MODERN TECHNOLOGY CAN KEEP BABIES ALIVE, BUT AT WHAT COST?

WET BY ROLIN TALKS ABOUT THE CARE GIVERS ABOUT THE LIFE AND DEATH ETHICAL ISSUES THEY FACE AND LUCKY SEVERSON ON THE FRUSTRATION OF TRAINS MINISTERS WHO CAN'T FIND WORK.

PLUS, THE POPULAR CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE DESTINATION, THE JORDAN R DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP RETIREMENT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.

>>> WELCOME.

CHAPLAINS LOOKING AFTER PREMATURE AND CRITICALLY ILL NEWBORN BABEIES.

MODERN MEDICAL TEXT MESSAGE HAS ENABLED THOSE CARING FOR THESE NEWBORNS TO KEEP THEM ALIVE, BUT OFTEN, THAT MEANS SURVIVING WITH TERRIBLE PROBLEMS.

BETTY ROLIN REPORTS FROM KANSAS CITY.

>> YOU CAN OPEN YOUR EYES?

SHE HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

SHE'S COME A LONG WAY BECAUSE AT FIRST, THE STATISTICS AREN'T VERY, AREN'T VERY GOOD WITH THESE BABIES.

SHE MADE IT THROUGH THAT AND NOW, SHE'S JUST GROWING, WAITING FOR HER HEART SURGERY.

SHE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A SHUNT PUT IN IN A FEW WEEKS.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS THIS.

>> IT'S VERY TOUGH TO SEE YOUR CHILD STRUGGLE.

>> AT ANY POINT, IF YOU KNEW HOW SICK SHE WAS, WOULD YOU HAVE LET HER GO?

>> NO.

BECAUSE I FELT LIKE SHE'S A MIRACLE.

>> WHAT'S A FIR KL?

>> I FEEL SHE'S PERFECT.

>> TWO WEEKS AGO, JASPER, WHO IS NOW 3 MONTHS OLD AND HAS A RARE GENETIC DISEASE WAS NEAR DEATH, BUT SURVIVED.

HE IS GOING HOME SOON, BUT HIS FUTURE HEALTH IS UNCERTAIN.

>> HE HAS A HEART CONDITION, A MURMUR MURMUR, BUT IT'S SLOWLY CLOSING WITH THE G TUBE.

THEY'RE THINKING THAT MAYBE ANOTHER FIVE, SIX MONTHS, THEY'LL DO ANOTHER FEED STUDY, BUT UNTIL THEN, HE CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING BY MOUTH.

>> FOR BOTH OF THESE MOTHERS WHO KNEW HOW SICK THEIR BABIES WERE BEFORE BIRTH, ABORTION WAS NOT AN OPTION.

.

>> I JUST HAVE ALWAYS HAD STRONG BELIEFS AGAINST YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO IF IT'S NOT A PERFECT CHILD, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD ABORT AND TO ME, JASPER IS PERFECT.

>> WHAT IF HE WINDS UP OR A GOOD PORTION OF HIS LIFE VERY SICK?

HOW WILL YOU FEEL THEN?

>> I WILL BE THE MOTHER HE DESERVES.

I WILL BE BY HIS SIDE THROUGH THE WHOLE THING LIKE I HAVE BEEN.

WE ALL KNOW HE'S A LITTLE MIRACLE AND WE WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT HIM.

>> BOTH THE SURVIVAL AND HEALTH OF THESE BABIES HAVE IS A LOT TO DO WITH HOW PREMATURE THEY WERE AT BOTH.

BIRTH.

>> WEEKS, ABOUT HALF OF BABIES DIE.

24 WEEKS, MAYBE 30% OF BABIES DIE.

SOME VARIATION BY RACE, GENDER.

THE BIG QUESTION TODAY IS OF THE SURVIVORS HOW MANY SURVIVE WITHOUT DEVASTATING NEUROLOGIC IMPAIRMENT?

>> PROBLEMS LIKE BRAIN DAMAGE, CEREBRAL PALSY, DOWNS SYNDROME.

KAREN DOW WAS BORN AT 26 WEEKS WEIGHING ONE POUND AND 12 OUNCES.

