Why I Visited Medinah and Mecca By Prophet Israel Oladele Ogundipe, Shepherd in Charge, Genesis Global.

I have just returned from a deeply reflective journey to Medinah and Mecca, two places that hold immense spiritual and historical significance for billions of people across the world. This visit was not about religious conversion, competition, or comparison. It was a journey of understanding, humility, heritage, and humanity.

As a little boy, my upbringing was shaped by love, prayer, and faith. My mother, a devoted Muslim woman, consistently prayed over my life. One of her heartfelt prayers was that, when I grew up, God would grant me the grace to visit the Holy Land. At the time, I did not fully understand the weight of that prayer—but God did. Decades later, I stood in Medinah and Mecca, and in that moment I realized that prayers, when sincere, transcend time, denomination, and human limitations.

My visit to Medinah was filled with calmness, order, and a sense of deep reverence. It is a city that teaches discipline, patience, and community. Mecca, on the other hand, humbles the soul. Watching millions of people from different races, languages, and cultures moving in unity was a powerful reminder that before we are labeled by religion, tribe, or nationality, we are first human beings created by God.

I chose to go because exposure brings understanding, and understanding births peace. Ignorance fuels hatred, but knowledge dissolves it. There is a necessity in today’s divided world for leaders—especially spiritual leaders—to see beyond the walls of their own doctrines. Visiting sacred places outside one’s immediate faith tradition does not weaken belief; it strengthens wisdom.

This journey reinforced a truth I have always believed and taught: humanity comes before religion. In heaven, there will be no signboards that say “Christian section” or “Muslim section.” There is no religion in heaven—only relationship with God and accountability for how we loved, lived, and treated others.

I observed the discipline, devotion, and order of worshippers. I also saw systems that work, structures that preserve sacredness, and a collective respect for holy things. These are lessons every society and faith community can learn from, without discrimination.

My visit was not to debate theology, but to broaden perspective. God is too big to be boxed into human arguments. When we travel, we learn. When we observe, we grow. When we respect others, we reflect God.

I returned with a deeper appreciation for coexistence, peace, and the shared values that bind humanity together—faith, sacrifice, obedience, love, and hope. My prayer is that more people will seek understanding rather than conflict, exposure rather than isolation, and love rather than fear.

May we all remember: before religion, there is humanity; and above all, there is God.