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Historical Background:
Christians in Jordan are as old as two thousand years ago.
Like their other brothers and sisters in the Arab world,
they have been from the first centuries at the source of
what made the Arabic language; they translated to different
languages the Arabic civilizations; they worked since the
Seventh century hand in hand with their Muslim country
people to build what is today the Arab world.
As Christians are becoming fewer in the Middle East, a
return to the sources is more than important today. We need
to respond to the call of the Pope to support the Christian
presence in our home countries. We need to put our hands
together in a special way with our beloved Muslim sisters
and brothers so as to witness to the world the Arab heritage
of harmony, love, cooperation, generosity,
and love.
I come then with this initiative as al-Bushra.org
calling for a
Convention
“Christian emigrants for Jordan”
that could be also emulated in many other Arabic countries,
(Christians for Egypt, Christians for Iraq etc) so as to
remind the Christian emigrants of their obligation to
support their respective home countries.
Christians in
Jordan (like in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine,
Soudan …) are known for their love and devotion for their
king and country.
Christians in the
country had excellence in different sectors in the Jordanian
life: familial, civil, social, political, education,
medical, technology, economics, science etc.
Their love to
Jordan did not cease when some of them emigrated for New
World. Their dedication continued in the different countries
of immigration.
After over 18
years in the USA working with Jordanians as well with
Palestinians, Lebanese, Egyptians, Iraqi ands Syrians, I,
Abouna Labib Kobti, can say that their devotion to their
respective courtiers is so wonderful and so great. The lack
of an institution that can help these immigrants to do
something special to their countries has been a call in my
heart for many years.
So as to continue
this devotion to their respective king and county, Jordan,
Al-Bushra.org and Abouna.Org have come
with this initiative to call for a Convention in Jordan on
May 7-9 to commemorate the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to
Jordan.
(We
proposed this date because it coincides with the date of the
visit of the Pope,, but it could be changed to the Summer
when a lot of immigrants decide to visit Jordan.
Chair persons who will take this initiative to their
heart and make it work will choose the best date).
The Convention would bring Christians from
different churches from all over the world to Jordan so as
to meet, support, and create initiatives that can serve
their home country.
Goal Statement:
-
As Jordanian Christians emigrants, we come to
our home country so as to bring family, love, prosperity,
support, and action.
- We love our king, and we support his works and
initiatives at the service of our dear people.
- Our old tradition as Christians of Jordan
gives us the mission to continue to work hand in hand with
our Muslim brothers and sisters for a better harmony, love,
cooperation and sharing.
- TBD
Purpose of the Convention
- To bring back all emigrant Christians and
especially their children to their home country for support.
- To support the Christian presence in Jordan
and in the Middle East.
- To create job opportunities and new
initiatives for development.
- To find ways that can help Jordan from our
different countries of immigration
- To find out ways to help the needy
- Conventions have helped many of
our children to find wives and husbands and create wonderful
families
- TBD
Preparation of the Convention
1)
A need for a Director and Chair person in
Jordan who can take on his hearts this task to organize the
Convention.
He should be: (no Salary is involved; he should
volunteer all his time)
-
A need for a Director and Chair person in
Jordan who can take on his hearts this task to organize the
Convention.
He should be:
(no Salary is involved; he should
volunteer all his time)
| A. |
Well know with his qualities as a good
Christian and a leader |
| B. |
Has experience of conventions in the past |
| C. |
Has connections with the government |
| D. |
Has connection with the different church
leaders and Muslim leaders |
| E. |
Has the qualities to delegate leadership and
coordinate with committees |
| F. |
Has good sense on economics as he should
handle money and is very honest. |
| G. |
Has the opportunity to set meetings with the
journalists for newspapers, radio, TVs, Facebook,
Youtube, Internet
|
| H. |
Contact Abouna Rifat Bader in Jordan as a
reference. |
| I. |
Abouna Labib Kobti and Abouna Rifat will
decide with a committee to assign that director |
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- A need for chair persons in different
countries where Jordanians live: USA, Canada, Europe South
America, Arabic Countries etc
- Chair persons should coordinate their efforts
to sell the idea to their respective people and call on them
to join the Convention in Jordan
- Chair persons should coordinate their work
with the chair person in Jordan, with Al-Bushra.org and
Abouna.org deirectors as promoters of the idea of that
Convention
Program of the Convention
We cannot give a specific one at this time, but any program should
include the following:
- The immigrants will meet His Highness King
Abdullah Bin Al Hussein on a day that we will be called in
all Jordan “Immigrant day”.
- The immigrants should meet with the Christian
leaders of the Country
- The immigrants should meet with the Muslim
Leaders of the Country
- Visits of Petra, Jerash, Madaba, Maghtas and
Dead Sea etc
- Youth and Children special visits to museums
and important universities
- Parties in the evening, or visits to operas or
local theaters
-
Study days, a kind of research should be done
on:
| A. |
The needs of the Country: social, technology,
economics, education, development:
The Question is: What we
can do to our Country?
|
| B. |
Christian statistics: The Question is: How many Christians are in
Jordan and outside (and where)? We do not have statistics
till now.
|
| C. |
The Christian and Muslim cooperation:
The Question is: How we can do better for a
better Jordan?
|
| D. |
Relation with our Countries of immigrations
(sister cities): The question is:
How we can help20our home countries from the country
where we live? |
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Some other ideas:
- The Convention can take place every year at an
important hotels in Amman / Jordan
- We should not let the Ministry of Tourism take
the upper hand on our Convention. They will be invited and
should not be the one who would take it and become theirs.
- No politics before, during or after the
Convention.
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