SHE HAD SEVERE BOWEL AND DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS AND WILL SOON HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY.

>> WHAT'S BEEN THE HARDEST PART?

>> NOT BEING ABLE THE TO COMFORT HER.

>> ONE OF THE TORMENTS FOR BOTH PARENTS AND DOCTORS IS THE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH THE TREATMENT ITSELF IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE BABY'S PAIN AND SUFFERING.

>> SIX BABIES GET BETWEEN 10 AND 20 PAINFUL INVASIVE PROCEDURES A DAY.

NEEDLE STICKS, SHOTS WITH VARIOUS THINGS, NEW IDEAS NEED TO GET START EDED EDSTARTED.

NARCOTICS THEMSELVES HAVE RISKS.

IT'S A TIGHT ROPE FOR THEM.

HOW MUCH PAIN MEDICINE TO MINIMIZE THE PAIN AND SUFFERING WITHOUT CAUSING MORE HARM FROM THE MEDICATION.

>> IN MOST CASES, THE BABIES HERE WILL GO HOME HE WILLALTHY AND STAY THAT WAY, BUT WHEN THE OUTCOME IS UNCERTAIN, THE STAFF HAS THE CHOICE -- SHARED BY THE PHYSICIANS AND THE FAMILY, BUT IT IS THE FAMILY, USUALLY THE MOTHER, WHO MAKES THE ULTIMATE CHOICE.

>> I THINK THE MOST DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN THOSE IN WHICH I CAN FORSEE A CHILD SUFFERING AND THE PARENTS NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONDITION IS FRAUGHT WITH SUFFERING AND INSIST UPON TREATMENTS, WHICH ARE NO LONGER TREATING.

>> SO, WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> WE TALK ABOUT BENEFITS AND RISKS.

>> WHAT'S THE USUAL OUTCOME?

>> THE NEED FOR ANOTHER CONVERSATION.

>> AND WHAT OF COSTS, IT VARIES, BUT FOR INFANTS BORN AT 25 WEEKS WHO SPEND 3 MONTHS IN -- THERE ARE COSTS AFTER THE BABY IS DISCHARGED.

RELIGION OFTEN PLAYS A ROLE WITH BOTH THE PATIENTS AND THE DOCTORS.

>> GOD AND I HAD SOME VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

IN A SENSE IT WASN'T THAT I DOUBTED HIM, I WAS CALLING ON HIM TO DO WHAT I KNOW HE COULD DO.

>> I CAN CRY OUT TO GOD ABOUT THEM.

AND I DO PRAY AND TALK TO GOD ABOUT MY BAD DAYS, BELIEVE ME.

BUT I WON'T PRETEND TO KNOW ABSOLUTELY THE WILL OF GOD.

>> JUST WONTER EDWONDERS IF YOU'D LIKE A PRAYER.

PRAY OVER YOU.

>> THE CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL'S NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ALSO HAS A FULLTIME CHAPLAIN, BECKY CROUSE.

>> MY GOAL IS TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, WHEN THEY COME HERE, AND SO SOMETIMES THAT PRAYER TAKES THE FORM OF JUST GETTING THEM A CUP OF WATER, KLEENEX, IF ALL THEY CAN DO IS CRY, AND JUST STANDING SILENTLY.

AND SO MUCH IS JUST OUR PRESENCE.

>> CHAPLAIN CROUSE FINDS THAT RELIGIOUS PARENTS WHO WERE EXPECTING A HEALTHY BABY ARE SOMETIMES ANGRY AT GOD.

>> ANGER IS A GOOD EMOTION, AND TO HELP THEM BE ABLE TO CHANNEL THAT ANGER INTO, YOU KNOW, VOICING IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO PERSONALLY AND I RECOMMEND TO PARENTS IS JOURNALING, BECAUSE IT'S A PROVEN WAY TO KIND OF HELP RELEASE THOSE KIND OF FEELINGS AND JUST TO NORMALIZE IT, TO SAY IT'S OKAY TO BE VERY ANGRY.

