Day 1 – Departure from Lagos
A total of 354 pilgrims from Lagos, in addition to some others from Abuja; Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board officials and Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) officials, landed safely in Amman, the capital city of Jordan, to kick off the year 2024 pilgrimage exercise, with the theme: “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration” (Joel 2:25).
The pilgrims, led by Bishop Adegbite Stephen, Executive Director, NCPC, departed the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Sunday, December 22, via Air Anka flight JAV3102, after the flag-off ceremony of 2024 Main Pilgrimage, an event which held at the Chapel of Christ The Light Church, situated at number 1, IPM Road, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Lagos Pilgrims arrived safely in the historic Land of Jordan on Monday, December 23, at exactly 7am Jordanian time. They were warmly welcomed with festive fanfare by their Jordanian hosts, led by the General Manager of Tabar Tours, Miss Shadia Srour, who expressed her joy that the Lagos contingent had deemed it fit to visit the holy land yet again. Shadia said this batch of pilgrims were indeed fortunate to be visiting Jordan and Israel at this time.
This year’s pilgrimage exercise was special in so many ways for Lagos, as this batch of pilgrims would be the first to land in the holy land to kick-start this year’s exercise; more so, with the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Bishop Adegbite Stephen leading the delegation to the holy land.
Bishop Adegbite expressed satisfaction with the exercise, while believing that it would end well. He stressed that this year’s pilgrimage would be a special one, reiterating that it would cause a spiritual rebirth in the lives of the pilgrims. He asked pilgrims to be of good conduct and worthy ambassadors of Nigeria while on the exercise, while urging them to focus on their spiritual encounter with the Lord. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for their support and magnanimity in ensuring that this year’s pilgrimage, against all odds, became a reality.
The NCPC boss prayed for the President and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; the governor of Lagos and his wife, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; the government and people of Lagos and Nigeria, insisting that the best was yet to come for the nation – in terms of peace, prosperity, progress and righteousness.
Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs Yetunde Gbafe, was highly elated that the trip to the holy land became a success, after all the challenges experienced before now. She admonished the pilgrims to comport themselves well during the entire exercise, asking them to pray for the nation, the nation of Israel, and by extension, the entire Middle East.
Some notable and historic sites to be visited by the pilgrims include: Mount Nebo, Allenby Border (Entrance into the Promised Land), Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Chapel of Ascension, Gethsemane, The Church of St. Anna, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Church of Nativity; Jericho and the Dead Sea Region, Kalia Beach, Galilee – Nazareth, Cana, Mount Carmel, Mt. Tabor, Mount of the Beatitudes, Capernaum, River Jordan, among other interesting spiritual sites in the holy lands of Israel and Jordan.
The Pilgrims spent three days in Jordan, before embarking on a journey to Israel. They would eventually return to Jordan to jet back to Nigeria on January 1, 2025.
Historic Sites Visited In Jordan; The Promised Land Entered On Christmas Day
AMMAN, Jordan – Lagos State Pilgrims, on Tuesday, December 24, Christmas Eve, visited historic sites in the land of Jordan. The pilgrims, having rested on Monday, upon arrival to the holy land, embarked upon visits to different historic sites for spiritual activities of prayers, intercession and attainment of more knowledge about these sites and locations, which are vividly documented in the Holy Bible.
Carefully selected into six different groups, each occupying a luxury bus, with a team leader (bus captain), a clergyman, and other executives; so as to ensure proper organisation and direction, the pilgrims set out to have an encounter with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The first port of call for them was a drive to Mukawir (Machaerus), the hilltop stronghold of Herod The Great. A fortified palace overlooking the Dead Sea Region and the distant hills of Palestine and Israel, is 718 metres (2,355 feet 7.716 inches), above sea level. The summit of the mountain can be reached after climbing a steep, winding staircase to the top of the mountain, which many of the pilgrims asserted was a very difficult terrain to navigate, indeed.
According to the Bible, upon Herod’s death, his son, Herod Antipas, inherited the fortress and it was from this location that he ordered John The Baptist to be beheaded, after Salome’s fateful dance of the seven veils, in Matthew 14: 3-11. It was also the scene of a Roman siege during the first Jewish revolt against Rome.
Pilgrims, led by official of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, found this mountain very intriguing, as all manner of prayers were done here. Different prayer sessions were observed by different Men of God, who prayed for and along with the pilgrims, and equally interceded for Lagos State, the governor of Lagos State and his family; the President of Nigeria and his family, as well. The prayer sessions were led by esteemed ministers, including Bishop Ogedengbe Stephen, Revd. Dr. Dele Ajayi, Apostle Fagbamila, and other anointed Ministers of God. They equally prayed for peace to reign in the Middle East and for the peace of Jerusalem, as instructed by the Bible.
