Precious Souls Engaged in Community Building

In the Great Plains region of the United States, a wife and husband made the decision to study other religions besides their previous church. Living in a community where there were Baha'is, a family introduced them to the Teachings of Baha'u'llah. Even though the Baha'i family eventually moved away, the couple continued their investigation of the Faith online. The wife and her husband eventually contacted other Baha'is in the area, and decided to join the community as members.

A Baha'i friend of this energetic couple shared how these two new believers had immediately begun to serve their new community: “They are both involved in core activities with the other Baha'is in the area. They all have home visits constantly every week. There isn't a week that goes by when they don't visit their other Baha'i friends.”

Amazingly, the couple's service to the Baha'i community does not stop here. They then decided to move to another city in their state in order to become “home-front pioneers” because there were few believers there. In fact, in deciding where they would move next, they chose a community in order to help form a local Spiritual Assembly!

The same Baha'i friend related that the couple visited another community:

“...to see how children classes are handled here. They are taking all the great things they have learned back to their home community. [They] plan to start children classes with children in their [own] neighborhood. These two have done so much to help contribute back to their community and they both have emphasized how they want to continue giving back.”

“Thank you for sharing their wonderful activities,” wrote a member of the Auxiliary Board for their region. “It’s exciting that these precious souls are so engaged in the community building and learning processes.”

Stay tuned: Watch for the next story about these dynamic new community members in a few days!

My life has changed since I found the Baha’i Faith…

Teaching the Baha’i Faith has much to do with listening to people, understanding their thoughts and needs, and knowing when and how to share.

Here is the story of a man who learned about the Baha’i Faith from a guest at the Caribbean island resort where he works. After years of struggle with substance abuse, he began a spiritual search that led eventually to several Baha’is. The story involves caring and generosity, and also ways to clearly and effectively present the Baha’i Teachings.

The Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi, referred to direct teaching as “an open and bold assertion of the fundamental verities of the Cause,” with the goal of helping “in the eventual recognition by all mankind of the indispensability, the uniqueness and the supreme station of the Baha’i Revelation.”

To this guidance, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States adds in its February 20, 2008 letter: “The choice of method lies with the teacher, who must act with wisdom in all circumstances, according to his or her perception of the seeker’s receptivity.”

The seeker describes his past substance abuse and spiritual yearning, before learning about the Baha’i Faith:

For many years I had been searching for something to make me feel whole. I had always believed in God, but only called upon Him when I was deeply afraid or in bad trouble. (One day) I asked God for help. I told Him that I couldn't go on the way I was. That night I found myself in a hospital in the detox ward. (During therapy sessions) we often spoke of a Higher Power. I chose to call mine God. I attempted on a daily basis to get closer to God using prayer and meditation, but after six years I still felt something was missing. I needed something more.

In the course of his work on the island, he met a guest who is a Baha’i. Their friendship developed over time until she shared the Faith with him. Sensing his receptivity, the lady invited the seeker to her Latin American country for a visit. The seeker writes:

I'd never heard of it before. But every detail she revealed to me piqued my curiosity even further. I began to realize that this was what I'd been looking for all of this time. There was no aspect of the Baha’i Faith that I couldn't agree with. Some of their ideas I already believed in, others simply made perfect sense to me. She invited me to visit with her and some friends at her home. They are very spiritual people who made me feel so welcome. We had prayers every evening and I could feel my faith growing. My friend gave me some literature to study, one prayer book, and a meditation book.

After returning to his island, he was eager to meet more Baha’is. He searched an old phone book, and found a listing for the Baha’is on an island over 50 miles away. A Baha’i woman living there answered his telephone call.

I called and she was quite happy to hear from me. She was very interested in how I got her number. Apparently it wasn't in the newer phone books. She said it was more than a coincidence that I was able to get a hold of her. We talked for a bit, then she said a prayer over the phone. She also told me that there were two Bahai's on the island where I live. Since there are only about 150 people living here, I already knew them. We have started Ruhi together and I've been to their house for a Holy Day celebration.

The two Baha’is on the seeker’s home island also shared “Anna’s presentation” from Ruhi Book 6. In its February 20, 2008 letter, the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly writes:

Teachers in clusters around the world are finding “Anna’s presentation” from Book 6 of the Ruhi curriculum to be a helpful model for direct teaching. As teachers gain in experience, they learn to adapt the presentation according to individual circumstances. Yet the general content—comprehensive, clear, and forthright presentation, with a loving invitation to receptive souls to embrace the Faith—remains essentially the same.