>> BOTH RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT ARE GIVEN TO THE FAMILIES OF BABIES WHO DIE.

RACHEL COURTNEY KNEW THAT HER BABY, JACK, WOULD HAVE A SHORT LIFE, BUT WANTED IT TO BE MEANINGFUL.

>> HE LIVED FOR 3 1/2 DAYS, AND THE WHOLE TIME WE JUST HELD HIM, AND HE WAS CUDDLED IN OUR ARMS, AND WE READ TO HIM AND SANG TO HIM.

ALL OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAME IN.

THERE WAS NO LIMITATIONS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE OR HOW MUCH TIME THEY COULD SPEND.

>> BABIES WHO HAVE DIED ARE MEMORIALIZED ON A QUILT, AND CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL CONTINUES TO REACH OUT TO THE PARENTS.

DOCTORS SAY THE TECHNOLOGY OF TREATING VERY SICK INFANTS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE WITH A FOCUS ON GENETIC SCREENING AND FETAL SURGERY.

BUT WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS THE ETHICAL QUESTIONS MAY INCREASE.

FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," I'M BETTY ROLLIN IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

>>> IT'S GRADUATION SEASON, AND MANY NEW GRADUATES ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT EMBARKING ON THEIR CHOSEN CAREER.

BUT SOME SEMINARY-TRAINED MEN AND WOMEN WHO FEEL CALLED TO BE MINISTERS CAN'T FIND PROTESTANT CHURCHES THAT CAN AFFORD TO HIRE THEM.

PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF RECESSION.

PART OF IT IS THE MAINLINE DECLINE -- FEWER CHURCH MEMBERS, THEREFORE LESS MONEY TO PAY PASTORS.

LUCKY SEVERSON HAS OUR REPORT.

>> MATT SEILBACK GRADUATED FROM COVENANT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN ST. LOUIS, BUT NOW HE CREATES VIDEOS.

HE MADE A CHOICE THAT AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SEMINARY AND DIVINITY SCHOOL GRADUATES ARE BEING FORCED TO DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN BEING A PASTOR.

>> I HAD SOME INTERVIEWS, BUT NOTHING ULTIMATELY PANNED OUT.

OUR FILM COMPANY THAT I STARTED, OUR FOCUS IS TO CULTIVATE GOODNESS, TO UPROOT UGLINESS AND CULTIVATE GOODNESS AND TO SHOW GOOD IN THE WORLD.

>> ALLEN SIPE STARTED LOOKING FOR A PASTORING JOB LONG BEFORE HE GRADUATED WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE THREE YEARS AGO.

FOR NOW, HE'S WORKING AS A SHOPPING MALL SECURITY GUARD.

>> IT'S DISHEARTENING.

YOU KNOW, YOU SEND OUT SCORES OF RESUMES AND GET NO ANSWERS.

>> THE REALITY IS THERE ARE NOT NEARLY AS MANY AVAILABLE JOBS AS PASTORS AS THERE WERE EVEN A FEW YEARS AGO.

SEMINARIES AND DIVINITY SCHOOLS HAVE SEEN A DROP IN ENROLLMENT, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WHO BECOME PASTORS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS, BUT THE MAIN ONE IS THAT NOT AS MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING MAINLINE CHURCHES ANYMORE.

SO THERE IS LESS NEED AND LESS MONEY TO AFFORD A PASTOR.

THIS IS GREG STERLING, DEAN OF THE YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL.

>> THERE ARE ABOUT 300,000 CONGREGATIONS AND CHURCHES IN THE UNITED STATES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE ARE FINANCIALLY VIABLE IN THE SENSE OF HAVING THE CAPACITY OF SUPPORTING SOMEONE ON A FULL TIME BASIS, BUT MY GUESS IS THAT THE MAJORITY ARE NOT.

>> YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL STUDENTS COME FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS.

LAST YEAR ONLY ONE IN FIVE GRADUATES WENT ON TO BECOME CHURCH PASTORS.

16% BECAME CHAPLAINS AT HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS.

ABOUT THAT MANY WILL TEACH IN PAROCHIAL AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.

