Haidar Hallasa, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Kerak, Jordan, was elected the principal of the Eastern Mediterranean Nazarene Bible College (EMNBC) by its Board of Governors on June 21.

"From his background as a pastor, a district superintendent, and a number of different roles over the  years in the church," says John Haines, "I think he is well placed to help prepare young men and women for ministry in the church in the Middle East because he understands the church in the Middle East. He understands the context and he also understands what the church needs in the future."

Hallassa follows a line of predecessors that rotated between foreign and indigenous principals. Raja Nwaisser was elected in 2003 as the first indigenous principal, but when he passed away unexpectedly in 2008, John Haines, the Eurasia Regional Education Coordinator, stepped in as interim principal, and has served until this summer.

The new principal grew up in the small village of Humud, southern Jordan, with five brothers and two sisters. His studies took him to England to the U.S. Air Force School in the field of electrons communications. It was in England, while studying in the R.A.F. Radio School that he accepted Christ into his life, as well as a call to ministry.

After returning to Jordan he served in the Jordanian air force for 17 years and then as a laboratory technician at the Muat’ah University for 18 years. He was also welcomed into the Church of the Nazarene, and served as lay pastor of the Nazarene Church in Kerak after its previous pastor had been elected district superintendent. He was named senior pastor in 1991, and was ordained in 1996.

He takes the helm of an institution which has faced numerous challenges to its existence throughout  its history, as it has trained and equipped people with a pastoral call throughout the Middle East.

Due to regional tensions and the emigration of students to Western countries, the Bible college was closed for 16 years, until 1985.

When several young people from the field accepted Christ and responded to a call to ministry, EMNBC was revived in the Sunday School rooms of the Nazareth Church of the Nazarene. Summer sessions started in Cyprus so that students who could not travel into Israel could also study. The first few students were from the Holy Land and Egypt.

The second year, young people from Jordan and Lebanon joined the program. The Bible college now offers four intensive courses each summer in Kerak, Jordan, and four additional courses on each district during the year.

Newly elected Principal Hallassa has written a book in the Arabic language, "The Other Side of Jordan" which is a historical Biblical geography of Jordan. Presently  he is writing a second book on Arabic Christianity.

Because of his interest in developing Arabic literature, Hallassa was one of the founding members of Spring of Life Publications, the Arabic literature ministry of the Church of the Nazarene. He has also translated the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene and the "Layman’s Guide to Sanctification." He served the Jordan district as the superintendent for two years.

Hallassa and two other leaders from his local church started a non-governmental organization for social development called the Branches of Mercy. This ministry is aimed at unreached women, physically and mentally challenged people, and children from the southern part of Jordan.

He and his wife, Ataf, have four children and seven grandchildren.