“The Baptism site tells the story of one of the first refugees to Jordan, being Jesus Christ himself, may peace and blessings be upon him, and this story continues with the contemporary waves of refugees … I think it started here and it is a story that tells the story of Jordan throughout the ages … This is a UNESCO Heritage Site and needs to be protected; we want to make sure that this is preserved for centuries to come.”
A non-profit charitable foundation was established in the Kingdom under the name “The Development of lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site Foundation”, a legal entity with financial and administrative independence. In this capacity, it has the right to register movable and immovable assets under its name, expropriation, and carry out all legal actions necessary to achieve its objectives, including entering into agreements, borrowing and accepting donations, gifts, grants and bequests. Subject to the provisions of the Regulations of the Baptism Site Commission, the Foundation aims to develop the lands adjacent to the Baptism Site in a manner that would enhance the site’s status to become one of the most important and largest global religious and historical tourist attractions, and contribute to attracting religious tourism to the Kingdom, in addition to supporting and empowering local communities, boosting their capabilities, and providing job opportunities for them.
The Development of Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site Foundation is led by a diverse board of Jordanians who have decades of experience in championing Arab and Jordanian social, political, and economic causes.
A Civil engineer with expertise in Management of different kind of projects, infrastructure ,building and Industrial ,experience in investment and PPP projects, academia, and leadership roles
Former Minister of Social Development
Former Senator
Former UNDP Head of the Poverty and Gender Team
Media and Communication Consultant
Former Director General of Jordan Radio and Television Corporation
Managing Partner at A&T Najdawi Law Office
CEO of Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation
Marketing & Communications Specialist
Former Board Member of the World Trade Centers Association
Former General Manager of Amman and Abu Dhabi World Trade Centers
Owner and CEO of Wahib Medanat Consulting Engineers, with extensive experience in engineering consultancy and project management
Executive Director - Investment at NEOM, with over 25 years of experience in private equity, asset management, and investment banking
Executive Director of the Zaha Cultural Center, has won awards for excellence, including first place in the category of Distinguished Leadership/Supervisory Employee in the King Abdullah II Award for Excellence in Government Performance and Transparency, the Distinguished Government Employee Award in its ninth session (2022/2023). She is also the founder of the Safe parks project and a member of several panels and committees
Former Director of Royal Heritage Directorate at the Royal Hashemite Court, focuses on cultural heritage and the film industry
Bethany Beyond the Jordan, was registered as a nonprofit corporation in the United States on June 21, 2021. The principal purpose of the Foundation shall be to support the preservation of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Al-Maghtas) and related educational, charitable, religious, archaeological, cultural, community development, and environmental activities. The Foundation is organized exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, and literary purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
President, Middle East Institute
Ambassador (ret.) Stuart Jones is a senior U.S. diplomat and business executive with extensive experience in international affairs. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bethany Beyond the Jordan U.S. Foundation (since 2023) and as President of the Middle East Institute (since 2025). He previously served at Bechtel Corporation as Senior Vice President and President for Regions and Corporate Affairs (until 2024). Prior to that, he spent over 30 years in the U.S. Department of State, including as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (2014–2017) and U.S. Ambassador to Jordan (2011–2014). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Diplomacy.
President & CCO At Brewed to Serve (BTS)
Alan is a business leader, entrepreneur, and founder of the Georgia Restaurant Association. He serves on the Board of the Bethany Beyond the Jordan Baptism Site Foundation and is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. He is committed to supporting community development, mentorship, and innovation.
Principal, O’Connell & Glock PC
Lawyer with practice concentrated on international, commercial, and private client matters. Juris Donor, Master of Laws (Taxation), Master of Science in Foreign Service degrees from Georgetown University; undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Director, Bethany Beyond the Jordan Baptism Site Foundation
John Nees is a businessman and investor with extensive experience in the energy, agriculture, and real estate sectors. He has managed major international energy projects across several countries and currently oversees a privately held energy company in the United States. He is also active in asset management and real estate development, and holds degrees in geological engineering, business administration, and law.
Head of School, Deerfield Academy
Dr. John P.N. Austin has served as the Head of School at Deerfield Academy since 2019. Previously, he was Headmaster of King's Academy in Madaba, Jordan, and Academic Dean at St. Andrew’s School in Delaware. He is an experienced educational leader dedicated to fostering academic excellence, student well-being, creativity, and inclusive learning communities.
Executive Director and Associate Dean, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Professor of Medicine and Executive Director and Associate Dean for Innovation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. An internationally recognized leader in interventional gastroenterology and medical innovation, he has pioneered numerous advanced endoscopic procedures and technologies, authored more than 400 scientific publications, and received several prestigious international awards. He serves on the Board of the Bethany Beyond the Jordan Baptism Site Foundation and is committed to advancing healthcare innovation, research, and education.
Research Professor of Political Science and Law at Vanderbilt University
Research Professor of Political Science and Law at Vanderbilt University and Founder and CEO of Millions of Conversations. She is an international lawyer and policy expert with experience in civil rights, national security, and conflict resolution, having worked with institutions such as the White House and global legal and diplomatic organizations. She leads initiatives focused on dialogue, unity, and reducing polarization in society.
CEO & Founder, Arrowhead Advising
Branden Polk is the CEO and Founder of Arrowhead Advising. As an innovator, social reformer, public speaker, writer, therapist, and creative artist, he has dedicated his life to advocacy for the most vulnerable, the developing of transformational leaders, and to changing the way society addresses today's most sensitive topics such as race, sexuality, criminal justice, education, faith, and more.
Senior Pastor of Fairfax Presbyterian Church in Virginia, an author, and a frequent speaker on religion, culture, and leadership. He has written for major publications and authored several books and novels. He is widely recognized for his contributions to Christian ministry, public engagement, and religious education.