Christian pilgrimage since inception has been designed beyond the scope of visitation to religious sites and appreciation of symbolic ornaments in the host nation.
Over the years, many have classified pilgrimage as a Jamboree by religiously inclined individuals who seek to deepen their faith and other personal goals.
However, that may be changing going by the disclosure of Stephen Adegbite, the executive secretary, Nigeria Christians Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).
Adegbite, who was a keynote speaker at the 5th annual forum of the Association of Christian Correspondents of Nigeria (ACCoN) in Lagos, spoke on the socioeconomic benefits of pilgrimage to the Nigerian state.
According to Adegbite, the NCPC has continued to review the Christian pilgrimage trajectory from many perspectives, especially with emphasis on personal and group empowerment for sustainable growth.
He disclosed that such views and progressive endeavour from both the Commission and tour manager’s perspective has informed the introduction of new reforms and collaborations with experts on recent innovations, especially on the science and technology as part of activities while on pilgrimage.
“It has advanced the tale of religious exploits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and dissents while emphasizing the perspective of a viable exchange program which offers significant socioeconomic benefit by fostering cultural understanding, enhancing language skills, and creating valuable global networks.”
According to him, Christian pilgrimage has the capacity to encourage knowledge sharing, transfer of knowledge, and economic competitiveness for both countries, when fully and functionally harnessed.
“Such faith exchange programs contribute to economic growth by stimulating international trade relations and job creation initiatives.
“It will also act as a catalyst for personal and professional development, leading to increasing potentials and career opportunities,” Adegbite said.
He also added that religious economy in the context of Christian pilgrimage has been viewed as a marketplace where resources including knowledge, spiritual and economic variables are exchangeable and also transferable between pilgrims and the society in general.
According to him, religious pilgrimage, much like businesses, offer different dynamics of economic variables within the context of human advancements. “Alignment of spiritual beliefs functions as a veritable tool for exchange of human endeavours.”
Adegbite added that pilgrimage functions as an ideal in the exchange of ideas between nation-states, Nigeria inclusive, in their quest to finding collaborative engagements in the area of mutual interest and benefits.
“Pilgrimage is an exposition that is standardised on translating spiritual exposure and physical manifestations with the aim of aligning belief with physical reality.
“The competitiveness of pilgrimage experience and the attainable progress faith of adherents leads to innovation and adaptation among adherents who share in the pilgrimage experience,” he said.
According to him, pilgrimage as a journey of discovery, awareness, observance, and interaction focuses on spiritual as well as economic social variables that advance the cause of innovation and intelligence.
Adegbite said that Christian pilgrimage is currently a partnership for development. According to him, Christian pilgrimage has metamorphosed from visitations into exploration and partnership of development within the context of an exchange program.
“This typically means that Christian pilgrimage has been redesigned to function as a collaborative effort where the Commission and various authorities of host nations work together to achieve shared development goals through structured knowledge exchange, resource-relevant personal competence,” Adegbite said.
The NCPC executive secretary said that Christian pilgrimage provide participants opportunities to interact with individuals from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
“Pilgrimage participations shapes individual social interaction and motive of interest to code of conduct, perspective, and overall engagement with the world.”
Adegbite said that sustained interaction that may occurs during pilgrimage help to promote intercultural communication skill and a deeper understanding of the different perspectives of the Christian faith.
“This can lead to increased empathy, tolerance, and the more global perspective of life; social integration and adaptation,” Adegbite said.
According to him, participants learn to navigate cultural and religious nuances, adapt their communication style, and build relationships with people from different social norms and values.
“I have noticed that while carrying out your assignments as Church correspondents to your various media houses, you have been able to strike a delicate balance of not destroying the Church of God while at the same time not closing your eyes to things that could have been done better,” Charles Ighele, General Superintendent,
Holy Spirit Mission (The Happy Family Nation) and chairman, BoT, ACCoN, said in a goodwill message.
Israel Kristilere, president, Christain Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CTPAN), said pilgrimage help to balance spiritual sanctity of Christians.
Kristilere, who is also the senior pastor of Shepardhill Baptist Church, was represented by Kolawole Akintunde, associate pastor.
Adeola Ogunlade, president, ACCoN, said pilgrimage is not just a journey to holy sites; but a journey of faith, reflection, and national identity.
“We strongly believe that Christian pilgrimage is both good and germane for the spiritual, moral, and national renewal of our people.”
Panelists at the conference said government should address fundamental issues facing Nigerians before sponsoring people for pilgrimage.
According to the panelists, Christians and non-Christians hoping to go on pilgrimage should take steps at meeting personal requirements like getting internatiinal pastpost among other things.
