“Jordan belongs to the LORD!”
Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.(Psalm 82:8,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 is known as the “country of refugees,” as it hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the Middle East. In the late 19th century, Muslim refugees from the Caucasus region fled the Russo-Ottoman War and settled in what is now Jordan, forming the foundation of the capital city, Amman. In the 20th century, the large-scale influx of refugees began with the Palestinian conflict. About 700,000 Palestinian refugees crossed into Jordan during the First Arab-Israeli War in 1948, and over 300,000 more followed after the Third Arab-Israeli War in 1967. Many of them took root in Jordanian society, and some were granted citizenship, eventually making up a significant portion of the country’s population. More recently, the Syrian civil war has brought approximately 1.3 million Syrian refugees into Jordan. Most of them live in refugee camps such as Zaatari and Azraq in the northern region. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of refugees from Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, and other countries have also arrived. Although the Jordanian government has accepted these refugees for humanitarian reasons, most have not been granted citizenship. As a result, they live unstable lives with limited employment opportunities and face significant challenges in accessing basic services such as education, healthcare, housing, and clean water.
》 Scripture Focus
| Psalm 82:1–8(NIV) 1 God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods.” 2 “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. 5 The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ 7 But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” 8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Jordan has long been a place of refuge. Since the Gulf War in 1991, waves of refugees from various nationalities have entered the country due to regional wars and civil conflicts. Today, refugees and foreigners make up about 58% of the population. With international aid now decreasing, the refugee crisis has become a major social issue. The greatest challenge for refugees is both physical and spiritual poverty. Yet this very poverty is breaking down the stronghold of Islam that has stood for 1,400 years. Let us pray that the church will continue to love and serve refugees with perseverance so they may encounter the love of God who rescues the poor and the needy. May God also grant churches and mission organizations wisdom as they serve and ensure ongoing provision for refugee ministry so that the gospel may be shared effectively.
2. Missionaries preparing to serve in the Middle East often learn Arabic through language schools in Jordan before being sent to various countries. Let us pray that these language schools in Jordan and the missionaries serving in the Middle East may boldly and wisely proclaim the gospel without being discouraged, even under surveillance and the threat of punishment. Though the situation is not easy for evangelism, Christian satellite TV and radio ministries are proving to be very effective tools locally. In particular, Jordan is home to many refugees from different countries, opening a significant opportunity to share the gospel with them. These refugees, having experienced deep wounds, disillusionment, and despair due to war and Islamic violence, long for true comfort and hope. Let us pray that through appropriate media and diverse ministries suited to the local context, the gospel of the cross may be proclaimed to unreached Muslims and refugees—so that all nations may declare that they belong to the Lord.
3. Of the 21 ethnic groups in Jordan, 14 are considered unreached and have never heard the gospel. Among the 1.4 million Bedouins—many of whom still live as nomads—only a small number are believers. The gospel also needs to reach other marginalized and impoverished minorities such as the Dom Gypsies, Kabardians, Adyghes, Druze, and Chechens. Let us pray that the church will boldly proclaim the gospel with unwavering zeal despite government surveillance and opposition. May the Lord reveal Himself through dreams and visions. Let us also pray that these minority groups will rise as a victorious church under God’s judgment and come to enjoy the inheritance and authority given to the children of the Most High.
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