This seeker gives a sincere account of the changes in his life after meeting Baha’is and investigating the Faith:

My life has changed so much for the better since I've found the Baha'i Faith. I no longer smoke cigarettes, or have anxiety problems that require medication. I have learned how damaging backbiting is and how important it is to avoid it at all costs. I understand the importance of daily prayer. I am no longer afraid of the future; I have some new-found life goals. My interest in helping my fellow man and especially those less fortunate than me has become a priority. I still have so much to learn, but I believe that is what life is about: always striving to learn more and become a better person.

Crisis and Victory

In a prayer for youth, 'Abdu'l-Bahá supplicates:

O Lord! Strengthen these fragile seedlings that each one may become a fruitful tree, verdant and flourishing. Render these souls victorious through the potency of Thy celestial hosts, that they may be able to crush the forces of error and ignorance and to unfurl the standard of fellowship and guidance amidst the people; that they may, even as the reviving breaths of the spring, refresh and quicken the trees of human souls and like unto vernal showers make the meads of that region green and fertile.

Those who have studied Ruhi Book 4 know that the lives of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh provide us with an important object lesson: that the Cause of God advances through a series of crises and victories. It “moves from crisis to victory to crisis to victory, and no power on earth is capable of stopping its onward march.” The same principle holds true on a smaller scale at the level of individual core activities, and nowhere is this more apparent than with the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. The following story tells of a junior youth group in crisis, and how a personal tragedy helped the group turn that crisis into victory.

Today our junior youth group experienced a breeze of confirmation. Over the past few weeks, our group has been struggling with disunity, and today, we finally began to overcome that barrier. We started with a prayer; we had never done this before, but since the junior youth had not been getting along lately, I figured it would set a good tone. Afterwards, we decided to update our group “pact” with a new set of guidelines that all of the junior youth came up with together, including some new members. We emphasized that these guidelines were important to prevent future problems that could contribute to the disunity our group was currently facing.

After revising the pact, we went to play soccer. As we were walking, Jack called me over from across the street. Jack is the stepfather of one of our former group members, Jeremy, who moved away about a month ago. His mom, Melony, had lost both of her legs to cancer four years ago, and she had sent Jeremy to live with his dad because it was time for him to have a full time male role model. Today, I learned from Jack that Melony knew she did not have long to live, and wanted Jeremy to be settled in with his father by the time she was gone. Melony lost her life to cancer just a few days ago.

I had never seen Jack so speechless. He could not express any words to me, so he sent me inside his home to talk with Connie, Melony’s best friend of 17 years. Connie sketched out the last moments of Melony’s life. She expressed Melony’s last wishes, which were to have her body cremated and her ashes given to her two sons so they could scatter them in the ocean together. At this point, I realized that Connie and Jack were not only mourning the death of Melony, but were also worried because they were $225 short in paying for her funeral expenses.

What happened next was beautiful. I got to share prayers with them. We said a prayer for the departed, and I assured them that God would take care of this problem. Then my co-animator arrived and also shared prayers with them. I asked them for permission to share this news with the rest of the group and they agreed. I joined the group on the soccer field and informed them of their neighborhood’s loss. They wanted to know if Jeremy was okay, and how they could help. I told them about the funeral expenses, and they immediately wanted to do something. This became our next service project.

After offering condolences, the group fanned out into the neighborhood in teams of two, and in a span of just an hour we collected over $150. We presented this money to Jeremy’s family, and this is when I realized how empowered the group had become today. Connie and Jack expressed their thanks in such a way that the junior youth truly felt the significance of what they had accomplished. They recognized the purpose of their group; that it is the core of the neighborhood, and that it is strong enough to put aside personal differences in times of need. They showed encouragement, love, generosity, and kindness to a family during a difficult time.

What was perhaps most empowering was that race barriers were dissolved today. Jeremy’s family is African American, while the rest of the group members are Hispanic. The junior youth have been hesitant to invite their African American neighbors to join. When we talked about reaching out to them two weeks ago, they expressed that they were not wanted in the African American community across the street, and they had no reason to go there. But today, thanks to Melony’s sacrifice, our junior youth group was given a reason to bridge these race barriers and to unify as a group to work toward one common goal. A boy, who had dropped out of the group about a month ago but was playing soccer with us, took ownership of the service project and led the group in helping Melony’s family.

