​​Hana Batarseh, a disabled student at the Amman Baptist School was chosen to light the Christmas tree celebration organized by the Jordan Evangelical Council Friday evening. 

Rev. David Rihani, the council president spoke at the event about the importance of the birth of Christ. “Christ was born in a humble manger in Bethlehem making this Christmas season one of happiness, peace, and goodwill as the angels sang ‘peace on earth and goodwill to all’.” In addition to evangelical church leaders, the event was also attended by the representative of the Anglican Church, Rev Fyeq Haddad who also participated in the celebration at the school and the Mufti of the Injured in the Armed Forces, Sheikh Ayed Jabour.

Rihani made special reference to efforts to support the disabled. Rihani thanked HRH Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein and Muhanad Azseh for supporting the disabled within the context of the Higher Council for Persons with Disabilities. The event was interpreted into sign language for the Deaf and hard of hearing who were in attendance at the Baptist School in Amman’s Rabia neighborhood.  

Rihani wished Jordanians a blessed Christmas under the leadership of King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein. 

The Jordan Evangelical Council established in 2006 includes five churches: Baptists, Nazarene, Alliance, Assemblies of God, and the Free Evangelical Church. Evangelical churches have been registered in Jordan since the beginning of the 20th century. Gifts were given to attending children and all participants were invited to the launch of the annual Baptist School Bazar which was held in the school gym.

read same coverage in Arabic here