Map of Plateau State use to demonstrate the report.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – The second annual Conference of Chaplains of Government Houses has opened in Jos, Plateau state.
Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in the 19 Northern States and Abuja on Thursday urged chaplains of Government House Chapels to advise politicians to link their ambitions with God so that they would be successful.
He charged them to always pray and guide their principals to do the right thing at all times.
Speaking at the second annual conference of the chaplains of government houses holding at the government house chapel, Rayfield, Jos, the cleric asked them to see themselves as prophets, guiding kings to lead well.
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Speaking on the theme: “Of the increase of His peace” and reading from the Bible Book of Isaiah 9:7, Rev. Pam noted the world is in dire need of peace, stressing, “It is not easy to remember that peace cannot just be earned, we assume that peace can come through material things, positions and recognition. The noise in the society is too much, it is good to always withdraw from the noise so it does not drown the voice of peace.”
“We need to seek God, have inner peace and this will spread to the society. Knowing very well what is going on in the country and globally, the kidnapping, Boko Haram, all sorts of crises, I think the people needed most as we approach 2023 are the Government House Chaplains who have the hearts of the kings.
“They need to be steady, matured, spiritually endowed being in the place of spiritual authority so that they will not be shaken with the happenings in the world. They will receive directly from God and when they are speaking to their Chief Executives, they will help sharpen their minds because most of the time, once confused, may speak out of fear.
“Their words matter, it either confuse the public or make the public to be calm, it is important for the Chaplains to meet because the Bible says iron sharpens iron. They are like the prophets of the old who stood very close to the kings that the king can consult, the king does not speak until he hears from them.”
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Also, the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong called on the Chaplains to see their offices as divine mandate to speak truth to the society and in particular to those in power, urging them to be mindful that their responsibility needs to be exercised with utmost caution and sincerity as the situation where some religious leaders have resorted to propagation of hate speech and spread of fake information does not augur well for the peace and unity of the country
Represented by the State Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Governor stressed “Religious leaders cannot afford to politicize the pulpit and make it a platform for attacks which end up weakening the Church and bringing the Body of Christ to disrepute.
“The clergy particularly those of you who serve as Chaplains in Government Houses must shun sycophancy and the attempt to bury the truth for monetary or other gains. This type of behaviour ends up putting the society in more danger because those in leadership positions are denied the truth that is needed to guide them in serving the people.”
Goodwill messages were received from participants including the State CAN Chairman, Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo who also charged the Chaplains to lead their principals to have genuine encounter with God.
