Discover
The identity of the nation
Jordan occupies a singular place in the biblical narrative and the history of faith. It is the land where John baptized in the Jordan River, where Moses caught sight of the Promised Land from Mount Nebo, and where the prophet Elijah dwelt. A small nation of around 11 million people, Jordan is surrounded by Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia: a country at the geographic and spiritual heart of the Middle East.
The Jordanian people are predominantly Arab and Sunni Muslim, with a historic Christian minority dating back to the first century. This Christian community, about 2% of the population, includes Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Melkite Catholic believers, forming a fabric of continuous Christian presence since the apostles. Amman is home to ancient churches and monasteries that bear witness to centuries of faith.
Jordan is one of the most stable countries in the Middle East, but it faces profound challenges: Syrian and Palestinian refugees make up nearly a third of the population, straining resources and national identity. Poverty and unemployment affect significant segments of society, especially young people, while Islamic conservatism grows within the social fabric.
For the gospel, Jordan is both a door and a challenge. Converting from Islam to Christianity is legal, but socially devastating: converts face family rejection, loss of employment, and, in extreme cases, threats to their lives. Efforts to convert Muslims directly are prohibited. Even so, spiritual interest among Jordanians is real, and there are accounts of seekers who come to churches on their own, often after dreams and visions.
With 20 people groups, all of them classified as unreached or having very limited access to the gospel, Jordan is a fertile and sensitive field. The Jordanian people are hospitable, honor relationships, and hold a deep sense of dignity, values that build genuine bridges for conversations about faith when cultivated with patience and respect.
- About 250,000 years ago, human beings inhabited the territory known today as Jordan.
- 7250 BC Ain Ghazal, near Amman, is one of the largest Neolithic settlements ever discovered; its plaster statues are among the oldest human artifacts.
- 900 BC The kingdoms of Ammon, Moab, and Edom flourish in the territory; they are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament.
- 312 BC The Nabataeans establish their kingdom, with Petra as its capital, becoming masters of trade between the Mediterranean and Arabia.
- 63 BC Rome conquers the Levant; the region is incorporated into the Roman Empire, and cities such as Jerash (Gerasa) are built.
- 1st century AD John the Baptist baptizes in the Jordan River; the land is the setting for central events in the life of Jesus and the apostolic mission.
- 636 AD The Arab-Islamic conquest transforms the region; Islam becomes the dominant faith over the following centuries.
- 1099-1187 The Crusaders control part of the territory, building castles such as Karak; Saladin retakes the region in 1187.
- 1516 The Ottoman Empire absorbs the territory, which remains under Turkish rule for four centuries.
- 1916 The Great Arab Revolt, led by Sharif Hussein of Mecca with British support, seeks Arab independence.
- 1921 The British establish the Emirate of Transjordan under Prince Abdullah I; the formation of the modern state begins.
- 1946 Full independence: the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is born.
- 1948-1950 After the Arab-Israeli war, Jordan annexes the West Bank and takes in hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees.
- 1967 In the Six-Day War, Israel occupies the West Bank and East Jerusalem; Jordan loses territory.
- 1994 Jordan and Israel sign the Wadi Araba Peace Treaty, normalizing relations.
- 1999 King Hussein dies after a 46-year reign; Abdullah II ascends to the throne.
- Today Jordan hosts more than 650,000 registered Syrian refugees, maintains relative stability, and seeks balance between modernity and growing Islamic conservatism.
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ArabicThe official language, spoken by the whole population; the Jordanian dialect has its own distinctive features
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EnglishWidely taught in schools and spoken in business and tourist contexts
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ArmenianSpoken by a small Armenian community established in the country
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CircassianSpoken by descendants of immigrants from the Caucasus, who make up about 1% of the population
Jordan is a country of striking geographic contrasts within a territory of just 89,000 square kilometers. To the west, the Jordan Valley descends to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the Earth's surface, 430 meters below sea level. To the east and south, the Arabian Desert covers more than 80% of the territory. In the north-central region, the Highlands Plateau concentrates the main cities and most of the population. To the south lies the spectacular desert of Wadi Rum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the country's only coastline, at Aqaba on the Red Sea.
Major cities
- AmmanCapital and largest city, with 4 million inhabitants; the political, economic, and cultural center
- ZarqaSecond-largest city; an industrial hub north of Amman
- IrbidThird-largest city, in the north; an important university center
- AqabaThe country's only seaport, on the Red Sea; a diving tourism destination
- MadabaKnown for its Byzantine mosaics; important for Christian tourism
- KarakHistoric city in the south, famous for its Crusader castle
Climate and temperature
Mansaf
Jordan's national dish: lamb cooked in a fermented yogurt sauce (jameed), served over spiced rice.
Maqluba
An "upside-down" rice dish: layers of rice, vegetables, and meat cooked together and flipped onto the plate.
Falafel
Fried balls of seasoned chickpeas, served with taboon bread, tomato, and tahini sauce.
Musakhan
Roasted chicken with sumac, onion, and olive oil over taboon bread; a typical dish from the north.
Zarb
Lamb and chicken with vegetables, slow-cooked in an underground Bedouin oven.
Shrak
Thin, crispy bread of Bedouin origin, baked on an iron griddle (saj); the base of many meals.
Knafeh
A dessert of white cheese topped with crispy pastry, sugar syrup, and pistachio; a Levantine heritage.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Hospitality as a sacred value
Jordanians regard welcoming a guest as a moral and religious duty; accepting coffee, tea, or food is an essential gesture of respect.
