Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State last Thursday charged the 2017 pilgrims to Jerusalem to pray and be a good ambassadors of Plateau and Nigeria as a whole while in the Holy Land.

According to him, government has resumed the sponsorship of pilgrims to Israel following it’s suspension and enjoined them to reciprocate the gesture by praying for the peace and growth of the state.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Hon Rufus Bature, the Governor noted that it was in line with government social welfare support that they were sponsoring pilgrims to the Holy Land so that it’s citizens would have moral and sound minds which they in turn would impact to the younger generations.

The farewell ceremony which was held at the Church Of Christ In Nations (COCIN),Headquarters Church, Governor Lalong called on the pilgrims not to abscond saying that all necessary arrangements with the authorities in Israel to deal divisively with any one who would want to commit the act.

He commended the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board(CPWB)for carrying the exercise successfully and reminded the pilgrims to strengthen their faith as Christians while in the holy land.

The Governor revealed that a total of 579 people were performing this year’s pilgrimage to the State of Israel out of which 170 and 30 were sponsored by local governments in the state in that order.

Ealier, the Acting Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board(CPWB) Mr. Wilfred S Sohotyep explained that the preparations for this year’s pilgrimage was hectic and thanked the Governor for the support accorded them which he said necessitated the success of the exercise.

Mr Sohotyep noted ”your personal investment in the kingdom service is not a waste, as spiritual upliftment of the church would no doubt impact positively on righteous living in the church and also on the socio-political growth of the people of Plateau State and Nigeria at large”.

To the pilgrims, the Acting Executive Secretary urged them to exhibit high sense of maturity and to be worthy ambassadors of the state while in the Holy Land.

He told the Governor that the pilgrims were successfully screened waiting to be airlifted on 16th,20th and 21st December 2017 explaining that the remaining pilgrims would be airlifted at a later date which would be communicated to them by the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission(NCPC).

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PLSG resumes sponsoring pilgrims as 579 departs for Jerusalem