Site Where Moses Stood and Looked at Promised Land Reopens to Public

By Suzette Gutierrez-Cachila 25 Oct, 2016 14:08 EDT

Moses Memorial on Mount Nebo — Moses Memorial on top of Mount Nebo Wikimedia Commons

The place traditionally recognized as the site where Moses stood and looked at the Promised Land before he died has been opened once more to the public.

A church and monastery mark the site, which sits at the top of the 817-meter-high Mount Nebo in Jordan.

Known to be one of the most important pilgrimage places for Christians, it has attracted numerous pilgrims from all over the world for many centuries. However, it had been closed for almost 10 years for restoration work.

The Moses Memorial was reopened on Oct. 15, and the event was attended by officials, dignitaries, tourists and representatives from churches, according to The Jordan Times.

The special envoy of Pope Francis, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, spoke during the inauguration. He stressed the cultural and artistic significance of the site, which holds value to Jews, Christians and Muslims.

“The spiritual treasures that this place holds today are returned to Jordan and to humanity,” Cardinal Sandri said, according to Catholic Herald. “I am very happy to represent here the Holy Father Francis and to be in the place of Moses when he received only the vision of the Promised Land.”

Based on Biblical account, after blessing the 12 tribes of Israel, Moses went up to Mount Nebo where “the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar,” as written in Deuteronomy 34.

The Lord told Moses the land he was being shown was the very land He promised to Abraham and his descendants. The Israelites, led by Joshua, did enter the land God had promised to give them, but Moses himself was not able to enter it. It is believed he died on Mount Nebo, although his body was never found.

In 1932, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land was brought under the leadership of Jordan’s King Abdullah I. Excavations were made in the area, and archaeologists discovered the ruins of a basilica constructed in 597 A.D. and Byzantine mosaic pavements.

Unfortunately, over the years, the protective structure that was supposed to help keep these archaeological finds safe began to deteriorate and needed restoration. Many years since the restoration work began, people are once more welcome to visit the site.

“We are receiving back not simply a space, rather an invitation and a way of life,” the Cardinal said.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

In order an effort to promote traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, in collaboration with Macao YMCA, Guangzhou Suigang'ao Teenagers Institute, and the Teacher Chang Foundation of Taiwan, has conducted a survey on teens measuring their cultural awareness. They found that Hong Kong youths generally identify with and support the values of traditional Chinese culture.
Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.
Yesterday, October 31, was Reformation Day, and Lutherans around the world held various events in commemoration. In Singapore, the Lutheran Church advocated for Christian communion, while the German Lutheran Church encouraged believers to face the challenge of “trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time.”
Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.
2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation
In the afternoon of Reformation Sunday, Oct. 27, some 2.1 million Christians gathered for a joint worship service from 2pm to 5pm in Seoul, Korea to “unite for repentance, revival, and restoration of holiness in our society.” According to organizers, an estimated 1.1 million joined onsite despite the bad weather with another 1 million joining online. The unprecedented joint worship service brought together Korean churches across denominations as they affirmed traditional marriage and family and
Willow Creek Community Church invites believers to write prayer cards for the next president
This past Sunday, Willow Creek Community Church based in Illinois invited believers to “pray for the next president” during the service. The church not only expressed its concern for the upcoming election but also emphasized the role believers should play in the process and the importance of offering prayers for the nation's leaders.

Site Where Moses Stood and Looked at Promised Land Reopens to Public

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.