCPC that the Anambra State Government would do its best in supporting the programmes of the commission. He said that he would ensure that fair play is followed in selecting the pilgrims.

Obiano expressed his gratitude to President Jonathan for giving the state 850 slots and urged the commission to always pray for the government as prayers can make impossibilities possible and bring love where hate abides.

•Photo shows Pilgrim Commission Secretary, John Kennedy Opara.

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