Another historic site visited was Mount Nebo. It is at this mount that Moses looked across to the Promised Land, later died and was buried by God Himself. According to the final chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses ascended Mount Nebo to view the Land of Canaan, which God had said he would not enter. He died in Moab. According to Christian tradition, Moses was buried on the mountain, although his place of burial is not specified (Deuteronomy 34:6).
A serpentine cross sculpture (the Brazen Serpent Monument), atop Mount Nebo was created by Italian artist, Giovanni Fantoni. It is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:49), and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14). After visiting these sites, the pilgrims went for lunch before returning to their hotel to rest and prepare for the evening’s activities.
Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe, who was on ground to marshal the pilgrims, did a yeoman’s work of ensuring a seamless and smooth trip to all the sites; equalling adding vibes to the trip withing the bus, by leading praise worship sessions, as well. In her calm and friendly nature, she was able to assert her authority and presence throughout the entire exercise. This act, was well appreciated by the pilgrims, who shared lots of resounding testimonies throughout the journey, to the glory of God, and to the shame of the devil.
For the pilgrims, it was an eventful second day of activities, as they eagerly looked forward to entering into the Promised Land on Day 3 of the pilgrimage exercise, on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25.
Pilgrims Deepen Spiritual Experience, Visit Mount Zion, Gethsemane, Others
Christmas Day
JERUSALEM, Israel – The pilgrimage exercise embarked upon by Christian pilgrims from Lagos State took a turn for the better by the day, as participants visited various historic sites in the holy land of Israel.
On the third day of the spiritual exercise, which was Christmas Day, pilgrims celebrated Christmas by visiting Allenby border – entrance into The Promised Land, from where they proceeded to Mount Zion. In Biblical times, this hill was called the Western Hill, where mostly Sadducees lived. This very large area has several important Biblical and iconic places, where the Lord Jesus Christ performed great miracles, signs and wonders. The Upper Room, where Jesus and His Disciples had the Passover Dinner (Last Supper), is located here, and this is the location where the Holy Spirit descended down on the Apostles as flames of fire on the Day of Pentecost. Pilgrims prayed for fresh fire of revival upon their lives here.
The synagogue of “King David’s Tomb” is located not too far from here. This site was also visited. The church of Ingalicante where Peter denied Jesus three times was visited; equally seen was the The ‘falling asleep’ of the Virgin Mary, believed to have occurred at the site of the Church of the Dormition (John 13).
Pilgrims were taken to the Western Wall (Wailing Wall). This is what is left from the Temple of God which Jesus and His disciples visited, completely destroyed by Romans in 70AD. Today, it is regarded as the most sacred place for all the Jews in the world; a place equally visited by Christians across the globe.
Boxing Day
On Day Four of the pilgrimage exercise, Boxing Day, pilgrims embarked on a spiritually uplifting journey, visiting more Biblical historical sites in the Holy Land, including: Bethlehem, the Shepherd’s Field, Church of the Nativity, Mount of Olives, Old Jerusalem City, Chapel of the Ascension, Dominus Flevit – where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, Garden of Gethsemane and The Church of St. Anna (closed for the holidays).
Other sites visited included The Way of the Cross – Via Delarosa (nine stations were visited out of the 14 Stations), Church of the Holy Sepulchre – housing Golgotha and the empty tomb – where Jesus’ body was buried, and from where the Angel of God rolled away the stone upon His resurrection.
Day Four marked the most difficult for the pilgrims, as pilgrims had to walk long distances, climbing up and down tough and steep terrains in order to fulfill this highly rewarding spiritual exercise. The elderly were advised to remain at specified locations to continue in prayers, in cases where they couldn’t continue the trekking. However, many of them braved the odds to complete the exercise.This meaningful experience, not only deepened the pilgrims’ connection to the sacred history of the region, but also gave them a proper connection to stories they had read in the Bible, creating better understanding and knowledge of the Word of God.
Many of the pilgrims appreciated the efforts of the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, CPWB, heaping special praise on the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe, for her doggedness and pragmatic leadership. Day Five of the exercise would see pilgrims head to Jericho and the Dead Sea region.
From The Dead Sea To Mount Carmel
…Pilgrims visit Mount of Temptation of Jesus Christ
JERUSALEM, Israel – In continuation of the spiritual exercise, various holy sites were visited in the next two days.
