Thousands cross River Pampa every day to go to the convention meetings and back. - Malayala Manorama picture.
Bishop Dr Solomon
one of four main speakers
MARAMON (Kerala, India)
- A huge crowd of more than 100,000 people from various parts
of India and other countries attended the 112th Maramon Convention
here from Feb 11 to 18, 2007.
Held on the sandbed of River Pampa in Maramon, Kerala, the convention
has helped to kindle the spirit of revivalism among the Marthoma
Christians and to address the social concerns facing the Indian
society.
It was organised by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association - the
evangelistic wing of the Mar Thoma Syrian Christian Church - with
the cooperation of all the other auxiliary units of the church.
The convention meetings were held in a "pandal" (giant
temporary shed) to accommodate the more than 100,000 people. A
special "pandal" for mothers with babies was constructed
adjacent to the main shed.
Personal evangelism and counselling formed part of the convention,
and prayer sheds were available.
The vision of a small prayer group of 12 members, the convention
answered the fervent prayers of the founding fathers with its
phenomenal growth from 1895 when it was launched. It has since
attained a global stature, and attracted Christians of all denominations
and even people belonging to other faiths.
Bishop Dr Robert Solomon was one of the four main speakers at
the convention. His messages were based on the text from Colossians.
He also spoke at the Opening Service on Feb 11 and conducted Bible
studies for the men every morning throughout the convention period.
The Rev Dr George Varghese, who translated the Bishop's messages,
expressed his appreciation for the "wonderful messages which
had made an impact on our listeners".
The other speakers were Mr R. Rajkumar, Director of Logos Ministries
in New Delhi; Mrs Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of American evangelist
Billy Graham; and the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of
the World Council of Churches.
The Rev Dr Johnson Mathew, General Secretary of the Mar Thoma
Evangelistic Association, said: "Their messages were spread
over a period of eight days and the large crowd which gathered
listened with rapt attention."
Past speakers included Dr E. Stanley Jones, American Methodist
evangelist and missionary to India, and Sadhu Sundar Singh. Dr
Jones had preached regularly at the convention for 30 years in
the early part of the 20th century.
The Rev Dr Kobia described the convention as "a unique experience
that will remain in my memory for a long time", adding: "I
had never seen anything like this before."