Despite the various crises associated with religion in the country, Nigeria remains a religious nation with various religions thriving alongside one another. In this interview with PAUL UKPABIO, Mr. John Kennedy Okpara, Executive Secretary of the Abuja-based Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), who returned from pilgrimage to Isreal recently with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, opens up on what it takes to head a Christian pilgrim’s commission in Nigeria, the challenges and more importantly, the expectations for would-be pilgrims during the annual spiritual exercise carried out through the commission.
WHAT kind of background did you have, and in what ways would you say it has contributed to what you are today?
My background indeed influenced me. I was brought up by parents who had the fear of God. Later on, my mentor and father in the Lord who brought me up, the late Rev. Father Ben, took me up, guided and molded me. One of the greatest gifts he gave me was to have known Jesus. That made me to understand that I will amount to nothing without Jesus.
So, the teachings, the training I had while living with him strengthened my faith in the Lord. They encouraged me to where God has led me to today. I want to say that my upbringing really influenced me to be able to do what I am supposed to do today as a child of God, and that has helped me a lot.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the village. I am from a place called Umopara in Imo State. From there, I left to stay with the Reverend Father who brought me up. From there I went to so many places. The Reverend fathers were usually posted out every now and then, sometimes under a year. I was always travelling with him to those places, from one parish to another.
What was the experience like living with a Reverend Father?
It brought me closer to Jesus. I saw the priests as Christ personified. I saw them as very holy people. Their lives inspired me, and that was why I wanted to be a Catholic priest. That was because I saw men devoting their lives and time to serving God and working for Him. Everything we do, everything we were doing on a daily basis was about Jesus. That really inspired me as a young man, and it made me to want to become a Catholic priest.
So why did you not become one?
(Laughs) I know that God is in charge of our lives. Every man’s life is in His hands. Even though I would have loved to be, God didn’t want me to be a priest, He wanted me to serve Him in a secular world like this. I am grateful to God because He has made me to be able to touch lives, even the lives of people who are not Catholics. Obviously, if I were a Catholic priest, I wouldn’t have been able to reach out and touch the lives of those who are not Catholics or people who are not even Christians. So, the work I am doing here too is divine.
Getting to be an Executive Secretary of a federal agency is not a day’s job. How did this happen?
As an individual, I feel I am not fit. But the Lord Almighty in His infinite wisdom decided that I had to be picked at a time like this. When He called me, I asked why me? He answered that it is for a purpose, that He wants me to make a difference. So I must thank Him and also thank the then Vice President, who is now the President, for all the support he gave to get me to where I am today. I owe gratitude to God and to the President. I pray that God will not let me disappoint.
How about your educational background?
I had my early education in the eastern part of Nigeria. Later on, I moved to the University of Calabar, where I had my first degree in Biological Sciences. I later moved to University of Jos where I had my master’s degree in the same field. I am presently rounding off my Ph.D programme in the same university.
Apart from that, I have gone for courses at Harvard University in the USA. At Harvard, I took some leadership courses to enable me become a good leader. Again, I did a study on conflict resolution and management there. I also went to Oxford University, and then Cambridge University where I did a programme that qualifies one to go on to a master’s degree there. At Stanford University in USA, I also had a programme there.
So what was inspiring you from one educational programme to another?
I enjoy motivating myself to learn. I believe that life is a continuous learning experience. As a young man, I believe the more I expose myself to learning, the better I would be as a leader. Leadership is about influencing people and things. The wealth of knowledge you have helps because if you don’t have knowledge, you can’t impact or influence anything. But if you have knowledge, you will be able to impact on people positively.
Were you married when you were doing all these learning and travelling?
(Laughs) Yes, I was. In fact, I thank God for the kind of wife and children that I have. They have showed great understanding of the nature of my work. That is because at times, they wish I was not always travelling. But I pray for them always, that God also will make me a better husband.
Going on pilgrimage is every faithful’s dream. But to you, what does Christian pilgrimage mean?
To me, it is a spiritual journey; a journey for divine encounter. I always believe that each time we visit the land of promise, the land of God, we are being reminded of who we are. We are being reminded that Jesus walked on this same earth, like you and I are walking today. And He was able to live an upright life. He was able to make changes, which means that you and I can do it. That’s why the bible says in Mathew Chapter 19 Verse 6, that “to men, it may look impossible, but to God, it is possible.”
“So, each time I go on pilgrimage, it reminds me that nothing is impossible with God and that brings me closer to Him. My pride is to get as many people as possible to have this experience and get an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. It will help us. That is why we are using pilgrimage as a tool for moral and spiritual transformation. By this transformation, it helps our great nation to move forward.
Do you think that pilgrimages have helped the country over the years?
I have always said that events show while people do the talking. I must confess that many people have called to tell me that what we are doing is a brilliant idea. Some people are willing to go again and again because they saw it real. Many didn’t believe it is possible. Many confess of miracles when they return. There have been women who didn’t have children. Upon encouragement, they were at the holy land, prayed, came back and God touched their lives. Today, they have children. And so many others who confess that after their return, their lives changed. I thank God for such people.
