By YOSSI ALONI, ISRAEL TODAY—
Nigerian church and government officials last week came to Israel bearing a large financial gift for Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency medical organization (the local equivalent of the Red Cross).
The Nigerian Redeemed Christian Church of God had previously donated a new ambulance to the MDA station in Jerusalem. The Nigerian church has more than 40 million members who love the Jewish state, and works regularly on behalf of the MDA and its efforts to save lives in Israel.
Last week’s donation ceremony was held at the Dan Jerusalem Hotel, and attended by many Christian pilgrims and senior church officials, as well as the Nigerian ambassador.
Shlomo Petrover, the district head of MDA, told the honored guests: “The ambulance you previously provided has been in service for four years and answered more than 6,000 calls. With this donation we will put another ambulance in service that we hope will save even more lives than the first. We want to thank the Redeemed Christian Church of God for its friendship, which continues to flourish and help us save lives.”
Pastor Enoch Adboyah, the head of the Nigerian church, responded: “We love all of Israel, and Jerusalem in particular is a place where our Messiah taught and spent much time, and we consider it home. We want to thank all the members of MDA, God bless you and your holy work of saving lives in the Holy Land.”
An associate pastor added that much of Africa sees Israel and the MDA as an example of how to provide emergency and medical services to local citizens, and Nigeria’s Christians are proud of the partnership they have with the Jewish state.