Religion
NCPC okays 300 Delta intending pilgrims to be airlifted from Asaba International Airport to Israel
By Moses Mark
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, in collaboration with the Delta State Pilgrims Welfare Board, has successfully screened 300 intending pilgrims for this year’s holy pilgrimage to Israel.
The screening exercise were conducted on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th November, 2020 at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Province. 3 in Asaba.
The exercise commenced with praise and worship as well as words of exaltation. Intending Pilgrims were thereafter made to undergo medical examinations while international passports were verified by Immigration Officers, rigorous interviews conducted by representatives of the NCPC from Abuja.
Addressing intending pilgrims after the screening exercise, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam, advised them to be good ambassadors of Delta State and Nigeria while in the holy land, pray for the Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, who despite the harsh economic situation occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic approved state sponsorship of the entire 300 pilgrims.
He said the holy pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise wherein individual pilgrim is expected to seek the face of God, for both personal, family, state and the nation’s blessings, adding that shared love among pilgrims is very important; it is also a period to interact and establish enduring friendship with other pilgrims from around the world.
“I am sure to a reasonable extent that all the screened pilgrims are people who love Nigeria and have this nation at heart.
“People who will come back and be stakeholders in the affairs of this country, people who will contribute meaningfully to their local Churches.
“I urge Delta Pilgrims to pray very well for the state and their caring Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and to also pray for Nigerians, those in authority and this nation,” Rev Pam said.
Speaking to newsmen at the venue of the screening exercise in Asaba, the Chairman of Delta State Pilgrim Welfare Board, Bishop Cyril Odutemu said the holy pilgrimage is very significant in the life of every christian as emphasised in the scriptures, adding that the pilgrims screened for this year’s trip to Israel shall be airlifted from Asaba International Airport on a nonstop flight and back to Asaba.
He thanked the state governor for his inestimable contributions towards the welfare of pilgrims and Church projects. He pray God to grant Gov Okowa uncommon wisdom, good health, prosperity, and longevity to finish strong in 2023.
In the same vein, a member of the pilgrim board and Catholic Priest, Very Rev Fr Dr Chris Ekabo said those that absconded last year in Israel were private pilgrims, not sponsored by the state government, noting that those sponsored by the state came back from the holy land.
He disclosed that the board ensured that the 300 pilgrims for this year’s holy pilgrimage were sponsored solely by the state government under strict conditions met by the pilgrims, their guarantors and sponsors.
“We ensured that intending pilgrims are those well known to their pastors and local church councils and/or authorities. They were selected and screened after meeting stringent conditions that will compel each and everyone of the to return home. No private sponsored pilgrim this year.
“Special thanks to our performing governor and promise keeper, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, for his good heart and for proving the chartered commercial flight that will airlift pilgrims on a direct flight from Asaba International Airport to the Holy land of Israel, and back home.
“It is our fervent prayers that God will continue to enlarge Gov Okowa’s coast, bless him and his family, the state and Deltans in general,” Ekabo prayed.
The Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Communications, Dr (Barrister) Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe was also screened and cleared by NCPC for the holy pilgrimage. He is expected to partake in all spiritual exercise while in Israel, report on the activities of the state pilgrims and produce a special documentary for posterity.
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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