By Innocent Odoh The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission NCPC Rev. Tor Uja, has urged the Christian church in Nigeria to take pilgrimage to the holy land very seriously, even as he lamented that the Church was yet to understand pilgrimage well enough.
A statement issued on Monday by the head of the media section of the commission, Celestine Oguguo, made available to our correspondent, noted that the NCPC boss disclosed this in Lagos during the 70th anniversary of Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide.
Rev. Uja stated that Christianity started 2000 years ago while pilgrimage started even before then when the Lord Commanded Abraham to leave his home to a foreign land. He therefore called on the Nigeria Church to take pilgrimage to Israel very serious, saying ” I will live that Celestial Church should lead the way for pilgrimage.
“How glorious will it be for all of us together like this in Jerusalem to pray to God,” he added.
The NCPC boss stated that while other churches started from aboard and spread to Africa, Celestial Church started in Africa and spread to the world. Rev. Uja therefore affirmed that “70 years is a major landmark for all those that are working with God,” the statement said.
He posited that after 70 years in the life of the people of Israel, God visited them with peace and returned them to their land.
The NCPC helmsman congratulated the Pastor and Leader of Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, His eminence, Emmanuel Abiodun Oshoffa for the glorious attainment of the platinum year of the Church.
The NCPC boss also admonished the young people in the Church to learn from the elders of the Church, adding that the Youths are the future of the Church. His words: “The Youth should be an integral part of the work of God in the Church.”
He therefore called on all the Youth in Celestial Church to rise and take up responsibility after the 70th Celebration of the Church.
Rev Uja revealed that he had carefully followed the phenomenal growth of the Church and its definite pattern over the years. For this he said, ” I am glad to be part of it now that the Lord is bringing a revival and restoration.”
The Executive Secretary was honoured by the Pastor of Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, His eminence, Emmanuel Abiodun Oshoffa with the title of Special Venerable Most Superior of Celestial Church Worldwide.
The Chairman of the 70th Celebration anniversary, Superior Evangelist Samson Olatunde said he was fully convinced that this year is the year of Celestial year of revival, restoration and peace. He thanked Rev. Uja for his prophetic address to the people of God.
He stated that very soon the world shall see the full potential of Celestial Church, adding that it is the only Church that had raised about 14 dead people to life. He further stated that with the address of the NCPC boss on Pilgrimage, “the door has been open to us and by the grace of God, they will see wonders in Jerusalem.”
The 70th Celebration of the Celestial Church of Christ also featured awards to deserving members of the Church, pillars of the Church and high-profile Nigerians such as Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Former Governor of Lagos State and Leader of the All Progressive Congress.
The Executive Secretary was accompanied to the event by Bishop Olusola Ore, the Chairman of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board and some NCPC Officials.
