"I would like to clone her"

When an individual contacts the Bahá’í community via the 800-22UNITE phone line or the public Web site www.bahai.us, the Seeker Response System regional specialist works with local believers to quickly respond to the seeker’s interest and connect them to Bahá’ís and core activities near them, according to their interest. The regional specialist, through accompaniment and encouragement, builds the capacity of the friends at the cluster level to more systematically respond to seeker inquiries. And in some clusters, this capacity is showing itself in beautiful and practical ways. Here is a report from a regional specialist about a B-stage cluster in the Northeast region, sharing a wonderful example of systematic follow-up.

I thought you might enjoy reading this wonderful invitation sent by my seeker contact for the __ cluster (she is also the area teaching committee secretary). This is the kind of follow through I try to encourage in all the clusters in the Northeast, and __ is exemplary in this regard. She not only invites the seekers to activities, she also lets all the communities know that the seekers have been invited and urges them to stay current on reporting their events to her, as well as watching for seeker contacts. I would like to clone her. . . .

Loving regards,

R

Sample email from seeker contact to all the Bahá’ís in her cluster:

Dear Friends--

Below is a letter that I sent out to seekers in __ from the national Seeker Response system.

I also sent out an invitation for these seekers to participate in one of the "Reflections on the Life of the Spirit" courses that is starting.

If your personal or your community's meetings—devotionals, Holy Day celebrations, firesides, etc.—is not on this list, it is because I do not yet have information about the event that you are hosting. Please send me the news about any activities that you are hosting so that I can be sure to include it on this regular (monthly) mailing.

with love,

L

Sample email from seeker contact to seeker:

Dear __

On behalf of the Bahá’ís of __, I would like to cordially invite you to attend our upcoming devotional meetings and Holy Day celebrations (listed below). Bahá’í meetings and celebrations are open to people of all backgrounds and Faiths, and there is no cost to participate.

As you may be aware, a fundamental teaching of the Bahá’í Faith is that each soul must freely and independently investigate the Truth for himself or herself. The purpose of all Bahá’í meetings is to contribute to the spiritual upliftment of the individual and of society. Bahá’í are not permitted to proselytize or to put any pressure on others to change their beliefs. Please be assured that you can attend any or all of these meetings without any expectations of "conversion" or even of continuing participation.

If you would like more information and/or would like to attend, please contact the person who is hosting the meeting. Please do not hesitate to contact me as well with your concerns and questions.

With warm regards,

L

for the Bahá’ís of __

(Followed by list of events)