Dedication of the Baptism Center

On our recent voyage to Jordan, Fred and I had the opportunity to attend the Jordan Baptism Center Dedication. For a report of the event and pictures, see below.

"Christian Telegraph reports, "An estimated 1,700 persons attended the dedication and opening ceremony and more than 120 people were baptized in the Jordan River at a new Baptism Center on Friday, March 20, by pastors from the Jordan Baptist Convention, reports Michael Ireland, chief correspondent, ASSIST News Service.
The baptism was the culmination of an afternoon of celebration in which the Baptism Center at Bethany beyond Jordan was dedicated for use by Baptists and other evangelical Christians.
Baptist World Alliance (BWA) General Secretary Neville Callam, who gave the main address, said, "Today, as we assemble by the Jordan… we unite to mark the opening and dedication of this Baptism Center – a place where people from all parts of the world may assemble for a journey and an experience."

Associated Press, "One of several new churches being built along the Jordan River where Christian pilgrims have long believed Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the centre is intended to cater to Christian traditions that practice believers' baptism by immersion.
BWA General Secretary Neville Callam, in the day's major address, called the centre "a place where people from all parts of the world may assemble for a journey and an experience." He expressed the hope that "the waters of the Jordan extinguish the crippling fires of hopelessness that burn in the hearts of those who have no knowledge of God."
Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life and pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, sent a congratulatory letter saying he could not attend the dedication ceremony but plans to make a pilgrimage there when he next visits the Middle East in 2010.
Also participating in the event were Imad Maayah, a Baptist and former member of the Jordanian Parliament; Toma Magda and Tony Peck, President and General Secretary of the European Baptist Federation and Nabeeh Abbassi, former president of the Jordan Baptist Convention and chief organizer of the dedication and opening.
Jordan is about 92 percent Muslim, but relations between Muslims and a Christian minority, estimated at 6 percent, are generally good. While Islam is the state religion and proselytization of Muslims and conversions from Islam are prohibited, the Jordanian Constitution promises religious freedom as long as rites do not violate public order or morality and recognize several Christian denominations."




Prince Ghazi

Tony Blair

The Orchestra

Before the Ceremony

Ruba, one of our ministry partners with AWT

We're home!

What a ministry trip we had in Amman, Jordan! Our conferences went so well, we can do nothing but thank God for all the answers to prayer, for all the many ways every aspect of our time was covered, protected and God-led. We are grateful!

We were blessed with good health, rest and safety. God wonderfully protected us in every way! Crossing the border between Jordan and Israel is very difficult, yet we passed through safely. International travel can be exhausting, yet each day we awoke rested and ready to go! Our flight connections were smooth and stress-free. What a blessing that was!

We asked that God would raise up visionary leaders to work alongside GRM: we have deepened our relationship with Arab Woman Today, especially our friend Ruba, a visionary leader. She and I look forward to developing more ministries together in the future. She would love for us to come back soon!

We also had a two-day side trip to Nazareth to visit the family of one of our good friends with Christar, which was also a special treat. To walk where Jesus walked in both these countries is such a privilege and thrill. I am always struck by how quickly time goes by when I am there. Two thousand years is nothing in light of eternity, and here we were, teaching God’s Word near where Christ was teaching not so long ago.

Photos and more will be coming shortly so be sure to come back and visit again soon!

Quick update from Jordan

It has been a busy week!

We are now getting a 5 hour breather and then off we go again tomorrow.

Things have gone really well in our first days here! We teach again tomorrow night and then all day Friday, plus lots of individual meetings.

It's been cold in Amman and hot in Nazareth, where we were yesterday and today.

Thanks everyone for your encouragement.

God is changing lives and answering prayers!