WCC news: WCC general secretary addresses 130th Maramon Convention

Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay addressed over 100,000 people attending Asia’s largest Christian gathering on 9 February. Screenshot from the livestream.  10 February 2025 “What a great witness your presence is, in this gathering of celebration, prayer, Christian unity, and an opportunity to drink from the wells of spiritual blessings,” said Pillay during his sermon.  “God has called us to be together today. For whatever reason you have come, you are not here by accident. God has called you to be here today and in the days that will follow. God is always calling us to serve Him and to serve the world with His grace, justice, and love. Often times we do not understand this, and we push it away,” he said. The 130th Maramon Convention is currently underway, taking place from 9-16 February on the sandy banks of the Pampa River in Maramon, Kerala, India. Organized by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, this annual event is renowned as one of the largest Christian gatherings in Asia.  “God called me, God called the clergy present, and God called you as children of God. All through the Scriptures, God calls people to serve Him in different ways,” added Pillay. “What is God calling me to do? What is God calling you to do? What is God calling us to do?” “There must come a time when we take the decision to follow Jesus, to take stock and reflect on the call God is placing in our lives. I say to you today: Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus.”  Theodosius Mar Thoma, Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, inaugurated the event at a function to be presided over by Isaac Mar Philoxenos.  Besides the bishops in the Mar Thoma Church, the convention also features Victor Aloyo, president of the Columbia Theological Seminary, Major Archbishop Mar Raphel Thattil, and Archbishop Mar Thomas Tharayil, among others. The Maramon Convention continues to be a significant event for Christians worldwide, offering a platform for spiritual rejuvenation, community building, and discussions on pertinent social issues. Photo gallery Video: Inaugural Session of the 130th Maramon Convention WCC general secretary joins anniversary celebration of historic church in India (WCC news release, 10 February 2025) WCC general secretary will visit India to strengthen ties (WCC news release, 7 February 2025) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland