Jordan Engages Evangelical Leaders to Enhance Christian Pilgrimage Initiatives
(Photo: Jordan Ministry of Tourism)
In a strategic move to foster religious tourism, Jordan’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Imad Hijazeen, recently convened with prominent evangelical figures to discuss enhancing Christian pilgrimage activities in the country. The discussions, held on January 19 in Amman, are part of Jordan’s broader efforts to commemorate significant events in Christian history.
The meeting highlighted the collaboration with various global evangelical organizations to boost tourism, particularly in anticipation of the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus Christ’s baptism in 2030. Key Christian sites, including Bethany Beyond the Jordan, are currently under accelerated development, as noted in a report by Christian Daily International.
The delegation from the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), which included Secretary General Rev. Botrus Mansour, Rev. Nabeeh Abbasi, and Rev. Jack Sara, engaged in discussions to strengthen Christian pilgrimage efforts in light of the upcoming millennial celebration.
The Ministry of Tourism emphasized its dedication to advancing religious tourism as part of a comprehensive plan to enhance Jordan’s tourism profile. Hijazeen underscored the importance of this sector in the country’s economic strategy.
Rev. Mansour expressed enthusiasm about the collaborative prospects, describing the meeting as “rich in ideas and warm in feelings,” which sets the stage for future partnerships, including potential evangelical delegations and investment opportunities in Christian tourism.
The WEA’s secretary general, a resident of Nazareth, Israel, frequently visits Jordan and is eager to fortify connections between the evangelical community and Jordan, especially in tourism. He remarked, “I am Palestinian from Nazareth, and for me, Amman is like Ramallah but on a larger scale.”
Rev. Abbasi, representing the Baptist Convention in Jordan and serving as an honorary ambassador of the World Baptist Alliance for the Middle East, was optimistic about the meeting’s outcomes. He emphasized the historical importance of Jordan in Christianity and noted the ministerial support as a promising foundation for future collaboration.
“We discussed concrete opportunities for joint projects, conferences and organized pilgrimages,” Abbasi stated, suggesting that such initiatives not only promote faith-based tourism but also encourage cultural exchange and sustainable development.
Rev. Sara, also the secretary general of the Middle East and North Africa chapter of the WEA, mentioned the positive reception by Jordanian officials, expressing hope for continued cooperation to elevate the visibility of evangelicals.
“I was impressed with the reception we received, and I look forward to cooperation in various areas with Jordan to improve awareness of evangelicals,” he noted.
© Christian Daily International
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
