Preach gospel with boldness, cleric admonishes Christian leaders

Bethlehem (West Bank)

 Pastor Barnabas Ejeh of King’s Dominion Church, Dadin-Kowa, Jos, has admonished Christian leaders to preach the gospel with boldness.

He also urged political leaders to be selfless and sacrificial.

Ejeh, who is one of the clergy men performing the holy pilgrimage, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bethlehem, Israel, on Saturday.

NAN reports that no fewer than 20 pastors from COCIN, Roman Catholic, ECWA and Pentecostal denominations are part of the third batch of pilgrims from Plateau.

The clergy man said that the sites visited so far had authenticated the contents of scripture, urging Christian leaders therefore, to encourage their congregations to be committed to the gospel.

``The gospel of Jesus Christ is real; it is true; it is not fake because we have seen all these things. What we have seen are exactly as they are written in the scripture.

``They should preach the gospel with all boldness without doubt in their hearts.

``These things have been authenticated by the sites that we have visited and by the time we go back and give these testimonies, it is going to strengthen their faith.’’

The cleric reminded political leaders that leadership is a call to service and as such, they should put the interest of the nation and the masses above selfish interests for the good of all.

He advised them to emulate their counterparts in Israel and other developed nations by harnessing the numerous resources endowed on Nigeria by God.

``Since we came, the light has not blinked once. There has been constant light, constant water and every thing is working well.

``Like we have seen here, the people here are proud of their country; they are proud of their holy land.

``If we have visionary leaders who will have the nation and the masses at heart and if only they can invest our resources in developing our nation, things are going to be alright.’’

He advised politicians not to see politics as a business through which to enrich themselves and their immediate families.

He further said that they should draw close to God and embrace His word in order to understand His plan for Nigeria and its people.

Ejeh also reminded the pilgrims that as Christians, they should live only by the standard of the scripture.

Making reference to 1Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 21, the clergyman warned pilgrims not to copy from the holy land anything that would pollute fellow Christians back home.

``In the holy land, we have seen certain things that do not agree with the scripture at all.

``Therefore, I admonish them to judge everything by the holy scripture because whatever that does not agree with the scripture is not a standard or model for us.

``Those who came here with a vision to be revived, to be renewed by God, eventually are going to shine as light.

``As they go back, they are going to tell the people what they have seen as a confirmation of the truth of the scripture and those whose faith have been weak will be revived,’’ he said. (NAN)