A MAJORITY OF THE REST GO TO WORK FOR NONPROFITS, LIKE STEVEN MASBACH.

EVEN AS HE COMPLETES HIS THREE-YEAR MASTER'S DEGREE, HE'S WORKING FOR A CHURCH ORGANIZATION THAT BUILDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

HE HAS A MASTER'S IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND WAS ARRANGING FINANCING FOR RICH HOME BUYERS, BUT SOMETHING WAS MISSING.

>> MISSING IN THE SENSE THAT WHEN YOU'RE GIVING FINANCING TO MULTIMILLIONAIRES IN NEW YORK CITY, AND YOU'RE SAVING THEM AN EIGHTH ON THEIR MORTGAGE RATE, YOU'RE NOT REALLY HELPING ANYONE BUT THEM.

>> SO HE APPLIED AT YALE, AND HE'S RECEIVED GENEROUS FINANCIAL AID FROM THE SCHOOL.

HE WON'T HAVE A CONGREGATION, HE SAYS, BUT HE'LL HAVE A MINISTRY -- BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> FOR ME, BEING A PASTOR IS SOMETHING THAT'S SACRED, THAT YOU HAVE A CALLING THAT THE LORD HAS PLACED ON YOUR HEART.

AND I FELT THAT MY CALLING HAS BEEN IN THE SOCIAL SECTOR IN HOUSING.

>> DEAN STERLING SAYS IS IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE STUDENTS WHO HAD PROMISING CAREERS BUT FOUND IT SPIRITUALLY UNSATISFYING.

20% OF ENTERING YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL STUDENTS HOLD ADVANCED DEGREES, LIKE ALLYSON McKINNEY, WHO HAS LAW AND MBA DEGREES.

SHE HAS WORKED AS AN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER SPECIALIZING IN WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

>> I REALIZED THAT A LOT OF WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS I WANTED TO SAY TO MY OWN FAITH COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT JUSTICE IS THE WORK OF THE CHURCH.

IT IS A MINISTRY THAT WE'RE CALLED, AS CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS, TO BE INVOLVED IN.

>> ENROLLMENT IN THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS HAS BEEN DROPPING SINCE 2006.

DEAN STERLING SAYS ALONG WITH THE DECLINING MEMBERSHIP IN VIRTUALLY ALL BUT THE MORE CONSERVATIVE DENOMINATIONS, ANOTHER BIG FACTOR IS STUDENT DEBT.

>> YOU INCUR $50,000 IN DEBT, THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL.

BUT IF YOUR ANNUAL INCOME IS $35,000 A YEAR, IT'S AN ENORMOUS SUM.

>> IT'S THE SEMINARIES SPONSORED BY INDIVIDUAL MAINLINE DENOMINATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN THE BIGGEST HIT IN ENROLLMENT.

LUTHER SEMINARY IN ST. PAUL WAS FORCED TO CUT ITS FACULTY AFTER LOSING ENROLLMENT THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

COVENANT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN ST. LOUIS IS RUN BY THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA, AND SOME OF ITS GRADUATES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING JOBS.

FIVE YEARS AGO, BRIAN BROWN MOVED HIS WIFE AND FOUR KIDS FROM ALABAMA AND HIS JOB AS AN ACCOUNTANT TO ATTEND COVENANT AND BECOME A PASTOR.

>> I WAS ALWAYS THINKING THERE'S GOING TO BE A JOB AT THE END OF THIS, YOU KNOW.

THAT WAS THE HOPE AND THAT WAS -- AND THAT'S THE DESIRE.

IT'S STILL THE DESIRE.

>> NOW, A YEAR AFTER GRADUATION, HE'S WORKING TWO PART-TIME JOBS.

HIS WIFE WORKS FULL-TIME.

BROWN IS STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND TO FIND A CHURCH THAT WANTS HIM AND CAN AFFORD A PASTOR.

>> CHURCHES DEPEND ON THE GIVING OF OTHERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND FOR PAYING FOR THE MINISTRY THAT IS DONE.

SO AS OTHER PEOPLE SUFFER IN THE ECONOMY, IT TRICKLES DOWN.