We had so many touching moments. One of the youth shared a story of one of the men who donated money. The man said he was going to spend the money on beer, but because he knows Jeremy’s family is in need and because of how much he loves his own mom, he decided to donate the money instead. When this story was shared with the family, Connie was overcome with how special a sacrifice that man had made.

These breezes of confirmation solidified our group today and empowered these junior youth to experience firsthand that they can make a difference in their neighborhood and in the world.

No Time to Lose

This story is about Jerry, a lifelong seeker of truth who registered online with only his street address as contact information. Although those who register online receive a series of letters in the mail, Jerry’s contact information was immediately forwarded to the Area Teaching Committee — also known as the ATC, the team that arranges for systematic visits to the homes of believers or friends — with the suggestion that a home visit might be appropriate.

The beloved Guardian Shoghi Effendi urged the friends not to lose a moment’s time in arising to teach the Cause:

There is no time to lose. There is no room left for vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the Bread of Life. The stage is set. The firm and irrevocable Promise is given. God's own Plan has been set in motion. It is gathering momentum with every passing day. The powers of heaven and earth mysteriously assist in its execution. Such an opportunity is irreplaceable. Let the doubter arise and himself verify the truth of such assertions. To try, to persevere, is to insure ultimate and complete victory.

Being well familiar with this memorization quote from Ruhi Book 4 and not wanting to let the opportunity pass, the Area Teaching Committee members made plans to visit Jerry that very same day. This is what they reported:

We met Jerry on the sidewalk down the street from his house. He seemed quite happy to see us, and said he was just on his way to find the Bahá’í Center or to go to the library to pick up some Bahá’í books so he could study the Faith from his own vantage point.

We learned that Jerry grew up Lutheran but soon began feeling that there was more, and he spent most of his adult life searching. The horrendous shooting at the Sikh Temple [in Oak Creek, Wisconsin] prompted him to look up the Sikh faith and learn more about it, but while he agreed with most of the Sikh beliefs, there were other things he didn't agree with. Jerry explained that he used to live in Chicago and his work in Evanston would routinely take him past the Bahá’í National Center, but he never went inside to ask about the Faith. However, now his curiosity had peaked and yesterday he submitted his address on the website so he could learn more. Although extremely cordial, Jerry mentioned that before he had any face to face conversations about the Faith, he would first like to read some books so that he would know what questions to ask.

Since Jerry was just on his way to find Bahá’í books, we mentioned that the Bahá’í Center has a lending library. He agreed to accompany us to the Bahá’í Center where we hand-picked a small stack of books that might suit his desire to find an intimate connection with the Goal of his desire. Jerry selected a few books and seemed pleased to have something to take home and read. Along the way we asked him if there was any way we could be of service. He said he would be moving soon and could use some help driving a few things to his new place when the time came. Since one of us has a minivan, we offered to help and decided this would be a great time to get together and talk about the books he borrowed.

Let us all surround his peaceful soul with prayer and deep feelings of love, he really is a wonderful soul! And thanks for getting this to us right away. The quick response was a key factor in the success of our visit!

Postscript: In addition to the importance of quickly responding to an individual’s expressed desire for knowledge, this story also mentions that it was the Sikh Temple shooting that reinvigorated Jerry’s search for truth. This certainly causes one to reflect on the Guardian’s statement that the “opportunities which the turmoil of the present age presents, with all the sorrows which it evokes, the fears which it excites, the disillusionment which it produces, the perplexities which it creates, the indignation which it arouses, the revolt which it provokes, the grievances it engenders, the spirit of restless search which it awakens,” must be used for “enlisting fresh recruits in the ever-swelling army of His followers.” (The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 48)

Christ's Message Renewed

When Melissa from Tennessee declared her belief in Baha’u’llah, she shared this sensitive, spiritual and powerful testimony to the renewal of Christ’s message.

My husband has been a Baha'i for a little more than a year now. I had been a Latter Day Saint for quite a while though I was inactive for the last four years. The Baha'i Faith definitely interested me but I felt some apprehension because I felt like I would be somehow rejecting Jesus if I became Baha'i. It wasn't until our daughter experienced a devastating car accident in August that I really opened my heart to the idea of becoming a Baha'i. The outpouring of love and support we received from the Baha'i Community was overwhelming. The scripture "by their fruits you will know them" really hit home for me. I was able to talk to some of the Baha'is about my worries and I realized that declaring my faith in Baha'u'llah was by no means rejecting the message of Jesus Christ. Baha'u'llah's message is simply a renewal and unification of the messages of all of God's Manifestations. I'm very happy to become a part of the Baha'i Family.

