The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) is an organization that serves Palestinian Christians with congregations located in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Ramallah, and Amman, Jordan. The ELCJHL has Lutheran roots dating back to the late 1800s and Christian roots tracing back to the first Pentecost. It is led by the fourth and current Palestinian bishop, Bishop Doctor Sani Ibrahim Azar, who is committed to justice and dedication to the church and God. The church's congregations were established in response to the needs of the local Palestinian-Christian community. They offer Sunday worship services, Bible study groups, social gatherings, and cultural events, as well as youth and women's programming. The ELCJHL is known for its hospitality and welcomes visitors and pilgrims from around the world to learn about its ministry.
The ELCJHL also operates educational institutions such as the School of Hope in Ramallah, the Evangelical Lutheran School of Beit Sahour, and Dar Al Kalima Lutheran School in Bethlehem, which focus on imparting values like confidence, responsibility, excellence, ambition, aspiration, constructive dialogue, belonging, teamwork, love, justice, faith, and hope, and provide a rigorous academic curriculum.
Additionally, the ELCJHL oversees various ministries, including the Environmental Education Center in Beit Jala and the Diaconal Ministry, which centralizes diaconal work through international funders and local organizations. The Youth Ministry is another significant aspect of the ELCJHL, aiming to connect young adults and support their faith journeys as future church leaders.
The ELCJHL's mission is to proclaim the Gospel and minister to Palestinians amidst the political and societal challenges in the Holy Land, expressing their faith through both witnessing to the Kingdom of God and active service.