SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES News Service (SVM News),
Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam, Kerala-686038, INDIA
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"Maramon Convention" Asia's Largest Gospel Gathering
(Paul Ciniraj, Salem Voice Ministries)
Philipose Mar Chrysostem Marthoma Metropolitan
(Supreme head of the Marthoma Syrian Church)
Pathanamthitta (Kerala in India), SVM News, 12 February, 2007: Asia's largest eight days Gospel Convention called "Maramon Convention" began at the sandbed of the river Pampa at Maramon in Kerala in India on Sunday, the 11th of February afternoon.
It is held every year under the auspices of the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, the missionary wing of the 900,000 strong Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar. It is the 112th annual Gospel Convention. It will be going on till 18th of Sunday afternoon.
Marthoma Metropolitan inagurating 112th Convention
Marthoma Syrian Church is an espiscopal, protestant and Gospel spreading Church, reformed from the Orthodox Syrian tradition about 170 years ago.
The week-long event brings some 200,000 Christians to each session from all over the country and Diaspora Indians from other continents.
Bishops leading the Convention Audiance of the inagural function
There are three public meetings everyday as per schedule. 9.30 to 12.00 in the morning, 2.00 to 4.00 in the afternoon and 6.30 to 8.30 in the evening. And also Bible classes everyday in the morning 7.30 to 8.30 and meetings for families in the evening 4.30 to 6.00. Friday and Saturday 7.30 to 10.00 in the morning is the dedication service.
According the Salem Voice Ministries News Service, Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan, the Supreme head of the Marthoma Church inagurated the convention. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilos Saffragan Metropolitan of the Church presided over the inaugural meeting. Bishop Robert M. Solomon of the Singapore Methodist Church delivered the keynote address.
"We must remember that the Life of Christians will be having a fantastic change if we think as Christ was thinking and work as Christ was working. This is what the world is expecting from us, the Christians", Bishop Robert Solomon, who is also the President of the Council of Churches of Singapore said in his message. Rev. George Mathew translaed his message.
Bishop Robert Solomon and Rev. George Mathew Choir lead by Rev. Sajan P. Mathew
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) will be the chief guest and one of the main speakers.
Rev. Kobia will address the convention on two separate occasions. On 17 February, he will inaugurate the year-long celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee (75th anniversary) of the Mar Thoma Youth Association - The Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam- which has over 900 branches in India, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Europe. He will preach at the convention later the same day, and on 18 February will preach again at the convention's valedictory session.
Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia Anne Graham Lotz Rajkumar Ramachandran
Anne Graham Lotz, founder of AnGeL Ministries and daughter of world renowned evangelist Billy Graham also one of the speakers of the Convention this year.
Rajkumar Ramachandran is another main preacher.
The origin and growth of the convention can be traced to the revival movement started in the wake of reformation in the Syrian Churh in the state pioneered by Abraham Maplan, in the first quarter of 19th century. It is regarded as one of the oldest indigenous missionary movements in India.
With over 24 million Christians, comprising 2.3% of the country's population, Christianity is India's third-largest religion. The first Christians in India were converted by the apostle Thomas, who arrived on the Malabar Coast in Kerala in 52 AD; Christianity in India underwent major transformations during the colonial and post-independence periods. The two main regional concentrations of Christian population are in Kerala, South India, and in North-East Indian states.
Government departments of Kerala have made elaborate arrangements for the Maramon Convention.
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Paul Ciniraj is the founder-director of the Salem Voice Ministries. He is the Chairman of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and also one of the Co-ordinators of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). He was a muslim by birth, accepted Lord Jesus Christ as his Personal Saviour and called for His ministry about 32 years ago. He is a well known Gospel Preacher and the author of many Christian books, literature and Gospel tracts. Several times he and his family were attempted to death and still facing persecutions. Around 500 missionaries of the Salem Voice Ministries spreading Gospel to the Muslim populated countries of Africa, Asia and Middle East.
Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India.
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