Julie Rowe
Over 150 international companions from around the world and local Christians gathered for the dedication of the new Evangelical Lutheran Church at Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan, built on the Jordan side of the river, said to be the site of where John the Baptist baptized Jesus and crowds of others. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan gave land to 7 churches, including the ELCA’s companion the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, to build pilgrimage sites around the baptismal sites.
Rev. Rolf Pearson and his wife Kerstin were installed as aretakers of the new site. He will be developing worship services and spiritual practices and both Rev. Pearson and Kerstin will be working on creating a pilgrim center.
Click here to see more images of the dedication from Danae Hudson, Communications Assistant at the ELCJHL.
