Mass Shooting Attack at Funeral Service
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Mass Shooting Attack at Funeral Service

Security camera screenshot shows a sidewalk beside a road, with parked cars, trees, and landscaped ground. Low-resolution footage captures people moving along a sloped walkway or driveway.
Footage of shooters moving towards the church.
Photo: Wikipedia

On October 23rd, nine people were killed and dozens more injured when gunmen opened fire during a Christian funeral service in Hamoud, a village located within the Karak governorate of Jordan. Video footage verifies that at least three assailants began shooting as they approached the church building. At the time of publishing this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the widely condemned attack. Jordan's national political leader, King Abdullah II, promised that those responsible for committing these crimes will face the "harshest penalties."

During a subsequent raid by the Jordanian military on October 26th, three suspected perpetrators of the funeral service shooting were consequently arrested. All three suspects were wounded during the operation; one of them sustaining critical injuries. The assailants, identified as two brothers and a relative by marriage, were referred to by governing officials as "Islamic extremists."

That same night, Jordanian forces carried out retaliatory strikes in southern Syria, specifically targeting locations they claimed were linked to Islamic State terrorists. While the military reports that more than 20 militants were killed in the strikes, it acknowledges the loss of civilian lives as well. Tragically, three children were among the list of casualties.

The Karak region is home to a significant community of professing followers of Christ. Although Islam is the official religion of Jordan, the country has generally been considered a safe place for its Christian minority. To learn more about this Southwest Asian nation, visit our country profile.

  • Please uphold all those who have tragically lost loved ones in both recent attacks, praying that they will experience God's comfort, strength, peace and hope in the days ahead through the reassuring presence of the Holy Spirit.
  • Ask the Lord to also provide needed healing to the innocent civilians who were wounded during the attacks, restoring them both physically and emotionally as they recover from the traumatic incidents.
  • May the Lord also minister to the terrorists who were responsible for instigating the attacks by softening their hearts, drawing them to repentance, and eternally changing the trajectory of their lives.
  • Pray that the tensions resulting from these violent incidents will not escalate further and that God will ultimately bring about lasting peace and stability throughout the region.

Jordan Information

  • Country Information

    Population
    11,086,716 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Jordanian (69.3), Syrian (13.3), Palestinian (6.7), Egyptian (6.7), Iraqi (1.4), Other (2.6)

    Religion (%)
    Muslim (97.1), Christian (2.1), Buddhist (0.4), Hindu (0.1), Jewish (<.1), Other (0.3)

    Leader
    King Abdallah II (1999)

    Government type
    Parliamentary constitutional monarchy

    Legal system
    Mixed system developed from codes instituted by the Ottoman Empire (based on French law), British common law, and Islamic law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Jordan

    Pray that Christians who face opposition from those around them will remain faithful to Christ.

    Pray that the Jordanian government will recognize the religious rights of all citizens.

    Ask God to bring forth more church leaders and other servants of the Lord in Jordan to continue His work in the nation (Matthew 9:36-38).

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Jordan News

  • Mass Shooting Attack at Funeral Service
    Security camera screenshot shows a sidewalk beside a road, with parked cars, trees, and landscaped ground. Low-resolution footage captures people moving along a sloped walkway or driveway.
    Footage of shooters moving towards the church.
    Photo: Wikipedia

    On October 23rd, nine people were killed and dozens more injured when gunmen opened fire during a Christian funeral service in Hamoud, a village located within the Karak governorate of Jordan. Video footage verifies that at least three assailants began shooting as they approached the church building. At the time of publishing this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the widely condemned attack. Jordan's national political leader, King Abdullah II, promised that those responsible for committing these crimes will face the "harshest penalties."

    Read more...