On Friday, December 27, the pilgrimage journey was filled with excitement and spiritual renewal as the groups, aside previous sites visited, explored several other iconic sites.
They visited Jericho and the Dead Sea Region.
The Bible records that in Jericho, right after the baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by satan. A two-thousand-year long tradition claims it happened on the hills to the West from Jericho. Jesus was tempted there for 40 days and nights, but overcame victoriously. Today, there is an Orthodox monastery at the top of the Mount of Temptation, over the city of Jericho.
This historic site, which is a mountain over the city of Jericho in the West Bank, is in the State of Palestine. Historically the site of an ancient Hasmonean fortress; as earlier stated, has been identified as the location of the temptation of Jesus – described in the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, in which it is said that, from “a high place”, the devil offered Jesus rule over all the kingdoms of the world.
The city of Jericho lies at the feet east of Mount Quruntul, at 258 m (846 ft) below sea level, with the nearby Jordan River and the Dead Sea at even lower elevations, further to the east and southeast. The Mount has around 400 m (1,300 ft) of prominence over Jericho, which translates to an elevation of 138 m (453 ft) above sea level, and offers a commanding view of its fabled surroundings to the east.
Pilgrims, understandably, had to ascend this mountain via a cable car ride (which, in itself, was an exciting experience), with breathtaking views of one of the oldest cities in the world.
In Jericho, still, pilgrims literally walked in the footsteps of Nicodemus, visiting the site of the Sycamore tree where he climbed up the tree to encounter Jesus, due to his height disadvantage.
Nicodemus was a New Testament figure venerated as a saint in a number of Christian traditions. He is depicted as a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin who was drawn to hear Jesus’s teachings. As is the case with Lazarus, Nicodemus is not mentioned in the synoptic Gospels, and is mentioned only by John, who devotes more than half of Chapter 3 of his gospel and a few verses of Chapter 7 to Nicodemus, and lastly mentions him in Chapter 19.
Nicodemus is considered by both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church traditions to have secretly been a disciple of Jesus on the basis of the narrative in John 19; there is no explicit mention of his discipleship in the Gospel of John. Owing to his insistence on a hearing for Jesus according to Jewish law, Nicodemus is sometimes referred to as “defender of Jesus”, and was credited to have been the one who carried the body of Jesus from the cross for burial in the tomb.
The day’s pilgrimage exercise was rounded off at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, where pilgrims marvelled at its natural wonder.
The Dead Sea, also known by other names, is a landlocked salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east, the Israeli-occupied West Bank to the west and Israel to the southwest. It lies in the endorheic basin of the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River.
As of 2019, the lake’s surface was 430.5 metres (1,412 ft) below sea level, making its shores the lowest land-based elevation on Earth. It is 304 m (997 ft) deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. With a salinity of 342 g/kg, or 34.2% (in 2011), it is one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water – 9.6 times as salty as the ocean – and has a density of 1.24 kg/litre, which makes swimming similar to floating. This salinity makes for a harsh environment in which plants and animals cannot flourish, hence its name. The Dead Sea’s main, northern basin is 50 kilometres (31 mi) long and 15 kilometres (9 mi) wide at its widest point.
This site was, indeed, breathtaking for the pilgrims to behold.
The pilgrims equally had the pleasure of visiting Qumran – congregation of hermits in the Judean Desert of the North West corner of the Dead Sea. Kalia Beach was another port of call for the pilgrims. This is a popular recreational area located on the North West shores of the Dead Sea. It is known for its unique and stunning landscape, especially being situated at the lowest point on the earth.
On Saturday, December 28, pilgrims took a step further in this unique experience to explore Nazareth’s historic landmarks. They embarked on a journey through the ancient city of Nazareth.
Areas visited included: Nazareth – Jesus childhood home; Mount Carmel – where Prophet Elijah challenged, defeated and killed the false prophets of Baal, calling down fire from heaven; Cana of Galilee – site of Jesus’ first miracle (of turning water into wine). At this location, due to the significance of Jesus performing his very first miracle at a wedding ceremony, a special wedding rededication/vow renewal ceremony was conducted for couples on pilgrimage.
The Basilica of Annunciation, built on the ancient ruins where Mary received the angelic announcement of birthing the Saviour of the world from Angel Gabriel, was another site to behold. This church is credited to be the largest church in the entire Middle East. It is a very massive and breathtaking edifice. And pilgrims took a tour of the entire building.
Bishop Akinpelu Johnson, Board Chairman, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, was on ground, as has been the case since the pilgrims arrived the holy land, to give leadership and direction to the team, in his calm and mature demeanour.
