Faith
Pilgrimage: Israel to begin regular direct flights with Nigeria
Israel and Nigeria would soon begin regular direct flights, according to the Israel Minister of Tourism, Yoel Razvozov.
A press statement issued by the head of media and public relations of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Celestine Toruka, indicated that the Israeli minister disclosed this recently in Jerusalem during a meeting with the Commission’s executive secretary, Rev. Yakubu Pam.
Razvozov said the initial plan was to operate only charter flights between both countries, “but the major focus now is to operationalise regular direct flights between the two countries.”
He noted that Nigeria’s current population of 206 million stands the country at an advantaged position, adding that Christians constituted about 50 per cent of the Nigeria’s population; “hence the country has a reasonable number of intending pilgrims she can boast of.”
According to him, the direct regular flights by a Nigerian airline to Israel will certainly galvanise intending pilgrims from Nigeria to fly often to the Holy Sites in Israel and even boost their financial strength.
Razvozov, however, said he was not sure whether the regular direct flights would operate from Lagos or from Abuja even as he gave the assurance that “this will be sorted out as events unfold.”
He highlighted that thousands of pastors receive monthly salaries of less than N60,000, challenging the widespread belief that pastoring is a lucrative profession in the country.
Odoma shared his observations on his official X page, emphasising that the public’s perception is skewed by the visibility of prominent Pentecostal pastors and denominations.
He expressed his frustration with this misconception, pointing out that the financial struggles of most pastors go unnoticed.
“At least, 70% of pastors in Nigeria are poor. And that’s me being conservative,” Odoma wrote.
He continued, “Many people think that the popular Pentecostal MoGs (Men of God) and denominations are representative of reality. No. They are not. Do you know how much pastors of QIC, EYN, ECWA, NKST, UEC, COCIN, etc., are paid monthly? You won’t believe it if I told you.”
“There are thousands, you heard right, thousands of pastors who are paid less than 60,000 Naira monthly.
“Sometimes, when a pastor is posted to a new station, the station renegotiates his salary downwards, like: “Sir, we know you’re on 60k, based on the church’s payment schedule, but our assembly is struggling financially, so what we can afford is 35k monthly.”
“I know a case where a pastor refused the reduced offer, and he was replaced by a more ‘understanding’ pastor, while he was told to go home, till there was a church open and willing to pay him his due rate. He ended up waiting a full year before he was posted again. Man had to return to his village for a year.
“I happen to know something about how church denominations, the majority of them, operate. Most protestant churches in Nigeria are not Pentecostal, and even Pentecostalism (which has now become popular) does not pay huge salaries. Or tell, on average, what is the monthly salary of a senior Pastor in a Pentecostal church in Nigeria?
“I am tired of hearing that “pastoring is a lucrative business in Nigeria.” Even as a generalization, it is not true, because the overwhelming majority of our pastors are poor.
“I could say more, but for now, I won’t… my phone battery is low, because a town hall different…”
SEE THE POST BELOW:
At least, 70% of pastors in Nigeria are poor. And, that’s me being conservative.
Many people think that the popular Pentecostal MoGs and denominations are representative of reality. No. They are not. Do you know how much pastors of QIC, EYN, ECWA, NKST, UEC, COCIN, etc, are paid…
— Gideon Odoma (@gideonodoma) June 4, 2024
(Nigerian Tribune)
Pastor Jerry Eze, the founder of Streams of Joy International Ministry and convener of NSPPD movement, has brought tears of joy to the eyes of some of his devoted church members.
The clergyman has sparked reactions online after gifting his singers 6 cars with many commending the gesture.
In a clip which surfaced online, six members of his worship team in the NSPPD movement were rewarded with new cars.
The cars were parked under a tree and their documents neatly kept in brown envelopes and placed on each of the cars.
The people who were gifted the automobile were so happy that they showed their appreciation.
The singers were seen shedding tears of joy after they were handed the keys to the brnad new cars in the church’s compound.
The action of Pastor Jerry Eze has attracted diverse reactions from social media users and Christians from different places.
Watch Video below:
Veronica Anyim, the lady accused of lying after testifying about being a “BSc graduate of law” from the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN on Monday, met the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Center, Dr Paul Enenche and his wife, Becky Enenche.
Anyim, who claimed during a Sunday live service that she graduated from NOUN after ten years of studying Law, was accused by Pastor Enenche of lying.
A video clip making the rounds on social media revealed how the senior pastor interrupted her testimony, saying she lied by claiming she had a BSc in law.
The Internet has been flooded with reactions from concerned Nigerians who asked the pastor to tender apology to Vera.
The church has since apologized, saying the development was not intentional.
Shortly after the apology emerged, Vera took to her Facebook page to share photos of herself, Pastor Enenche and his wife.
Vera said she has no grudges against the pastor and the church, stressing that she remains committed to “serving God as a member of Dunamis church”.
The post reads, “I want to inform the whole world that I just had a warm meeting with my spiritual father and mother dr Paul Enenche and dr Becky Enenche.
“I don’t have any grudge against the church or them I remain committed to serving God as a member of Dunamis church.
“I am thankful for the concern of the public. I have put the situation at my back and I have moved forward and I want everybody to do the same. Peace.”
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