Introduction / History

Arab culture is familiar to many. Though perhaps not with any detail, many know of the desert nomads and their culture, which was developed through centuries long past in the harsh Arabian sands. In the present, many Arab peoples lead their lives in perhaps a less romantic fashion than framed in story and legend. The Levant Arabs (a broad term that includes several groups of Arabs: the Jordanian, Palestinian, Iraqi, Chaldean, and Syrian Arabs), originally settled all over the Arabian Peninsula and later migrated to North Africa. Today, several hundred thousand Levant Arabs live along the northern edges of the Arabian Desert. They are spread from Israel to Kuwait, and many live in Syria, northern neighbor to Jordan. A small number are in Turkey, a Sunni Muslim country with a different language and culture.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Levant Arabs typically live in villages located near fertile regions; but they can also be found near mountain foothills in less arid regions. Although they have settled in towns or villages, they have held on to their tribal affiliations.
To preserve their people, they are only allowed to marry those inside their own group. Levant Arab society is patrilineal, which means that inheritances are passed down through the males. In this system, boys inherit more than girls. Since children are considered a family's greatest asset, females are valued for their ability to bear children.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most are Sunni Muslims, though there are some Christians among them.

What Are Their Needs?

There is a great need for the gospel to be preached among Jordanian Arabs in Turkey. Evangelization efforts among them are challenging due to restrictions as well as general antagonism towards Christianity. Prayerful intercession is the key to reaching them with the gospel.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord for opportunities to minister to both Jordanian Arabs and Turks in Turkey.
Pray that God will raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Jordanian Arabs in Turkey.
Ask God to give Arab believers opportunities to share the love of Christ with Jordanian Arabs, and for hearts to soften, creating open doors for the gospel to be spread.
Ask the Holy Spirit to stir the hearts of these people toward Christ, and for movements to arise of Jordanian Arabs.

Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Jordanian in Türkiye (Turkey).