Jordan

In June 2008 archaeologists claimed to have found the remains of the oldest church building, dated 33-70 A.D., in Rihab, northern Jordan, suggesting that this might have been a meeting place of Jesus’ first followers. Nothing has been proven as yet, but whether this is true or not, Jordan is indeed a place where Jesus and His disciples walked, a place that also knew Old Testament characters such as Abraham, Lot, Moses and Elijah.

Mount Nebo, Jordan

Yet today Jordan’s Biblical heritage is more of a tourist attraction than an indication of a vibrant and growing Christian community. Although Christians have been able to reach senior positions in society, the percentage of Christians is declining steeply and they now number less than 3% of the population. The Church in Jordan has been watching its Government’s actions over the last year with growing concern. In 2007 and 2008 around 30 foreign Christian workers, all of them long-time residents for ten or more years, were deported, denied re-entry or refused renewal of residency. Most of them were not given any reason for their deportation, but later the Government admitted that it was because of their preaching and missionary activities.

While Christian communities are tolerated in the country, sharing one’s faith with a Muslim is prohibited, and Christian converts from Islam are often socially ostracised and lose their civil rights. Mohammad Abbad, a 40-year-old Jordanian Christian convert, was beaten by members of his family after he and his wife sheltered in their home two converts who were receiving death threats from their relatives. Soon after the incident, Mohammad’s father reported him to the police and sought custody for his two children. On 22 April a shari‘a court declared Mohammad guilty of apostasy and annulled his marriage. He fled the country with his wife and children.