For the purpose of those who have not gone on this pilgrimage, mention some spiritual experiences that can influence a change of life.
In Israel, there are so many holy sites to visit. A place such as the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, for instance, was where Solomon built a temple for the Lord. And when that temple was being dedicated, you remember that the Lord did not allow Solomon’s father, King David, to build a temple for Him, even though David was a man after His own heart; though He allowed David to buy some of the materials for building the temple.
That teaches something that it does not matter who you are or what you do, it depends on what God wants to do and who He wants to use. So at every point in a person’s life, God could decide to use you or another person not minding whether you laid the foundation or not. So for all that David did, God did not allow him to build, but gave that assignment to his son.
And on the day of dedication of the temple in 1st Chronicles, God said that “every prayer offered here, my eyes will be fixed on it and my ears will listen to it.” And that was a covenant prayer. Even non-Christian vying for political elective posts go to the Wailing Wall for prayers. The wall is there till today because of what was said about it and because of the prophecy about the place. The bible has it that God said that, “strangers will come here to offer prayers and I will answer.”
When you go to Galilee, the Church of Multiplication, when I entered, I remembered what God asked there, “what do you have?” They replied, “Five loaves of bread and five fishes.” And He was able to multiply it. What God may be asking you and I now may not be fish and bread, He could be asking for our time. We must always have something to offer. For us Christians, when we go there, we must always have something to offer. And when we offer Him our time, our talent, He will multiply it and take it to greater heights.
Another place is Cana where Jesus had His first miracle. His mother said, “Whatever He says you should do, do it.” That church reminds me that God is a miracle, that He can turn things around; that we should look up to Him. There are many other holy places like that.
Are there special rules or pre-requisites governing the procedure for would be Christians going on pilgrimage?
They are simple, you must be a good standing Christian, that is have a church, which can also vouch that you are responsible, and you must be working that is gainfully employed. Since we came on board, we have brought the issue of those absconding to zero percent. We must continue to push the process. God has really helped us.
Is Christian pilgrimage limited to going to Jerusalem?
No, we have extended the pilgrimage to Greece and Rome. So using St. Paul as a model, Christians can now go to Israel, from there to Corinth, Athens and then move to Rome like Paul did. That is where the pilgrimage ends. The pilgrimage moves like a circle. And at the end of it all, Nigerians who are going, when they experience this, they see the Old Testament and then the New Testament too, the complete bible.
We talked to a few Christians about pilgrimage. A lot of them want to have the experience, some do not know how to take part, and do not know the traveling periods. Are there enlightenment programmes to this effect?
Yes, we have. Since we came on board, we have a calendar of activities which ensures that Christians can now plan. We have three types of pilgrimages; the first is the Easter Pilgrimage, which starts March and ends in April. We have the new Family Pilgrimage that starts July and ends in August for families that want to go with their children to go and pray. Then the main pilgrimage runs from October to December. So any Christian can decide to pick any of these pilgrimage packages and enjoy it. We have offices in almost all the states of the federation. My team has been going round the churches, mobilising people and many Christians are aware of this and coming on pilgrimages.
Simply said, what are the procedures?
All that is needed to do is to visit our website, print out a form, fill the form, go to the bank and pay for any of the packages. It is as simple as that. Afterwards, we can then process it and later invite you for orientation which takes place in a day, along with screening. This orientation is done in each of the state’s Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board. We have offices in states of the federation.
Managing pilgrims around the country could actually be a task. How do you do it?
I must tell you it is a lot of hard work and I want to thank God for my efficient staff, the board members and all those who have made it easier for me. For instance, in the last couple of weeks, we have visited 22 states talking to the governors on the need to encourage people to go on pilgrimages. This cannot be done by one man, it is a collective effort. So I thank God for them. Even then, we are not there yet. So I am praying that God will continue to let us do better.
In carrying out your job, how do you guard against discriminating against churches?
I have always told my staff to be sensitive of that. I use myself as an example. I was born a Catholic, I am also a Catholic, but I am an Anglican by association and a Pentecostal by fellowship. What is important to me is that the churches are serving one living God and we must always see ourselves as one. That is why the Lord prayed one last prayer that, “above all that they may be one.” So I see my position here as something to use and unify the churches and not to separate them.
All through this period that you have been going on pilgrimage, tell us about your most embarrassing moments.
I always want Nigerians to understand that the journey is that of a holy pilgrimage. Some Nigerians when they go on pilgrimage, they get carried away by the shopping for material things. I do not really like to see Nigerians concentrating more on shopping than what they were at the holy sites to do. I rather would prefer seeing them concentrate more on the spiritual exercise they travelled down there to do.
I would expect that they concentrate more on prayer, then come back and be renewed spiritually. By concentrating more on shopping, it shows that you do not understand Jesus or the essence of why you are at the holy land.
We sometimes have to let them know that we are not there for buying and selling but for a spiritual exercise. We are there to have an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to plead with the pilgrims that once they are out there, they are ambassadors of our great country Nigeria, so it is necessary to comport themselves appropriately. Out there, they are the first image of the country that people see. So they are to behave well, submit themselves to God and allow God to use them.
