A m m a n - Near Bethany in the officially Muslim country of Jordan a Christian baptismal site has been dedicated. It marks the location where according to the Bible Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. The centre is open to all Christian communities which practice believer’s (adult) baptism through immersion. Highlight of the dedication festivities was the mass baptism of 120 Jordanian Baptists. Featured speaker for the event was former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who established the Tony-Blair-Foundation following his departure from politics. He stressed religious liberty as a means for making the peaceful co-existence of the peoples of the Near East possible. He thanked in particular Jordanian King Abdullah II as well as his Personal Envoy and Special Advisor Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad for their courage in permitting such a centre to be erected in their country. Addressing the various world religions, Blair appealed to them to refrain from stressing the divisive, but rather that which they hold in common: ‘Don't argue about your differences, but understand what you share and fulfil a common purpose blessed by God.’ Blair pointed to Moses, Jesus and Mohammed – all three were concerned about a living relationship with God. He stated: ‘When Jesus opened our eyes to the true will of God, he renewed the idea of faith not as legalistic ritual, but as love - love of God and love of our neighbour as our self.’ Blair was enthusiastic about the Baptism Site. He called it ‘not a place of archaeology - it is a place for renewal.’ He called on the more than 2.000 visitors to continually renew their faith in God.

Neville Callam (Falls Church near Washington), General-Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), expressed the hope that the Baptism Site might become a centre for people from throughout the globe to encounter each other. Another speaker expressed the desire that “the waters of the Jordan might help quench the fire of despair burning in the hearts of those who do not know God”. BWA-President David Coffey (Didcot/Great Britain) brought greetings from former US-Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, both of whom are Baptists, as well as from best-selling Baptist author Rick Warren (Lake Forest/California). King Abdullah II had consented to construction of the site during the BWA-President’s visit to Jordan in September 2007.

In a conversation with European Baptist Press Service, European Baptist Federation’s General-Secretary, Tony Peck, expressed confidence that the mass baptism and ‘public confession of faith in the full glare of the media will reflect our prayer that this event might result in a more public recognition of Baptists and other evangelicals in Jordan and the Middle East. Baptists are showing that they can live as responsible members of Middle-Eastern societies, bearing witness to their faith in Christ with clear conviction, but also with courtesy and sensitivity.’ Official overseer of the site is an association chaired by Prince Ghazi. Jordan has 20 Baptist congregations with a membership of 1.200. Five Near Eastern countries have Baptist churches; they total 83 congregations and 5.400 members.

As a prelude to the event, BWA-representatives met with numerous Muslims in order to discuss a response to the initiative of 138 Muslim scholars and intellectuals supporting more intense cooperation between Christians and Muslims. Baptists had also officially lauded the effort. Prince Ghazi is regarded as the architect of this Muslim initiative. Tony Peck added: ‘This is another hopeful sign that Baptists can engage with the realities of life in the Middle East while encouraging and supporting the churches there in the challenges they face.’