The WEA Secretary General Rev. Adv. Botrus Mansour returned to his Nazareth home on Monday after a world tour that included North America, an International Committee meeting in London, and attending the centennial of organized evangelical ministry in Jordan. Mansour, along with Rev. Dr. Jack Sara, head of the WEA’s MENA alliance, held a courtesy call with Jordanian Prince, Ghazi bin Muhammad, the religious affairs advisor to King Abdullah II, and the head of the Baptismal committee.
The centennial event organized by the Jordan Baptist Convention featured the publication of the second edition of the biography of Rev. Roy Whitman, an American missionary to Jordan and Palestine, which documents the beginnings of organized evangelical ministry in Jordan.
Rev. Mansour, who was also honored in a special event the following day, May 30th, by the Jordan Evangelical Alliance, explained, in Arabic, to the Jordanian audience how evangelicals work and what the evangelical movement is all about.
He reiterated to the Jordanian audience that the Evangelical movement’s impact grows when churches act as partners rather than competitors, thereby reinforcing a spirit of unity through practical service to society. “This centennial should renew commitment to education, healthcare, relief, and social programs that reflect gospel values in action, within a framework of religious liberty and civic harmony, and urge ongoing dialogue with civil society and the state to safeguard freedom of conscience and the right to worship freely across Jordan. (see translation of the full speech of Rev. Mansour here).
Secretary General Rev. Botrus Mansour praised the wise leadership of King Abdullah of Jordan and made a special request- noted the remarkable occasion represented by the upcoming celebrations marking the bicentenary of the baptism of the Lord Jesus in the Jordan River—specifically at Baptismal site. Mansour affirmed WEA’s “readiness to contribute to encouraging Evangelical Christian pilgrimage to Jordan.” He also commended the Royal engagement and the significant attention it received.
Rev Mansour called for more cooperation between Arab leaders and evangelicals. “I call on Arab leaders in general—and the Hashemite leadership in particular—to seize the opportunity presented by the presence of a Palestinian Evangelical figure in this position to build bridges with the vast, global Evangelical Church, whose influence is growing day by day.” This year, the World Evangelical Alliance celebrates its 180th anniversary, and its work remains anchored in voluntary cooperation among churches with shared faith.
The centennial highlighted evangelical outreach, education, healthcare, and humanitarian relief carried out by Jordanian evangelical communities in partnership with local churches and international partners. The event, presented through videos, speeches, and testimonials, underscored the strong presence of Jordan’s evangelical community, which coincided with the birth of the nation.
A documentary titled “A Glimpse” traced the journey of the Evangelical movement in Jordan, illustrating the century-long story of dedication, faith, and service. Leaders emphasized that evangelical work in Jordan has prospered through peaceful cooperation with the state and civil society, preserving religious liberty and social contribution even amidst regional challenges, and the gathering featured testimonies from national church leaders.
Rev. Nabeeh Abbasi, head of the Jordanian Baptist Church, reflected: “We celebrate this 100-year milestone as a testament to seeds sown through faith, prayer, and sacrifice, bearing fruit across generations.”
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