Kingdom of Jordan Gives ELCJHL 5 Dunums of Land on the Baptism Site This 6 th century mosaic from a Madaba church shows the Baptism site on the Jordanian side of the Jordan. Pictured here is the Jordan River flowing into the Dead Sea, with the West Bank of Palestine on the bottom and Jordan on the top.

“Bethany Beyond the Jordan” is acres of wilderness, ruins and planned new sites.

Archbishop Jukka Paarma of the Lutheran Church in Finland came with his delegation to help Bishop Younan consecrate the site. Here, they look at the map that identifies their site.

His Excellency Prince Ghazi bin Mohammed, King Abdullah’s advisor on church affairs and the driver behind the Baptismal site initiative, led the group to the site

The group walks to the Lutheran site, with the new Coptic Church in the ackground.

Bishop Younan blesses the land given by His Excellency Prince Ghazi, and Finnish Archbishop Paarma says closing prayer.

The group went on to see the archeological ruins, here the pool where John the Baptist was baptizing.

These pools have been built where all are welcome to come and be baptized.

His Excellency Prince Ghazi has been the driving force in developing this site. He is an Islamic scholar who is very well-read in Christian history and scripture.

Where will this lead? Because they want the sites to be developed, churches have two years to build a structure before they will rescind the offer and try to find other churches that will build. For more information, see