By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As Christians celebrate Christmas, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam has urged christians to emulate the virtues of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. Pam stated this in Abuja in his global Christmas message to all christians in Nigeria and beyond.
He emphazied the importance for christians to emulate the virtues of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who was born to fulfil the purpose and promises of God for mankind.
Accordding to him, Christ birth is God’s gift of love to mankind which marked a new beginning of hope and salvation for all believers.
Rev Pam further stressed that Christ is an epitome of love, unity and oneness and as such believers should identify with these virtues as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
He called on christians to embrace love and humility which Christ represents, adding that in this season, christians should be compassionate, selfless and charitable in all their dealings with their fellow man.
Furthermore, Rev Pam urged christians to maintain peace through out this season and beyond and to eschew bitterness noting that this Christmas celebration is very unique for Nigerians as it is coming barely few months before the 2023 general elections.
He called on Christians to use the season to pray fervently for God’s intervention during the electioneering period and for a peaceful polls across the nation.
He said,” our prayer as a people at this time when the nation is preparing for its general election is significant, it will go a long way to ensure smooth conduct of the 2023 general election.”
He called on church leaders to unite against divisions and de-emphasise on denominationalism.
The NCPC boss in his season’s message advised pilgrims already in the Holy land for the 2022 December pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan and all the intending pilgrims for subsequent batches to pray for unity in the church and for smooth transition of power on 29th May, 2023.
The NCPC boss reaffirms the Commitment of the Commission to make pilgrimage more spiritual centered and participatory in the coming year .
He assured that pilgrimage will continue to be used as a tool for spiritual rejuvenation and moral transformation.
Rev Pam also congratulates all christians as they commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