>> THESE STUDENTS GENUINELY FEEL THAT EXISTENTIALLY THEY HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED BY GOD TO SERVE PEOPLE.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO THAT IF THEY CAN'T BE SUPPORTED BY ONE OF THESE CHURCHES?

>> THE LILLY ENDOWMENT, WHICH IS THE MAIN FUNDER OF "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," ALSO SPONSORS A PROGRAM TO SUBSIDIZE THE SALARY FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF SOME NEW PASTORS, LIKE CORINNE ELLIS.

SHE WILL LEAVE YALE FOR A SMALL CHURCH IN IOWA.

>> I'VE SEEN THE IMPACT THAT GOD HAS HAD ON MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF PEOPLE I LOVE, AND I WANT TO SHARE THAT AND HELP BUILD THAT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

>> INCREASINGLY STUDENTS ARE PLANNING ON HOLDING ONTO WHATEVER CAREERS AND TRAINING THEY HAD BEFORE, AND AFTER THEY GRADUATE BECOMING PART-TIME PASTORS.

IT'S THE NEW REALITY OF SMALLER CONGREGATIONS.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE DISTRUSTFUL OF INSTITUTIONS, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.

>> DONNA DESILUS HAD AN MBA FROM HARVARD BEFORE SHE CAME TO YALE DIVINITY.

SHE THINKS SHE KNOWS THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTION.

>> I THINK TO THE DEGREE THAT WE CAN CONNECT PEOPLE SPIRITUALLY, THEN THE CHURCHES THRIVE, BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO EXPERIENCE GOD.

SO WHEN THE CHURCH HELPS PEOPLE EXPERIENCE GOD, THE CHURCH HAS MEMBERS.

WHEN THE CHURCH DOESN'T HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE, THEN I THINK THE CHURCH DOESN'‘‘T HAVE MEMBERS.

>> I'VE SAID TO THE STUDENTS.

I SAID TO THEM THIS FALL WHEN THEY FIRST MATRICULATED, "YOU WILL WRITE THE FUTURE OF CHRISTIANITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.

I'M SURE IT WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN IT IS TODAY, BUT YOU WILL WRITE THAT HISTORY, AND WE'RE HERE TO PREPARE YOU TO WRITE THAT HISTORY."

>> I THINK CHURCH IS GOING TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.

I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, DENOMINATIONS AS THEY EXIST TODAY ARE GOING TO EXIST THE SAME WAY IN 20 YEARS.

I THINK THE CHURCH IS CHANGING AND HAS TO CHANGE, AND I THINK IT'S EXCITING TO BE PART OF THAT.

>> THE EXCITING PART HASN'T MATERIALIZED FOR BRIAN BROWN YET.

HE AND HIS FAMILY CONTINUE TO HANG ON.

HE'S STILL SENDING OUT RESUMES, STILL HAS FAITH THAT SOMEONE UP THERE IS GOING TO HELP HIM FIND A JOB AS A PASTOR.

>> THE DECISION TO MOVE MY FAMILY AND GO AFTER THIS WAS REALLY THE FOLLOWING OF A CALL, AND I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS AND MY WIFE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITH US TOGETHER WITHOUT AN UNDERSTANDING OF THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IS MY CALLING.

>> ALLEN SIPE IS STILL LOOKING.

HE THINKS CHURCHES WON'T HIRE HIM BECAUSE HE'S 57 YEARS OLD, AND THEY CAN GET A MUCH YOUNGER PASTOR.

>> I'LL DO WHATEVER I HAVE TO DO.

I HAVE A WIFE TO SUPPORT.

I HAVE BILLS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

I WILL DO WHAT I NEED TO DO.

THAT'S WHY I'M WALKING AROUND THE MALL.

BUT UNTIL I CAN'T BREATHE ANYMORE, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO TEACH AND TO BE ABLE TO PREACH AND TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.

THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I AM.

IT'S NOT JUST WHAT I DO.

IT'S WHAT I AM.

>> DEAN STERLING SAYS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS GOING INTO MINISTRY REACHED ITS NADIR THREE YEARS AGO WHEN ONLY HALF AS MANY GRADUATES AS IN THE PAST ENTERED THE MINISTRY.

