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Tag: Bishop Stephen Adegbite

  • Adegbite lauds Nwifuru on Christian pilgrim sponsorships

    Adegbite lauds Nwifuru on Christian pilgrim sponsorships

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has commended the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, for being the first Governor in the southeast to sponsor Christian pilgrims to the holy land for the NCPC 2024 Main pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan.

    Bishop Adegbite made the commendation on Tuesday, February 18, during the airlift of the 8th batch of intending Christian pilgrims of Ebonyi state to Israel and Jordan at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

    Adegbite, who was represented by the leader of the delegation of the 8th batch of Christian pilgrims to the holy land, Hon. Clement Nweke, Federal Commissioner representing South East on the Board of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, praised Governor Nwifuru for sponsoring over 300 Christian pilgrims.

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    “Pilgrimage is not tourism, but rather it is for spiritual rejuvenation, you are not going for tourism, but spiritual rejuvenation,” Adegbite said.

    He assured the intending Christian pilgrims that they would have the opportunity to visit many holy sites in Israel and Jordan and would not come back spiritually unfulfilled.

    Bishop Adegbite urged the pilgrims to pray fervently to God in the holy land and come back with outstanding testimonies.

    He further emphasized the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on abscondment is non-negotiable, stating that everything humanly possible would be done to fish out any absconders.

    Among the intending Christian pilgrims was the First Lady of Ebonyi State, Mrs Uzoamaka Nwifuru.

  • Adegbite calls for better representation of Christianity in govt parastatals

    Adegbite calls for better representation of Christianity in govt parastatals

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has called for improved recognition of Christianity, particularly within government parastatals.

    Bishop Adegbite made this statement during a courtesy visit by the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Ijebuland, Chief Funlola Okunowo. 

    He emphasized the importance of serving God within the government framework and urged Christians in public service to be exemplary in their conduct, acting as agents of positive change in their respective roles.

    He said: “Christians in government should be exemplary in their conduct, serving as change agents and faithfully fulfilling their responsibilities within the framework of God’s service, when they perform their duties rightly without compromise, the outlook of Christianity will change and we will be proud to promote the gospel, this is possible because the Bible assured us that ‘we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us’.”

    During the visit, Bishop Adegbite solicited the support of Chief Okunowo in the building and completion of the Commission’s legacy project, the Heritage Camp, located in the Business District Center of Abuja. 

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    He said that such support could come in the form of donations and technical assistance, and that when completed, the Heritage Camp would serve as a source of internally generated revenue for the Commission.

    In response to the ongoing 2024 Main Pilgrimage exercise, Bishop Adegbite affirmed that it is progressing smoothly, stating that third batch of pilgrims returned on Thursday night, while the fourth batch from Adamawa, Taraba, and Borno will be airlifted to Israel and Jordan on January 24.

  • Pilgrimage exercise progressing well, says Adegbite

    Pilgrimage exercise progressing well, says Adegbite

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has stated the Commission’s 2024 main Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan is progressing smoothly.

    Adegbite made this known during the dedication of brand new instruments for the Commission’s Chapel at the NCPC corporate headquarters, Abuja.

    “Despite initial doubts due to the situation in the Middle East, a total ceasefire is now in place.

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    “As the pilgrims step into the land of Israel, a total ceasefire is now in place, we give God the glory,” Adegbite said.

    He expressed optimism that all batches would travel safely without mishap.

    He offered prayers for the safe return of the third batch of pilgrims, who departed Nigeria on January 13, 2025 and are expected back today.

    He also announced that the fourth batch from Adamawa, Taraba, and Borno would be airlifted on January 24, 2025.

  • Ongoing carnage in Gaza should stop – NCPC boss

    Ongoing carnage in Gaza should stop – NCPC boss

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) Bishop Stephen Adegbite on Wednesday called for a stop to the ongoing “carnage” in Gaza.

    Adegbite said the Commission does not support the killing of persons. He made the call while answering questions from reporters in his Abuja office.

    According to him, there has always been a war in Israel since he began pilgrimage exercises in 1999, adding that a lot of persons, including children, asking authorities to instead go after persons perpetuating the war between Israel and Gaza.

    According to him: “When you hear war going on in Israel, going on in Gaza, we don’t go to Gaza. There has never been any time that we went to Gaza, and I have gone on pilgrimage 24 times now. So, by the special grace of God, Nigerians will be safe in Israel, and nothing will happen to anybody. And every time that we started, since 1999 when I started going to Israel, there is no year there is no war. And when you read the scriptures properly in Revelations until Christ comes, there would continue to be war in Israel. Because Israel is surrounded by 14 nations who do not want them, and that war continues every time.

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    “But God has his name to be glorified in Israel, and he is protecting them. But that is not to say that what is going on in Gaza is something we will support even as children of God, no. The carnage going on in Gaza should stop, enough of that. A lot of people have died, children are perishing, and innocent people are dying, but the people who are perpetuating the evil have not been properly identified. Those are the people they should go after so that there will be peace at least for some time. But for us as children of God, Nigerians will be safe in Israel”.

    Adegbite reiterated that the Easter pilgrimage will commence in June, noting that pilgrimage exercises will only take place twice in a year, with the first being the Easter pilgrimage and the second holding between December and February.

    “We are starting with the Easter pilgrimage that is open now, and we are going to close it up by July, then we have the main pilgrimage that will start from November, and that will also end by February. So, pilgrimage in Nigeria for the Christian community, is no longer every month where ten people will go, twenty people will go, we are going to do it twice, and that is what we were known for in the past, so we are going back to that,” he said.

    The NCPC Executive Secretary also stated that the review of the duration of the pilgrimage to ten days was to return the exercise to the way it was and ensure that pilgrims had more time in the Holy land.

    He added that the Commission will announce the final cost for the trip in the coming week and that the figures will reflect official exchange rates, noting that the Commission did not get concessionary rates.