Jonathan represented by the Senate President, David Mark, reminded the intending pilgrims that pilgrimage is a spiritual journey for all believers and urged them to take all their activities with all seriousness."Holy pilgrimage is not a jamboree and must not be taken as such. Nigeria is facing a lot of challenges that requires the support of all citizens for the challenges to be addressed."Mark stressed that, Nigeria needs both political and moral transformation, "and this must be your major preoccupation in the holy land."We must therefore wear our amour of faith as we embark on this journey and seek for genuine prayer and reconciliation for our country," he said.Mark urged all Nigerians not to be intimidated by the insurgency and other challenges confronting the nation, assuring them that God would intervene at the appointed time.Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, John-Kennedy Opara Opara said the Commission has been blessed to start the exercise earlier than scheduled. He urged the pilgrims to take the exercise seriously saying: "Let us pray as if our future is dependent on the volume of our prayers. Our trial as a Nation is on, the pressure may not abate but like cheerful travelers we cling to the moment of faith hoping and trusting that the Lord will see us through.He added that the Commission desired to make pilgrimage a thing of pride so that Christians in Nigeria can be proud and own it."On President Goodluck Jonathan treating the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), Opara said, "it is because direct flights to Israel and vice versa will open up numerous business opportunities as well as job creation.He assured that all was set to ensure a smooth exercise. First timers Oikeke Kure and Sanya Adejokun said it was an exercise they earnestly looked forward to."People have told me that if I go there I beleieve even more. I'm prayoing that the exercise will further strengthen my faith," said Adejokun."My prayer points are already written for myself and Nigeria. I'm optimistic that there will be changes refarding them," Kure said.
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