Religion
2020 pilgrimage: Lalong, Pam urges pilgrims to pray for Nigeria
By Moses Mark
Plateau State Governor and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong and the Executive Secretary Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam have admonished the 2020 pilgrims to Jordan to take advantage of the exercise to pray for peace in Nigeria and to develop themselves spiritually.
Lalong disclosed this on Saturday during the occasion of flag-off of Airlift of the 2020 Christian Pilgrims to the Kingdom of Jordan, held at the Yakubu Gowon Airport Heipang, Jos, Plateau State.
“Dear intending pilgrims, you are embarking on this spiritual exercise at a time when our nation is in dire need for prayers and rejuvenation because of the myriad of security and economic challenges we face.
“It is very important that you present our nation before God and solemnly reflect on your role as believers in building a better Nigeria. Indeed, when we turn to God with a sincere heart, our land will be healed. Please pray earnestly for Plateau and Nigeria while you are there.”
Lalong noted that Nigeria will not accept any case of abscondment and urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves in a manner that would project the image of the country positively.
“While you are on this pilgrimage, you should be mindful that your conduct will either open more doors for others to also visit the Holy Land or close it. In this era of COVID-19, you must adhere strictly to the guidelines outlined by the NCPC and the host country. The COVID-19 pandemic is still prevalent and every caution must be taken to safeguard lives.
“We have also put in place stringent measures to check unwholesome conduct such as abscondment by some pilgrims who use the exercise as a cover for irregular migration. Let me warn that any pilgrim that is caught trying to abscond will be made to face the full wrath of the law. We shall not take it lightly with those who attempt to bring the name of our State and country to disrepute.”
The Executive Secretary Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam noted that security measures has been put in place to curb issues of abscondment.
“The Commission has put every security measure on ground to check would be defaulters. During the screening, we were careful to dig information regarding every intending pilgrim and to the best of our ability, we shall have zero abscondment as we embark on this Jordan experience, God permitting.”
He explained that 2,500 Christian Pilgrims would perform the 2020 pilgrimage to Jordan nationwide and noted that the airlift would commence immediately.
“We assure all pilgrims who have been shortlisted for this journey of adequate protection, feeding, and accommodation. The airlift which is expected to start immediately after the ceremony will be in batches. We anticipate more barges to be added as we embark on this Holy exercise.”
Rev. Pam said all Pilgrims embarking on the exercise have been vaccinated in line with the Federal Government directives on COVID-19 and said due diligence is being followed both here in Nigeria and in the Kingdom of Jordan.
A group called the Virtuous Women of Delta (VWD) has given the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, a 14-day ultimatum to tender an unreserved apology to Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The group made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Coordinator, Deaconess Eguolo Oghenekevwe.
In the statement, the group expressed their outrage over Akpabio’s alleged disrespectful behavior towards Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing his actions as sacrilegious according to Delta’s cultural traditions.
The statement read, “We have patiently watched as the Senate President has dragged our sister through the mud. In our tradition, such actions are considered sacrilegious and carry severe consequences.”
The group further emphasized their disapproval of Akpabio’s behavior, particularly his decision to have Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan removed from a public space, which they found deeply disrespectful.
“The fact that he had our wife walk out of a public place is enough to make us march to the National Assembly in protest,” they stated.
The group gave Akpabio 14 days to issue an unreserved apology, warning that if he fails to do so, they will be compelled to take action and express their anger in person at the National Assembly.
The controversy stems from previous comments Akpabio made, including the use of inappropriate language referring to a nightclub, despite the fact that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is married to a prominent Delta man.
Akpabio had earlier apologized for his remarks, acknowledging their sacrilegious nature.
“Such words are unacceptable, especially when a married woman is involved. Our men are like lions and will not tolerate such disrespect,” the statement continued.
The Virtuous Women of Delta emphasized that, as Akpabio hails from the same geopolitical zone, he should be aware of the importance of their cultural values and traditions, which cannot be disregarded.
“We politely ask the Senate President to apologize, or face the consequences within the next 14 days,” the group said.
Religion
Sunday Worship Service (16th February, 2025): Topic: The Concept of Love: How to Make the Right Choice
Pastor Kola Oyekale
Verses of God’s promise to us:
Isaiah 30:19 NLT
[19] O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Jeremiah 30:19 AMPC
[19] Out of them [city and palace] will come songs of thanksgiving and the voices of those who make merry. And I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.