  • Sisters Forced to Flee Home after Converting to Christianity
    Pray for the safety of the sisters who were
    forced to flee their home in Jordan.
    Flickr / Dennis Jarvis

    Two sisters who converted to Christianity were forced to flee their village recently after their brother threatened to kill them for leaving Islam. Before her conversion, "Nazli" felt that Allah was unfair and discriminated against women. When a Christian relative helped her to understand how just the true God is toward all of humanity, she willingly invited Jesus into her heart. Upon learning that Nazli had become a follower of Christ, the young woman's brother beat her and threatened to have her killed. Nazli and her sister, whom she had led to Christ, were then forced to leave their village and find safe refuge elsewhere. They currently live in a VOM-sponsored safehouse, where they are receiving encouragement and further instruction in the Christian faith.

    Traditionally, Christians have had few difficulties in Jordan, and even "quiet" evangelism has been allowed. However, there are followers of Christ in this country who have faced persecution from their families, employers and other members of society. With Islamist movements sweeping across the Middle East, Jordanian believers are concerned that similar developments may potentially occur within their own country.

    What an amazing testimony of the Holy Spirit's transforming work in the lives of Nazli and her sister! Ask the Lord to continue to comfort and encourage these two young Christian women, especially as they have been forced to leave their home, family and friends. May God bless them with the support of a strong Christian community -- one that will warmly embrace them and help to nurture their growing faith. In turn, may these sisters be used powerfully as God's agents of grace and love to others who are seeking to learn more about the Christian faith. Additionally, please remember the country of Jordan as a whole, praying that peace will reign within the homes and communities of this ancient land, and for the protection of all its people -- including the great influx of refugees from Syria who themselves are seeking safety from the terror of severe persecution.

    For more information on the trials some Christians have faced in Jordan, please visit the Jordan Country Report.

    Read more...

  • Christian girl kidnapped
    A Christian girl in Jordan was kidnapped by Muslim extremists on October 15 and forced to convert to Islam.

    The girl is from the town of Fuheis, which is the only settlement in Jordan that is still predominantly Christian. About 60 per cent of its 20,000 residents are Greek Orthodox, and the rest are Muslim or Catholic. A VOM contact said Jordan's Prime Minister visited Fuheis to help defuse the situation since the town is calling for the return of the girl. He is asking residents to stop protesting and forget about the girl, but residents responded by asking the leader to leave their town.

    Kidnapping young Christian women and forcing them to convert to Islam is common in Egypt, but it hasn't been prevalent in Jordan.

    Please pray that this girl will be set free and that the Jordanian government will stand up to defend the rights of all its people. Please pray that the prompt resolution of this situation will serve as a deterrent to all others who may wish to harm Christians. Pray that God will continue to grow His Church in Jordan.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Jordan, go to the Jordan Country Report.

    Read more...

  • Christian on Trial for Converting to Christianity
    Mohammed Abbad
    Mohammad Abbad
    Photo from     Compass Direct
    A Jordanian Christian, Mohammad Abbad (40) is on trial for apostasy for converting from Islam to Christianity in 1993, according to an April 24 report from Middle East Concern. Abbad fled the country late last month after Muslim militants attacked him, his son and another Muslim convert to Christianity who had sought sanctuary in his home on March 23. This attack prompted Abbad's father to bring charges of apostasy against him while he was being treated for his injuries. Abbad spent one night in the hospital handcuffed to his bed. His father also filed for custody of his two young children. In a court hearing on March 27, Abbad refused to deny his faith and return to Islam and fled the country the following day with his Jordanian Christian wife. Abbad's March 29 hearing was postponed due to his absence but the judge began a procedure to have his marriage annulled.

    After hiding in different Arab countries for almost two weeks, the couple settled in a European country where they have applied for asylum. At last report, the attempt to dissolve their marriage was still underway, pending on the judge's request for Abbad's father to produce a marriage certificate.

    Pray for wisdom, guidance and strength for Abbad and his wife. Pray that his children will see the faith of their father and desire to follow in his footsteps in standing firm in Christ (Deut. 11:18-20).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Jordan, go to the Jordan Country Report.

    Read more...

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