HE SAYS THAT NUMBER IS IMPROVING, BUT DOESN'T BELIEVE IT WILL EVER GET BACK TO WHAT IT WAS.

FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," THIS IS LUCKY SEVERSON IN NEW HAVEN.

>>> OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN PILGRIMS IS IN NEIGHBORING JORDAN, AT THE JORDAN RIVER BAPTISM SITE.

IT IS REVERED BY MANY AS THE PLACE WHERE JESUS WAS BAPTIZED BY HIS COUSIN JOHN THE BAPTIST.

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OTHER SUPPOSED BAPTISM SITES, RECENTLY-DISCOVERED ARCHEOLOGICAL RUINS ARE GIVING THIS SPOT NEW PROMINENCE.

KIM LAWTON VISITED THERE.

>>> THESE DAYS, THE JORDAN RIVER IS SMALLER AND MUDDIER THAN FIRST-TIME VISITORS ARE OFTEN EXPECTING.

BUT FOR MANY CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND MUSLIMS, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SACRED PLACES ON EARTH.

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, JOSHUA CROSSED THE JORDAN RIVER WHEN HE LED THE ISRAELITES INTO THE PROMISED LAND.

THE JORDAN RIVER WAS WHERE THE PROPHET ELIJAH WAS TAKEN INTO HEAVEN, AND HIS SUCCESSOR ELISHA TOOK UP HIS MANTLE.

IT'S WHERE JOHN THE BAPTIST LIVED AND PREACHED, AND JESUS WAS BAPTIZED AND BEGAN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY.

>> OUR BIBLE TEACHES THAT CHRISTIANITY WAS BORN HERE.

>> SCHOLARS AND ARCHEOLOGISTS HAVE LONG DEBATED EXACTLY WHERE AT THE RIVER THE EVENTS TOOK PLACE, AND THERE ARE RIVAL THEORIES.

BUT RECENT DISCOVERIES HAVE FOCUSED ATTENTION ON THIS PLACE, WADI AL-KHARRAR, IN THE COUNTRY OF JORDAN, NEAR THE DEAD SEA, JUST OVER THE BORDER FROM ISRAEL.

RUSTOM MKJIAN IS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE SITE.

HE LOOKS TO THE BIBLE FOR CONFIRMATION.

>> SECOND KINGS, CHAPTER TWO, AROUND 800 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST.

IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT ELIJAH COMES WITH ELISHA HIS DISCIPLE FROM JERICHO, THAT'S RIGHT OPPOSITE, ACROSS THE RIVER JORDAN.

>> ACCORDING TO THE GOSPELS, JOHN THE BAPTIST CAME IN THE SPIRIT AND STRENGTH OF ELIJAH.

HE LIVED AND WORKED IN A PLACE CALLED BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN.

>> THE PLACE WHERE THE PROPHETS CROSSED IS THE PLACE WHERE JOHN BAPTIZED OPPOSITE JERICHO.

EVERYTHING MATCHES 100%.

>> ACCOUNTS FROM CHRISTIANS AS FAR BACK AS THE FIFTH CENTURY DESCRIBE A MAJOR PILGRIMAGE SITE ALONG THE JORDAN RIVER ASSOCIATED WITH ELIJAH, JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS.

BUT WITH THE CRUSADES AND THE RISE OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE, THE PILGRIMAGES GRADUALLY STOPPED, AND THE SITE WAS EVENTUALLY BURIED BY LAYERS OF HISTORY.

THEN IN 1897, A MOSAIC MAP FROM THE SIXTH CENTURY WAS DISCOVERED IN THE FLOOR OF A JORDANIAN CHURCH.

IT GAVE ARCHAEOLOGISTS NEW CLUES ABOUT WHERE THE ANCIENT PILGRIMAGE SITE MAY HAVE BEEN.

BUT WORLD WARS I AND II AND THEN THE ARAB-ISRAELI WARS MADE THE AREA INACCESSIBLE.

FOR DECADES, IT WAS A MILITARIZED ZONE FULL OF LAND MINES.

