“Jordan, your hard service has been completed and your sin has been paid for!”
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.(Isaiah 40:2,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Middle East
Population | 11 million
Area | 89,342㎢ (about 0.9 times the size of South Korea), located on the Arabian Peninsula and bordering Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
Capital City | Amman (2.21 million)
People Groups | Total 20 groups: Jordanians 42%, Palestinians 28%, Bedouins 13.6%, Syrians 6.2%, Iraqis 4%, Others 2.6%
Unreached People Groups | 13 (93.2% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Arabic, English
Total Languages | 17
Bible Translations | Completed 8, New Testament 3, Partial 6
Religion | Christianity 2.3% (Protestant 0.3%, Orthodox 1.4%), Islam 96.3%, Non-religious 0.9%
Evangelicals | 0.3% (30,000 people)
》 About Jordan
Jordan used to be the land of Edom, Moab, and Ammon. In the 1500s, it became part of the Ottoman Empire. From 1916, it was under British control until it became independent in 1946 and became a kingdom. In the 1967 Six-Day War, Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem to Israel. Jordan is a constitutional monarchy, which is a system of governement where a monarch, such as a king or a queen, is the head of state, but their powers are limited by a constitution. King Abdullah II has been king since 1999. In 2017, he made some political changes, giving more power to local governors and councils. Bisher Al-Khasawneh was chosen by the king to be prime minister in 2020. One of Jordan’s biggest problems is the large number of refugees from nearby countries.
Jordan’s economy is weak because it doesn’t have much water, oil, or natural resources. It depends a lot on foreign aid to support its people. Jordan imports almost all of its energy, like natural gas, and this makes up 25–30% of its total imports. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused big problems for important industries like mining, medicine exports, and tourism. Many businesses closed, and unemployment skyrocketed. Because of this, poverty got worse. Also, money sent home from Jordanians working abroad (which is about 10% of Jordan’s economy) went down. Jordan’s GDP per capita is approximately $9,800.
》 Scripture Focus
| Isaiah 40:1-2, 9-11, 26(NIV) 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. 26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Jordan is considered more of a “moderate, secular Muslim” country compared to other Islamic nations in the Middle East. While it officially allows religious freedom, evangelism and conversion from Islam are strictly forbidden. Foreigners who violate religious laws can be deported. Christians who convert from Islam often face intense pressure from their families and communities, losing custody of their children, property rights, and in extreme cases, may even become victims of honor killings. Due to government restrictions and persecution, many Christians have chosen to emigrate, and the church overall has declined in number. However, evangelical churches continue to grow at an encouraging annual rate of 3.3%. Jordan plays a central role in Middle East missions, and how it handles religious freedom greatly impacts the spread of the gospel in the region. Let us pray that Jordan would allow freedom to share the Christian faith and the good news of the gospel, and that any movement to enforce radical Islam would be stopped by the Lord’s mighty hand. Let us pray that Jordan would become a channel through which all Arab nations are led to God, our Shepherd.
2. Let us pray for the church in Jordan. The number of Christians who have converted from Islam is increasing, and there are also believers who have come to Jordan with the mission of spreading the gospel. May they be upheld by God’s grace, not lose heart, keep their faith, and boldly carry out their mission. Churches in Jordan maintain relatively strong cooperation and unity. However, only about 10% of Christians are actively engaging in meaningful outreach to Muslims. Pastors and leaders trained through institutions such as the Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary (JETS) are serving churches and Bible study groups. Fruitful ministry has also been seen over the years in youth outreach, Christian bookstores, and campus ministries. Let us pray that the church in Jordan would be filled with the Father’s heart for Muslims, and that new disciples would rise up to boldly proclaim the gospel throughout the cities of Jordan.
3. For Muslim-background believers, one of the most effective mission strategies is lay missionaries reaching out through business and professional work. Many missionaries preparing to serve in the Middle East first study Arabic at language schools in Jordan before moving to other countries. Let us pray for these language schools and Middle East missionaries—that even under surveillance and the risk of punishment, they would not shrink back, but remain bold and wise in sharing the gospel. In places where direct evangelism is difficult, Christian satellite TV and radio ministries have proven to be very effective. Let us also pray that the gospel would reach those who have never heard it through locally appropriate media, and that many would respond, rising up as believers who recognize and follow the voice of truth, like sheep following the Good Shepherd.
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