WASHINGTON (BWA) — The government of Jordan has offered a plot of land to the Baptist World Alliance to build a baptism center.
The land offered is closely approximate to the region known as Bethany beyond Jordan, where it is believed that John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. The offer was first made during a visit by BWA president David Coffey with Jordan's King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein last September.
In an agreement reached between BWA and Jordanian leaders, the location on the Jordan River will be used for the construction of a baptism center to be dedicated and opened in the spring of 2009.
A large plaque is to be placed at the entrance to the center with the inscription: “The Commission of the Site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ welcomes here in particular foreign visiting pilgrims from the member churches of the Baptist World Alliance.”