FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA – October 5, 2025) The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Dr. Nabeeh Abbassi as the first BWA Ambassador to the Middle East. Approved unanimously by the BWA Trustee Committee, this pivotal role includes a five-year term of service and membership within the BWA Leadership Council.
“This is a sign of our commitment to the historic witness of the Church from Jesus to today in this region and our prayers in action for peace and wellbeing,” said Rev. Dr. Elijah Brown, BWA General Secretary and CEO. “We are thankful for Dr. Abbassi’s years of faithful service and dedication to the Lord, and I look forward to working closely with him to continue the incredible work of Baptists in the Middle East.”
BWA Ambassadors serve as volunteer leaders who provide pastoral presence, specialized expertise, and global representation in advancing strategic ministry priorities. Working under the guidance of the BWA General Secretary and alongside a designated BWA Staff Liaison, Ambassadors serve as catalysts for strengthening relationships, equipping churches, and elevating the global witness of the Baptist family.
Abbassi, a respected leader within the Jordan Baptist Convention and across the region, will focus on building bridges between local churches and the global Baptist family, strengthening relationships with governments and faith leaders, and amplifying the voice of Middle Eastern Baptists in the global public square.
“I receive my appointment as the first BWA Ambassador to the Middle East with gratitude and humility. It is not an honorary title but a call to serve as a bridge builder, a companion in reconciliation, and a witness for religious freedom and just peace,” said Abbassi. “I see this role as an opportunity to bring local churches into closer fellowship with the global Baptist family and to represent their voice before governments, religious leaders, and wider society so that the gospel may shine with greater clarity and compassion. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will guide us as faithful witnesses of Christ, working together for unity in the church, the flourishing of gospel witness, and the deepening of Baptist partnership across the Middle East and the world.”
Abbassi brings extensive experience to the role having served in churches, education, and nonprofit leadership. His leadership experience includes numerous pastorates and roles as Chairman of the Amman Baptist School Board of Trustees, President of Jordan Baptist Convention, founder of the Arab Center for Consulting and Training Services (ACCTS), and Regional Director for Christar in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.
Abbassi’s new role was formally announced and celebrated at the 2025 European Baptist Federation (EBF) Council convened in Amman, Jordan, from September 24-27 with delegates from more than 40 countries in attendance. On Thursday, September 25, a special prayer of commissioning was offered during EBF’s 75th Anniversary Celebration Gala Dinner. A second commissioning will also take place in March 2026 when the BWA Leadership Council convenes in Falls Church, Virginia (USA), with global leaders in attendance from all six of the BWA’s regional fellowships, commissions, and standing networks.
