By Dipo Olowookere
Over 250 intending Christian pilgrims were last week screened by the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSCPWB).
The screening was based on administrative/medical, which is a statutory prerequisite programme for those who intend to participate in the yearly pilgrimage.
The orientation and screening exercise, which is geared towards ensuring that prospective pilgrims are physically and psychologically equipped, is also designed to ascertain their level of fitness for the 2019 Easter pilgrimage exercise as well as validate all travelling documents.
Addressing the participants at the Chapel of Christ, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, the Board Secretary of LSCPWB, Mrs Yetunde Gbafe, affirmed that the exercise has curbed the issue of pilgrims absconding, saying that there have not been reported cases of pilgrims fleeing from the state contingent while on pilgrimage in recent years.
She explained that since the pilgrims would be travelling to another country, there was the need to orientate them about the values, customs and behavioural expectations of the people of Israel while in the Holy Land.
Mrs Gbafe also advised the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state by ensuring that they comport themselves throughout the period of the pilgrimage.
On his part, Chairman of the board, Bishop Olusola Ore, admonished the prospective pilgrims not to see the visit to the Holy Land as a sort of tourism experience but rather as a spiritual journey that should stir up spiritual rebirth in them.
He assured intending pilgrims that the State government was working with other relevant agencies to ensure a hitch-free pilgrimage and a pleasant experience.
