Uniting a campus in prayer for Haiti

We wish to share this beautiful initiative spearheaded by the Bahá’í Campus Association at New York University. They have started a campaign of individual prayers and are planning an interfaith prayer event, at NYU. Below is a letter they have sent to all the religious clubs at that university. This is such a heartfelt outpouring of service, that we wanted to encourage the Bahá’ís at other colleges and universities to also consider a similar effort!

The president of the Bahá’í Campus Association gives some background to this endeavor:

In the past few weeks, the NYU campus has been hosting numerous student-run efforts to provide material relief for those affected by the disaster in Haiti. In light of the message from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Haiti along with reflection upon a quote by Shoghi Effendi (below), however, we felt it was incredibly important to summon spiritual support for the victims of the Haiti disaster as well. We have therefore used our resources as a Bahá'í Club at NYU to initiate a "Prayers for Haiti" campaign (and a Prayers for Haiti interfaith event) by reaching to all other spiritual clubs on campus. Below is the letter which we have written to the other clubs on campus (others are welcome to use it as well). . . .

Here is the letter:

To the spiritual clubs of NYU:

"...When such a crisis sweeps over the world no person should hope to remain intact. We belong to an organic unit and when one part of the organism suffers all the rest of the body will feel its consequence."—Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í writings

Dear friends,

In this time of extreme suffering for the people of Haiti and those all around the world who are touched by the disaster there, it is clear that our global community must rise up in every way we can to support those affected. Monetary and material support is, of course, of great necessity, but the importance of providing spiritual support is immeasurably important as well.

On behalf of the Bahá'í Club, I would therefore like to initiate the creation of a "Prayers for Haiti" event and campaign in the upcoming weeks. It would be a beautiful thing for all the clubs providing spiritual leadership on campus to pledge as one unified body that we will say daily prayers for those affected by the disaster in Haiti. Any clubs interested in co-sponsoring and hosting an inter-faith “Prayers for Haiti” devotional event, please contact us as soon as possible.

Thank you for your faithful support of those affected by the disaster in Haiti, and may our prayers spread comfort to those in need.

NYU Bahá’í Club

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth."—Bahá’u’lláh