Prayer sessions, as usual, were led by esteemed ministers of the gospel, including Bishop Ogedengbe Stephen, Revd. Dr. Dele Ajayi, Apostle Fagbamila, and other anointed Ministers of God.
Officials of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board were spot on in ensuring that all activities go according to plan, and ensured, while working with Tabar Tours, that checking in and out of the various hotels, and other logistics matters, were smooth and seamless.
Pilgrims heaped encomiums on Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe, Executive Secretary of the Board, for her astute, pragmatic and proactive leadership style, and her ability to deliver upon promises made.
The day was concluded with the pilgrims, who had checked out of Ramada Hotel, checking into the Plaza Hotel of Nazareth.
Pilgrims Receive JP Certificates In Nazareth
NAZARETH, Israel – Lagos Christian pilgrims, representing the bulk of first flight of the year 2024 Christian Pilgrims, who arrived Nazareth from Jerusalem on Saturday, December 28, received their Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP) certificates in Israel.
The award ceremony, which held at the Tabar Hotel, thus, conferred on the pilgrims the title, JP.
The award ceremony came after a combined Sunday service earlier in the day, which featured a Bible lesson read by Hon. Mrs. Omowunmi Ogunlola, Federal Commissioner representing South West in the Board of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC). The lesson, taken from Joel 2:18-27, dwelled on God’s restoration of Israel’s glory.
Bishop Akinpelu Johnson, Chairman of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, delivered a sermon titled “Restoration of Nigeria’s Hope”, in which he emphasised the need for collective prayer and cooperation with God to restore Nigeria’s glory.
The pilgrims offered prayers for Nigeria, its leaders, and citizens, seeking God’s guidance, wisdom, and restoration. The prayers focused on the restoration of Nigeria’s glory, guidance and wisdom for leaders, circumcision of leaders’ hearts for sacrifice and service, and grace for leaders to finish strongly.
At the award ceremony, Miss Shadia Srour, General Manager of Tabar Tours, who was the chief host, along with her team, was on ground to facilitate events of the day. She expressed her profound gratitude to the Nigerian government and people, for their continued support, cooperation and relationship, which had yielded fruitful dividends over the years with regards to the pilgrimage exercise.
She heaped praises on the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite; as well as the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSCPWB), Mrs. Florence Yetunde Gbafe, for their unflinching support and continued trust in Tabar Tours over the years.
The colourful ceremony had in attendance dignitaries such as Apostle Fagbamila Oyewole; Deputy Director & Head Media and Public Relations, NCPC, Celestine Toruka; Bishop Ogedengbe Stephen; HRH, Oba Possi Oyekan, the Oba of Badagry West; Chief Hon. Clement Nweke, Federal Commissioner South East; Hon Barr. Omowumi Ogunlola, Federal Commissioner South West; Mr Ode Ikwe, Ag Charge de Affairs, Nigerian Embassy, Israel; Miss Shadia Srour, GM Tabar Tours; Mrs Yetunde Gbafe, Board Secretary, LSCPWB; Bishop Akinpelu Johnson, Board Chairman, LSCPWB; Mr Yahaya Adamu, Head, Zonal Office Unit, NCPC; Ven. Dr. Joseph Chibuogwu, NCPC, and Revd. Dr. Dele Ajayi.
The pilgrims were highly elated to receive their certificates and lapel pins; many saying it was worth the while, especially considering the rigours of the extensive exercise which they had been subjected to in the last one week. They looked forward to functioning in their new positions as Jerusalem Pilgrims, thanking the Nigerian and Lagos State government for the opportunity and kind gesture.
Pilgrims were admonished to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, Lagos State and their families, as they set out to be worthy JPs. They were told to be peace makers wherever they found themselves, and good representatives of Jesus Christ.
In his earlier sermon, Bishop Johnson expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for facilitating this year’s pilgrimage exercise, despite the challenges posed by the Hamas militant group’s attack on Israel last October.
The first flight of Christian pilgrims, had been in the holy land for seven days at this time, having departed Nigeria on December 22. The pilgrimage exercise continued with prayers and reflections on the theme “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration.”
Baptism At River Jordan, Ride On Sea Of Galilee, Return To Jordan
NAZARETH, Israel – Some pilgrims, in continuation of their spiritual exercise to the holy land, decided to be baptised at the River Jordan. This was an experience many had yearned for even before departure from Lagos.
The pilgrims from the Centre of Excellence, representing a bulk of the first flight of this year’s pilgrimage exercise, at this point, were winding down on the programme, while getting set to return to Nigeria, on New Year’s Day.
