Lagos State Government has restated its readiness to commence the airlifting of year 2016 intending pilgrims to the Holy Land of Jerusalem, Rome and Greece.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Adeola Hundeyin, who disclosed this today during the Dedication Service held at Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, said that the service signified the peak of preparation for the pilgrimage.

Mr. Hundeyin assured all the intending pilgrims that the State Government had put in place necessary welfare packages and precautionary measures that would make the journey a hitch-free experience.

He urged the intending pilgrims to imbibe the spirit of patriotism and pray for the intervention of God in the affairs of Lagos State and Nigeria.

According to him, “Keep to the guiding ethics, observe the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ and be good ambassadors of this State and Nigeria.”

In his remarks, the Chairman, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bishop Sola Ore, enjoined the intending pilgrims to be open, learn new things and inculcate good values, stressing that “Whatever you see in the Holy Land that is good, copy and replicate same here in Nigeria when you return.”

While congratulating the intending pilgrims for dedicating their resources for the journey in spite of the economic situation in the country, the Bishop urged them to be spiritually minded and ensure that the resources invested into the journey would not be a waste.

He said the journey to the Holy Land provided opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation and better understanding of “what is written in the Holy Bible.”

“I expect that by the reason of this journey, you will all come back as agents of change that would bring about the much needed transformation for this country,” he added

In his sermon, Reverend Lawrence Idris of Living Rock Gospel Ministry underscored the need for the intending pilgrims to have their minds and hearts fully committed and connected to God, saying that it would be pathetic to go to the holy land without experiencing the same miracles witnessed by the patriarchs in the Holy Bible.

He said that it was imperative for anyone embarking on the spiritual exercise to be prepared to have a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit.

•Photo shows Christian pilgrims from Nigeria praying in Jerusalem during a past pilgrimage.

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