Meaning of Love
There are different dimensions of love
1. Eros Love: Love between man and woman
2. Philia Love: Love between brethren in church
3. Storge Love: Love between family members
4. Agape Love: God’s love. It is a love that has no condition attached to it. This is the love that is in the kingdom. It is the love that flows from the life of God (Zoe).
When the Bible was talking about marriage, God brought in this love.
For this kind of love to be experienced in a relationship or marriage, it has to be deliberate and intentional.
Marriage is a business. A successful marriage does not happen by chance. It is not cheap. If the only thing you carry into marriage is your physical appearance, you will get no result.
If you make wrong choices you will have troubles. Even when you don’t make the wrong choice, there are still troubles you will experience in a marriage relationship.
Factors to Consider When Making the Choice of a Marriage Partner:
1. Be the right person
You cannot be the right person if you do not know yourself. Knowing yourself is crucial to the kind of person you want to marry.
Singleness helps you discover who you are. Knowing yourself helps you know who you can marry.
Most successful single people find their purpose before they get married.
So when you get married, you have a helper who can help you fulfill purpose.
You need a purpose for your life before you can pick a marriage partner.
Do you have the things, qualities and virtues you are seeking in a spouse?
The journey to finding someone is to first find you.
Find yourself first so you can know your value. If you don’t value yourself, you will sell yourself cheap.
To find the right person, be the right person.
Nobody will increase your value except you. The value you put on yourself is your investment. Don’t wait for a man to add value to your life.
2. Choose the right person
There are marriages you must qualify and prepare for before you enter it.
Don’t be desperate when it comes to marriage. Desperation can make you fall into wrong hands.
There is a plan for your life and a choice for your life.
When you identify your purpose, you will know who to choose.
A woman who chases after a man reduces her value.
3. Do and keep doing what is right.
Galatians 6:9 NKJV
[9] And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
When you marry, you will not get all you want, however you should keep on doing the right thing.
Start doing the things you want your spouse to do.
Don’t marry with the mind that you will change your spouse. Nobody has any power to change anybody, only God does.
Song of Solomon 1:16-17 NKJV
[16] Behold, you are handsome, my beloved! Yes, pleasant! Also our bed is green. [17] The beams of our houses are cedar, And our rafters of fir.
The word ’green’ means refreshing, life, a relationship that is renewed, not dirty and not defiled.
There must not be defilement of bed when a relationship starts.
Every relationship must begin and end pure.
The only test you can do before marriage is the test of character not the test of sexual compatibility.
Every relationship begins with Friendship, then Courtship then Marriage.
Believers are encouraged to be friends without ulterior motives.
When you are friends, you can see each other better than when you are in a romantic relationship.
Friendship opens you up to see each other clearly without hiding.
The whole essence of marriage is so that you will produce godly seeds.
Your knowledge of God will help you out in married.
Marriage is an act of faith.
By Pastor Kola Oyekale
God is after making you who he wants you to be. God isn’t so much interested in meeting your needs because your needs can take you away from God. God is concerned with making you align with the purpose of your existence.
God’s primary goal upon your life is to make you who he has destined you to be.
If your purpose doesn’t come to pass, then you are a wasted vessel on earth.
If you have fulfilled your purpose at the end of your life, the angels will salute a man or woman who has lived and fulfilled God’s purpose.
Matthew 9:35 NKJV
[35] Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
You have to be in a place where you are taught.
Matthew 9:36 NKJV
[36] But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
God doesn’t want you to be confused in life.
A shepherd whose life is not in alignment to God cannot be a blessing to his sheep.
You become a disciple by transformation. God is after discipling people who will be in alignment to his kingdom.
The lesser your knowledge of God, the more prone you are to become a victim of the devil.
Devil loves ignorance. He takes advantage of your ignorance of God and his word.
Matthew 9:37 NKJV
[37] Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
The blind cannot lead the blind, they will both fall into a pit. You need the knowledge of God and his word to make you able to draw souls to God’s kingdom.
Psalms 1:1-3 NLT
[1] Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. [2] But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. [3] They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
In this year, let your passion for God and trust in his increase.
Pursue God will all your heart and he will make a difference in your life.
Qualities of a Good Shepherd
1. A shepherd sets boundaries.
2. They are trustworthy and reliable.
3. A shepherd makes provision for his sheep. He brings transformation to your life.
4. A good shepherd sacrifices even his life for the sheep.
5. A shepherd invests in the life of the sheep through nurturing, direction, instruction and teaching.
The Holy Spirits influences your thinking. He changed your value system
Prayer: May the Holy Spirit shepherd our lives through his instruction, guidance and mentoring this year in Jesus name.
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