Part of holy sites visited included Mount Tabor. Besides the traditional place of the transfiguration of Christ and meeting of Moses and Elijah on the Mount, Tabor was mentioned several times in the Old Testament, as a spot where great events took place.
Mount Tabor, sometimes spelled Mount Thabor is a large hill of Biblical significance in Lower Galilee, northern Israel, at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, 18 kilometres (11 miles), west of the Sea of Galilee.
In the Hebrew Bible (Joshua, Judges), Mount Tabor is the site of the battle of Mount Tabor between the Israelite army under the leadership of Barak and the army of the Canaanite king of Hazor, Jabin, commanded by Sisera.
In Christian tradition, Mount Tabor is the site of the transfiguration of Jesus.
After the morning devotion on Monday, December 30, led by Revd. Dr. Dele Ajayi, of Chapel of Christ The Light Church, Alausa, Ikeja, pilgrims embarked on a spiritually enriching journey to the Mount of Beatitudes. This is one of the key places on the path of Jesus in Galilee. It was on this mountain that Jesus spoke the words of the Sermon on a Mount. Some scholars call it “The Constitution of the Kingdom.”
Pilgrims were taken to the Church of Multiplication, as well. This is the miraculous site where Jesus fed the multitudes with two fish and five loaves of bread. This site holds a lot of significance for Christians, especially with regard to Jesus’ ability to perform miracles beyond human comprehension.
Capernaum, the City of Jesus, featuring St. Peter’s Church, built on the remains of Peter’s house where Jesus healed his mother-in-law, was yet another port of call. Prayers for divine and total healing were offered at this spot for the pilgrims, their families and the entire nation.
Upon getting to the iconic Sea of Galilee, pilgrims were taken on a soul-stirring boat ride (in a carnival-like atmosphere), with heavy praise, sermons, and prayer sessions on the water.
The climax of the day’s event was Baptism at River Jordan, where Jesus Himself was baptised by John The Baptist. Some pilgrims experienced the joy of baptism in the refreshing waters of Jordan; for them, this was an unbelievable and life-changing experience.
The day’s exercise ended with an evening fellowship, with a word of exhortation and prayers by Revd. Dr. Dele Ajayi.
The pilgrims got set to return to Amman, capital of Jordan, in preparation of their scheduled to return to Nigeria on Wednesday, January 1.
Christian Pilgrims Return To Lagos From Holy Land, Received by NCPC boss, Bishop Adegbite
LAGOS, Nigeria – The first batch of Lagos State Christian pilgrims returned safely to Lagos on January 1, 2025, aboard a chartered Atlas Jet 6K 3101, after a successful pilgrimage exercise to the holy lands of Israel and Jordan.
At the welcome ceremony, where the pilgrims were received by Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), expressed his joy at the success of the exercise, noting that the journey began and ended in joy. He thanked the Jordanian authority for a smooth Jordan and Israel border transfer of pilgrims.
The NCPC boss equally thanked the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for their unwavering support, believing that other states would equally have a successful pilgrimage exercise.
Special Adviser on Christian Religious Matters, Very Revd Adebukola Adeleke, and Bishop Akinpelu Johnson, Chairman of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, also expressed gratitude to God for journey mercies.
The Board Secretary, Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe, thanked God for the hitch-free exercise. She also thanked the President of Nigeria and the Governor of Lagos State for giving the Board the enabling environment to operate this particular pilgrimage.
She acknowledged improvements at the Jordan-Israel border, appreciating the Nigerian and Jordanian ground handlers. She announced that the second batch of Lagos pilgrims would depart Lagos soon.
Mrs Adeola Aina, Director, Admin and Human Resources, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, who was the Bus Captain for Bus One, was equally happy about the successful completion of the exercise. She says the experience has been worthwhile and serves as encouragement for others who are willing to be partakers of the experience.
In the same vein, Mrs. Ebunoluwa Adeola Olagoke, Head, Public Affairs Unit of the Board, stated that, from feedbacks she got, many of the pilgrims had a spiritually fulfilling, highly enriching and rewarding experience. She was of the opinion that this particular exercise was very well organised, and urged others who are willing to participate, to grab the opportunity with both hands.
The newly-inducted Jerusalem Pilgrims (JPs), expressed satisfaction with the spiritually rejuvenating exercise and top-notch welfarism provided by the Lagos State Government. They encouraged other intending pilgrims to visit the holy lands, which is now peaceful for pilgrimage exercise, as opposed to the general negative notion held by many.
