The 78th Bible Mission annual convention began on the sprawling grounds opposite Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) on Sunday.
A multitude of devotees from far-flung areas thronged the venue, which has been decked up for the three-day event. The 100-acre ground was itself a sea of humanity, as crowds began streaming in on the opening day of the convention.
‘Stay away from conflict’
Convener of Bible Mission J. Samuel Kiran opened the meetings with a message taken from the text in the Song of Solomon of the Old Testament in the Holy Bible. Comparing the world to a garden, Rev. Samuel Kiran exhorted the faithful to live in peace and stay away from conflict.
Warning that the world continues to be torn apart by strife and selfishness, Rev. Samuel Kiran wanted people to pay heed to the Word of God and learn to peacefully co-exist with one another.
Rev. Samuel Kiran said that though it had been a Herculean task of feeding more than 8 lakh devotees, the organisers were able to do it owing to the blessings of the Lord. This year, they plan to provide one curry a day.
Earlier, the meetings began on a prayerful note, with the women’s choir team led by Prameela Selvaraj rendering melodious gospel tunes.
Chairman of the Bible Mission N. Satyanandam began his speech with a prayer.
A host of VIPs lined up for the meetings. Member of Parliament Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, former Minister Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad and DSP, Guntur West, Saritha were present on the occasion.
You have reached your limit for free articles this month.
Subscription Benefits Include
Today's Paper
Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list.
Unlimited Access
Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.
Personalised recommendations
A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.
Faster pages
Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.
Dashboard
A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.
Briefing
We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.
Support Quality Journalism.
*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper, crossword and print.
A letter from the Editor
Dear subscriber,
Thank you!
Your support for our journalism is invaluable. It’s a support for truth and fairness in journalism. It has helped us keep apace with events and happenings.
The Hindu has always stood for journalism that is in the public interest. At this difficult time, it becomes even more important that we have access to information that has a bearing on our health and well-being, our lives, and livelihoods. As a subscriber, you are not only a beneficiary of our work but also its enabler.
We also reiterate here the promise that our team of reporters, copy editors, fact-checkers, designers, and photographers will deliver quality journalism that stays away from vested interest and political propaganda.
Suresh Nambath
Please Email the Editor