The Vitality of the Training Institute

In April the Universal House of Justice wrote that “primary responsibility for the development of human resources in a region or country rests with the training institute.”

Having participated in a training session hosted by the Magdalene Carney Bahá’í Institute, the Children’s Classes Coordinator of the Baton Rouge, LA cluster (A-stage) returned home inspired to pursue new goals:

A family gathering was organized to ask for parental involvement and input into the classes. The parents suggested that we have more diversity of children in the classes.

It was requested that children’s class schedules be available for all the teachers, parents, and the community three months in advance, and that a list of substitute teachers be developed.

Visits were made to LSAs in the cluster to share the learning gained from teaching children’s classes, as well as the plans for an upcoming Bahá’í summer camp, and the types of support needed.  LSA funding support was received.

To assist with children’s classes, new resources were actively sought.  One parent was found from the Community of Interest (who is currently studying Book 3, and also helps out with the Bahá’í summer camp).  She has been able to invite other children to this summer camp, as she lives in the neighborhood and the neighbors trust her.  This parent and her Book 3 tutor have being doing home visits to attract more children to the classes.

Concrete, practical, and useful developments -- thanks to inspirational training.

“To ensure that the proper measure of vitality is pulsating through this system should continue to be the object of intense learning in every country over the course of the next twelve months.” (Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 2010)

When Study and Service Are Carried Out Concurrently

That the Bahá’í world has succeeded in developing a culture which promotes a way of thinking, studying, and acting, in which all consider themselves as treading a common path of service -- supporting one another and advancing together, respectful of the knowledge that each one possesses at any given moment and avoiding the tendency to divide the believers into categories such as deepened and uninformed -- is an accomplishment of enormous proportions.  And therein lie the dynamics of an irrepressible movement. (Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 2010)

The Area Teaching Committee of California’s Monterey County cluster (A-stage) reports this story about a recent on-line declarant.

“J.” is in the US Navy and is currently stationed at _____. Following news of his on-line declaration and confirmation, the institute process was initiated with some twists due to local conditions. Since the [military base] is closed to civilians, home visits were not possible, so “J.” had home visits at the home of some nearby Bahá’ís. Bonds of friendship quickly developed through these home visits. “J.” showed great interest in advancing his knowledge of the Bahá’í Faith, so within a couple of weeks, he was enrolled in a Ruhi Book 1 course. Layers of accompaniment occurred throughout the course of study. The woman serving as tutor had recently completed Book 7, and this was her first experience as a tutor. She was accompanied by [another student] who had completed the sequence of courses and initially served as co-tutor. So not only was “J.” developing his capacities, but the capacity of a new tutor was also strengthened. Prior to completing his study of Book 1, we started talking with “J.” about hosting a devotional gathering for [his colleagues on the military base]. By the end of Book 1, “J.” hosted his first devotional gathering, and invited twenty of his colleagues! The devotional was hosted at the home of the nearby Bahá’ís, and all of a sudden the [military base], which formerly seemed to be closed, was now perceived as part of the neighborhood.  Since then, “J.” has participated in home visits in the target neighborhood for the cluster's Intensive Program of Growth, and he is planning his second devotional gathering.

“J.” will be leaving in December for his new assignment. While we will miss him dearly, he will be prepared to serve no matter where he goes. Thanks to him, we have seen what can happen "when study and service are joined and carried out concurrently."

They are fearless and they keep trying

 

Here is a story of an individual who reached out to the Bahá’ís through the Seeker Response System and who declared after a home visit.  The dedication of the local friends, and the systematic follow-up by the cluster’s area teaching committee, has resulted in several declarations and successful consolidation.

Hi again,

I was looking over records and noticed 2 declarations via home visits in this one cluster in just a couple of weeks.  One of the Area Teaching Committee members had entered these notes into the system:

H & I went to __’s home (she can not receive mail there) despite snow in the air and a limited amount on the ground and being almost 2 hours away.  We found her at home.  She said the reason she contacted the Bahá’í community was for her son who was searching, as well as for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. . . .

