Homero Aziz, evangelical pastor in Jordan: ‘One rocket hit about 1 km from home’
By Daniel Hofkamp - Posted at Evangelical Focus:
In Jordan, there is “no panic in the streets but definitely a collective awareness that the region can shift overnight”. Churches are “calling for focused prayer gatherings, encouraging believers not to spread fear”, the Christian leader says.The military escalation that began last Saturday following attacks by Israel and the United States against Iran has triggered a new conflict in the Middle East, with consequences spreading throughout the region. Countries such as Jordan, which share borders, airspace and complex political relations with the actors involved, are currently experiencing high levels of tension.
Although Jordan is not in open warfare, the proximity of the conflict and the presence of US bases and institutions make it a sensitive territory within the crisis. Jordan is also home to Christian communities with a long history in the region, as well as thousands of refugees from Iraq and Syria.
We contacted Homero Aziz, a Brazilian evangelical pastor who has been living in Jordan for twelve years. Throughout his ministry, he has also been involved in church planting and social projects in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. The pastor answered questions for Spanish news website Protestante Digital, explaining how the current situation is being experienced in Jordan, how the Christian community is responding and how the global church can pray for the Middle East.
Question. What is the current situation there in Jordan?
Answer. Here, the atmosphere is tense but controlled. We are not in open conflict internally, but everyone feels the pressure. When something escalates between Israel and Iran, Jordan automatically becomes sensitive ground. We share borders, airspace concerns, refugee realities, and political pressure from every direction.
The sirens are blowing high all the time and unfortunately Jordan also became a target because of the American bases and institutions present here. People are watching the news constantly. There’s anxiety, especially among families who have lived through previous regional wars. In our church we have a lot of Iraqi and Syrian refugees. You can feel it in conversations — less laughter, more “what if.”
Businesses adjust hours. Churches quietly review emergency plans. No panic in the streets but definitely a collective awareness that the region can shift overnight.
Jordan has always been a place of refuge and peace, but the conflict is closer to us than ever before. Three rockets hit my neighborhood and one about 1km from my house only, we could see the place it hit from our windows. Our kids are doing fine, but some of our church members are really afraid and making escape plans in case the war turns into something different.
