But before they left, they had an encounter with the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy-Opara, at the NCPC Secretariat, Abuja, who admonished them on the essence of their spiritual journey to the holy land.
According to Sun News, while speaking to Abuja Metro, the initiator of the programme, Revd Epunam, said the programme is about the 70 wise prophets going on a national prayer summit to Jerusalem to pray for Nigerians, to pray for the president and for the peace and security of the nation, especially in 2015.
“So, it is a self-sponsored programme. The government has no kobo in it. Captains of industry sponsored it and they are here with their products to support us. They sponsored the ministers of the gospel to go and cry for mercy for Nigeria,” Epunam said.
Epunam said the project is borne out of his passion for Nigeria. “I have been a member of the National Prayer Network in the Villa Chapel right from the Obasanjo’s government. So, I have passion for Nigeria. I have had experiences, knowing that the foundation of Nigeria is faulty, that we have to pray to put it in the right direction and at the same time, to help men and women of God know where Jesus preached the gospel: the landmarks and where he was ascended so that the righteous will take over the earth,” Epunam stated.
In his remarks, Opara said the sponsors of the programme were exemplary people, and urged well-meaning Nigerians to emulate their gesture.
The pioneer executive secretary of the NCPC added that by so doing, crime rate in the country would be reduced, noting that an individual who embarked on a pilgrimage, would return to the country and transform others.