Family honor and collectivity
Individual decisions are strongly shaped by family and clan; collective honor carries immense weight in social relationships.
Islam as social structure
More than a personal religion, Islam organizes time (calls to prayer), the calendar (Ramadan), and social relationships; adapting to these rhythms is a sign of respect.
Bedouin heritage
Even in cities, many Jordanians value Bedouin ideals: generosity, courage, loyalty to the clan, and love of the desert.
Relationship before business
Long conversations, shared tea, and questions about family precede any practical matter; rushing relationships is frowned upon.
Historic Christian presence
Jordan's Christian community has apostolic roots and is a constitutive part of national identity; it is treated with general respect, especially in traditional settings.
- Rushing conversations and relationships Jordanians value time and courtesy; getting straight to business without building the relationship is considered impolite.
- Touching unfamiliar women A handshake between genders should only happen if the woman offers first; physical greetings are reserved for the same gender.
- Eating or drinking in public during Ramadan This is offensive to most of the population; during the day, meals in public settings should be taken in enclosed places.
- Discussing religion confrontationally Questioning Islam or talking about religious conversion can create delicate and even dangerous situations; relational and respectful approaches are essential.
- Photographing people without permission Especially women and traditional communities; always ask first.
- Dressing inappropriately Shoulders and knees should be covered at religious sites and in conservative areas; bikinis are accepted only at hotel pools.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
The Islamic faith is intertwined with national and family identity; questioning or changing religion is seen as cultural betrayal, not merely spiritual.
Those who embrace the gospel face severe family rejection and can lose home, job, and emotional bonds; fear holds many seekers back.
Islamic political influence is growing, especially after regional conflicts; space for public Christian expression is progressively shrinking.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Iraqi refugees live in camps and on the outskirts without prospects, vulnerable to despair and radicalization.
The resurgence of Islam as a political project increases pressure on religious minorities and imposes barriers to the free exercise of faith.
Divination practices, the use of amulets (such as the evil eye), and consulting fortune tellers coexist with formal Islamic devotion in many families.
More than 16% youth unemployment fuels frustration, emigration, and ideological vulnerability.
The perception that Christianity is a Western religion creates cultural barriers that hinder the reception of the gospel message.
Loyalty to the clan often outweighs the pursuit of truth; spiritual decisions are collective rather than individual, making conversion socially costly.
Islamic fatalism ("God willing") can make it difficult to embrace faith in a God who acts, hears prayers, and transforms lives.
Jordan holds an intermediate position on the world persecution list, scoring 65 out of 100 according to Open Doors 2026. The country follows an official policy of religious tolerance, and most historic Christians, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and traditional Protestants, live with relative freedom to practice their faith within churches.
However, the reality for converts from Islam to Christianity is radically different. Although conversion is not technically illegal, personal status law, based on sharia, along with social pressure, makes life extremely difficult for former Muslims who convert. Family is the main source of persecution: isolation, beatings, loss of inheritance, forced divorce, and death threats are documented realities. Women converts are especially vulnerable.
The government monitors churches that carry out evangelism and may pressure pastors to limit their activities. Unregistered churches, especially those that welcome former Muslims, operate with caution. The Islamist party’s victory in the 2024 parliamentary elections and growing social conservatism linked to the conflict in Gaza have increased pressure on Christians and converts. Even so, there are reports of Jordanians who seek out the faith spontaneously, moved by dreams, online searches, and relational contacts, showing that the Spirit of God works beyond visible boundaries.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Jordan has 20 people groups, and all of them are classified as unreached or with very limited access to the gospel. The overwhelming majority of the population, about 93%, belongs to people groups with no effective access to the gospel. Sunni Jordanian Arabs form the largest group, but there are also communities of Palestinians, Circassians, Armenians, Bedouins, and Syrian and Iraqi refugees, each with distinct spiritual and social dynamics. With only 0.3% evangelicals and 2.2% Christians overall, Jordan is one of the countries with the smallest proportional Christian presence in the world, making it one of the greatest priorities of the missionary heart.
- 10.7M Unreached 93%
- 712K Minimally reached 6,2%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 75K Partially reached 0,7%
- 10K Significantly reached 0,1%
- 20 Unreached 76,9%
- 1 Minimally reached 3,8%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 4 Partially reached 15,4%
- 1 Significantly reached 3,8%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Kurmanji Kurds Frontier
Bengali Muslim
Árabe Sírio
Árabe Egípcio Muçulmano
Central Kurdish Frontier
Árabe Palestino
Árabe Iraquiano do Norte
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
varies between Amman and the countryside
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn a few words in Arabic: "Shukran" (thank you) and "Marhaba" (hello) open many doors with the Jordanian people.
- The currency is the Jordanian dinar (JOD): exchanging money at local exchange offices is better than at airports.
- Respect Ramadan hours: eating, drinking, or smoking in public during the day is offensive; restaurants close or operate partially.
- The Jordan Pass is highly recommended: it includes Petra and other sites, saving a considerable amount overall.
- Transport between cities: buses are cheap but irregular; taxis and ride-hailing cars are safe in Amman.
- Amman has neighborhoods with nightlife and Western restaurants; in the countryside the social code is more conservative: adjust your dress to the context.
- The Dead Sea requires care: don't get water in your eyes; cuts and wounds sting badly; floating is unavoidable.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.