We engaged her in a conversation like Anna, at twice during the conversation __ said she believed in Bahá’u’lláh.  She wanted to know if there were Bahá’ís near her.  We said not many but we could start a study circle in her home and we would return with two weeks.  She said she would also like for us to come when her son visits here in a couple of months.  We left her with a copy of the prayer book and encouraged her to say the obligatory prayer each day.

Both __ and H have similar backgrounds and histories, and they really hit it off!

Lines of Action:  Return in 2 weeks to start study circle at her home.  Contact local Bahá’í EL for assistance.  Share the Faith with her son when he visits.

The new believer had filled out a declaration card; however the teaching team has request that we enroll her online, so we have done so.

Given the size of this cluster and the relative isolation of most of the Bahá’ís, it’s a miracle we can ever establish any consistent accompaniment at all.  But this Area Teaching Committee is fearless and they keep trying.

R

Studying the Writings and reflecting on the neighborhood

 

The Universal House of Justice has set before us in the Ridvan 2010 message the goal of creating in neighborhoods “a centre of intense activity” characterized by the core activities.  Here is a snapshot of how this new culture is taking root in the Santa Cruz, CA (A) cluster, shown through the lens of a home visit.

Inspiring and informative home visits continue at one apartment complex in the cluster.  When we discuss quotes from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh with one friends, she sees their applicability in the community.  She speaks about the possible ways in which these words might inform the health and vitality of the neighborhood and how the ideas can transform our daily lives. . . .

It has been a time of reflection on the state of the neighborhood and the challenges facing it and the hardships experienced within the community.  The home visits are also often paired with a children’s class for the children who live there.  We are always warmly greeted by the smallest child, who gathers her brother and sister, and the class begins with songs, stories and memorization of quotes.

And in another part of the cluster, an animator of a junior youth group describes the effect of this activity on the participants.

Junior youth in the Santa Cruz cluster say that initially they decided to become a part of the group because they were friends with the people who were already in the group, and they wanted to be with their friends.  However, as the group progressed, they came to see it as a dynamic force for action to make their own community a better place to live.  They do all sorts of activities together and say that the junior youth group is important for social interaction and community development.

Their favorite recent experiences in the group have been planning service projects, raising money for and learning more about charity organizations.  The junior youth describe the animators as “cool, funny and good role models.”

Welcoming in a new believer through home visit

 

Every day, searching souls reach out to the Bahá’í community through channels such as the public Web site www.bahai.us or the 800-22UNITE phone line.  That is just the first step in a process of nurturing and welcoming.  And that is where follow-up by the local friends is vital.  Here is a lovely story from Chicago, IL (A) where two of the friends made a home visit to a new believer who had initially connected with the Bahá’ís through the Seeker Response system.

Dear Friends, Allah'u'Abha!

I am writing to share about the home visit that S and I had with __.

We visited him at his apartment.  He graciously received us and shared a lot about his life history as well as the journey towards the Faith.  He stated that he realized that after reading the Bahá’í Prayers, the very same neighbors that he was previously indifferent towards started to look wonderful to him. . . .

S had kindly brought three different books to give to him as a gift, and he was really happy to receive them.

He shared that he had mailed in his declaration card.  I was not sure as were he was along the path of affirmation. Therefore, I shared with him an overview of the Central Figures of the faith, Shoghi Effendi, the Universal House of Justice and the need for obeying the Bahá’í laws as we learn about them.

I offered him the opportunity to ask questions.  He said that he had only one, and that was when the bookstore was open—he expressed interest in going to the House of Worship.

Yesterday, I got a call from some other Bahá’ís who are in a Ruhi Book 2 study circle with S and me.  They had heard the story of __ and graciously offered to take him to the House of Worship.  They have already made plans to pick him up and take him for one of the Sunday devotional services.  I had the bounty of talking to __ again yesterday to confirm that arrangement.  He also shared that he had received his membership card and that he was really happy about it.  He said that I had never been a member of any religion before.

I told him about the 19 Day Feast and that one is coming up next week (now that he has his membership card).  He would like to come and meet other Bahá’ís.

The friendship was constant and unconditional

This story from an A-stage cluster in the Northeast region shows the importance and power of true friendship.  Note also the role that home visits played in the process.  It’s interesting that when the seeker declared, rather than the Bahá’ís running around to get a registration card, they invited him to go online!

