When the ICR team—Dr. Henry Morris III, Jan Morris, and Michael Hansen—arrived in Amman, Jordan, one of their first stops was a church that provides services to refugees from neighboring countries. While most of the refugees are not Christians, the pastor opens the doors and welcomes them. Pastor George has a heart for helping those who are suffering. The refugees have endured war, poverty, hunger, physical abuse, and displacement from their homelands, and he uses God’s provisions to meet their needs.
Officials question Pastor George a few times a year, but they allow him to continue the ministry because he is meeting practical needs—providing blankets, food, and basic necessities. In the name of Christ, he shows kindness to weary, suffering people.
During ICR’s visit to Pastor George’s church, Mrs. Morris noticed that one young man who was confined to a wheelchair reached out to touch them every time they passed. As Mrs. Morris shared this story with me, I thought of the woman in the Bible who just wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe (Matthew 9:20-22). Somehow, just a touch would make life better. She was trusting in the righteousness of Jesus to save her.
Dr. Morris went to Jordan to answer the call to train pastors, students, and anyone who wanted to learn about God’s Word. He discovered hungry hearts in a land we often think of as being violent and darkened—“veiled” to the truth. And yet, he encountered teachers and students alike who expressed a constant yearning for more information. They wanted to know what the Bible said not only about creation but also about life. He said the questions were endless, the days were long, and he was constantly “on call” to teach the Word of God.
In our feature article this month, “Hungry Hearts in the Middle East,” you’ll find more details of ICR’s trip to Jordan—how Dr. Morris taught, answered questions, and encountered many who were eager to learn more about the Bible (pages 5-8). Throughout their stay, the Morrises and Michael received countless requests for more ICR resources and information.
The needs in Jordan went beyond the classrooms, church sanctuaries, and seminary training center. The needs extended far beyond the planned sessions—they weren’t contained to classrooms or even wheelchairs. On buses and at dining room tables, people wanted to know more. They wanted answers, information, and help. Ultimately, they wanted to know more about God. They ached for the truth. They needed a touch from Jesus.
* Jayme Durant is Executive Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
