Pray for Jordan

As a land once marked with the footsteps of such men as Abraham, Job, Moses, and Jesus Christ, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is rich with biblical history. As a result, Christians consider areas of Jordan to be holy, although only two percent of the population identifies itself as followers of Christ. Muslims and Jews also believe in Jordan’s divine landscape, making the nation a crossroads of holy lands. Governed by a constitutional monarchy since 1952, Jordan uses a legal system that blends civil law with Islamic law. Islam is the official state religion, and almost 96 percent of the population is Muslim. Because it has one of the smallest economies in the region, the nation relies heavily on tourism and foreign aid to pay its bills.

Jordan faces severe economic and environmental challenges today. It is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, which makes farming and daily survival very difficult. Finding a job is also a major struggle, especially for young people and women. On top of this, Jordan hosts one of the highest refugee populations per capita in the world. Because of natural growth and waves of refugees fleeing wars in Syria and Iraq, Jordan’s population has roughly doubled over the past twenty years. This rapid growth puts a massive strain on the country, creating shortages in housing, schools, healthcare, and jobs.

Despite these heavy pressures, God is moving faithfully through local believers to share His love. Jordan’s constitution allows for religious freedom, but public evangelism is restricted by law. Yet Christian ministries stand as beacons of hope. They are actively serving thousands of refugees by providing medical care, trauma counseling, schooling, and Bibles. Media ministry is proving to be effective in this nation, specifically Christian satellite TV and radio broadcasts. Jordan’s small evangelical community has more than doubled since 1995! While many of these new converts come from cultural Christian backgrounds, an increasing number of Muslims are starting to convert. These believers face immense family rejection, legal pressures, and social pressure from their Islamic community.