AFTER THE 1994 PEACE TREATY BETWEEN JORDAN AND ISRAEL, THE MINES WERE CLEARED AND ARCHAEOLOGISTS COULD FINALLY BEGIN SEARCHING.

THE DISCOVERIES WERE STUNNING.

IN THE BARREN WILDERNESS, THERE WERE THE RUINS OF A LARGE MONASTERY COMPLEX BUILT IN THE FIFTH CENTURY, WHICH MATCHED EARLY PILGRIM DESCRIPTIONS OF A CHURCH BUILT ON THE PLACE WHERE THEY BELIEVED ELIJAH WAS TAKEN INTO HEAVEN.

THE COMPLEX WAS BUILT OVER AN ANCIENT CAVE, WHERE PILGRIMS SAID JOHN THE BAPTIST HAD LIVED.

>> FROM ELIJAH'S HILL, WHERE WE DISCOVERED THE MONASTERY, DOWN TO THE RIVER JORDAN, THREE KILOMETERS TO THE WEST, IT'S A HUGE OPEN MONASTERY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF CAVES SCATTERED AROUND THIS HOLY VALLEY.

AND MONKS AND HERMITS STAYED HERE.

>> A SMALL DISTANCE AWAY, WHERE THE RIVER ONCE FLOWED, RUINS WERE DISCOVERED OF BAPTISM POOLS AND OF FIVE DIFFERENT CHURCHES, ALL BUILT OVER SUCCESSIVE PERIODS OF TIME.

AND THERE WERE THE REMAINS OF MARBLE STEPS WHICH WOULD HAVE LED DOWN TO THE WATER.

ALL OF THIS, TOO, MATCHED SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH-CENTURY PILGRIM DESCRIPTIONS OF CHURCHES BUILT TO REVERE THE PLACE WHERE JOHN BAPTIZED JESUS.

>> WHY DID THEY INSIST TO BUILD THEIR CHURCHES HERE?

DEPENDING ON THE BIBLE, DEPENDING ON THE PILGRIMS' ACCOUNTS AND THE ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDIES, WE KNOW THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE JESUS BAPTIZED AND CHRISTIANITY STARTED.

>> MANY CHURCHES HOLD SPECIAL SERVICES HERE TO COMMEMORATE THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, WHICH CHRISTIANS CONSIDER A KEY EVENT IN THE GOSPEL STORIES.

SINCE THE BAPTISM LAUNCHED JESUS' EARTHLY MINISTRY, MANY HERE CONSIDER IT THE STARTING POINT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.

>> AND ONCE JESUS COMES OUT OF THE WATER, THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDS AND THE VOICE OF THE LORD SAYS, "HERE MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED."

>> THE PROCLAMATION OF THE ONE GOD AND THE HOLY TRINITY, THAT IS CHRISTIANITY.

>> THE JORDANIAN ROYAL FAMILY OPENED THE SITE IN 2011 FOR TOURISM AND PILGRIMAGES, BUT THEY WANT TO KEEP THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE.

PLOTS OF LAND SURROUNDING THE AREA HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO SEVERAL CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS, WHICH HAVE BEGUN BUILDING CHURCHES, GUEST HOUSES AND OTHER FACILITIES.

LOCAL CHRISTIANS SAY THIS SITE MORE THAN 350 METERS BELOW SEA LEVEL IS A PLACE OF PROFOUND SPIRITUALITY.

>> THIS IS THE LOWEST POINT ON EARTH BUT CLOSEST TO HEAVEN.

SO CHRISTIANITY SPREADS FROM THE LOWEST POINT ON EARTH ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND MAYBE THIS IS A LESSON.

I TAKE IT AS A LESSON FOR US.

WHERE IS JESUS BORN?

IN A CAVE.

WHERE DID CHRISTIANITY START?

LOWEST POINT ON EARTH.

>> AS JORDANIANS WE CARRY THIS LEGACY WITH GREAT PRIDE AND FAITH, AND WE WANT ALL THE PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND SEE.

>> I'M KIM LAWTON AT THE JORDAN RIVER.

>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

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