The 117th Maramon Convention, organised by Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (MTEA) came to a close with a call to live in God in order to overcome the problems facing the modern-day society and the world at large.
Delivering the valedictory message, Dr Joseph Mar Thoma, Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church, said man’s mad rush to reach the goal through any means was the bane of the modern society.
According to him, man’s journey from one mistake to another was the fallout of his irresponsible behaviour, forgetting the responsibility to care the nature vested in him by his creator, God Almighty.
“The experience of sharing has no place even at our homes. Strained relationships have become very common and our homes have become the most insecure place in the modern times,’’ the Metropolitan said.
Dr Joseph Mar Thoma said the growing graph of suicide rate in the State itself was a sad testimony to this sorry state of affairs with the Kerala households.
As in the Eden garden, man misuses the freedom and responsibility vested in him by God, leading to all sorts of social problems in the modern world, says he. Corruption has become a major cause of worry in all walks of life.
The Metropolitan has called upon the believers to identify and correct their own flaws, keeping firm faith in Jesus Christ. He said reformation of the society should begin at the home itself.
Rev Kang-San-Tan, evangelist from Malaysia, delivered the religious discourse and Thomas Mar Themotheos Episcopa, MTEA president, presided the function.
K. Babu, Fisheries Minister; Prof P.J. Kurien, Rajya Sabha member; Raju Abraham, K. Sivadasan Nair, Mathew T. Thomas, all MLAs; Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee(I) president; Joseph M. Puthuserry, Elizabeth Mammem Mathai, Malethu saraladevi, former MLAs; Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senuior Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church; Zacharias Mar Theophilus Saffragfan Metropolitan and Bishop Thomas K. Oommen of Church of South India, were among those who attended the valedictory function.
Forenoon session
Rev Dr Martin Alphons, evangelist from the United States, delivered the keynote address at the forenoon session. Dr Joseph Mar Thoma presided the session.