T and S have been friends for over 20 years, and S has been a Bahá’í for several years now.  Both are committed to personal and spiritual development and transformation.  T would get together from time to time with a local Bahá’í couple.  They would visit each other’s homes.  So over the past year, T would call his Bahá’í contacts increasingly often and ask more and more detailed questions.  He was given a copy of “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era” to read. . . .

Last month, T called up his Bahá’í friends and said he was ready to become a Bahá’í.  They gave him the information about where he could declare his Faith online at the U.S. Bahá’í Web site.  He did so, and shortly after, the area teaching committee was calling him to verify all the details.  T then attended a fireside at the home of his friends where a film was shown about the Bahá’í World Center in Haifa, and he was able to see the worldwide reach of the Faith.

At that gathering, T explained his attraction to the Faith.  For him, he felt his upbringing had influenced him to be very critical of himself and others.  However, with the Bahá’ís, he always felt differently, and was profoundly moved to realize that over the years their friendship had been constant and unconditional.  Everyone in the room was moved.

This neighborhood has taught us how to be more open

 

Some people homefront pioneer to another cluster, but some of the believers also homefront pioneer WITHIN their cluster to a receptive neighborhood!  In the past we have posted truly inspiring stories about “Bahá’í villages” in other parts of the country, and this story from Washington, DC (A) is equally delightful.  Why did these Bahá’ís move to a particular neighborhood?  Because they fell in love with it and with the people who lived there.  Their new home has become the center of a growing pattern of activity that form the building blocks of a new spiritual community.  But most of all, you can see their joy at how their homefront pioneering has brought them the chance to make friendships with people they otherwise might never have met.

In the Spring of 2009, one neighborhood in DC was the focus of collective teaching.  One of the believers was touched by the warm and friendly nature of the residents.  He and his wife fell in love with the neighborhood as they connected with the residents and shared Bahá’u’lláh’s Message.  The decision to homefront pioneer within their own cluster to this neighborhood came easily. . . .

Since their move, the couple continues to make friendly connections with neighbors and they strive to have meaningful conversations with them on spiritual matters.  They formed a neighborhood children’s class and continue to maintain it with the assistance of others including a seeker who has been deeply moved by this involvement in the classes.

Their home is open to the systematic study of the institute courses, is a base for weekly children’s classes, and serves as a base during expansion phase direct collective teaching projects.  They have hosted a neighborhood 19 Day Feast in their home and organize regular home visits in which members of the cluster gather at their home to pray and then go visit neighbors and friends.  In addition, they are working towards establishing a junior youth group.

They share their thoughts:

The opportunity for service is as incredible as we could ever have hoped for.  The community is warm and friendly and always eager to invite us over when they hear we are new to the neighborhood.

The obvious benefit has been the joy that has come from being able to befriend so many people, people from different cultural backgrounds that we otherwise would have never gotten to know.

One night we spent two hours at the home of one of our new neighbors.  When one of his children saw us, he seemed surprised that we were there.  We then had a great discussion about the oneness of humanity, and this father was so pleased that we were now friends.

In fact, the community we now live in has taught us how to be more open about expressing our love for humanity to strangers and people we hardly know—here it’s commonplace.

Be ready for many different things

 

When visiting people in their homes, either new believers or people to whom you are teaching the Faith, there are a lot of “nuts and bolts” that need to be in place to maximize their effectiveness.  Here is a very practical set of intriguing insights from Central Jersey (A).  One particularly important point is the value of carrying out such an effort in a neighborhood or building where there is already the presence of one of the friends.  Note also how we have to be ready to meet the wide range of possible needs and interests of the seeker.

It is very helpful to be able to do something like this in an apartment complex where a Bahá’í is currently residing, who is able to host events.  You can be talking as a friend of a neighbor, not as a stranger. . . .

It is good to have several "tools" in your toolbox.  Some people may just want to listen, and Anna's conversation is good for that.  Others may want to talk about specific teachings—be ready for that.  Others may want to read something or to look up more information on a website—be ready for both.  Some might benefit from a simple quote from the Writings (on children, or health, or death or work, or one of many other topics) for them to reflect on.  Others want an invitation to a planned event.  Some would like a return visit at a specific time that is convenient for them—be ready to return, or to send someone else, at any time.

Be sure to get their name, and if possible a telephone number, and if possible, set up a time for a return visit.  Call before returning to make sure they remembered it.

Keep detailed records of every visit and every attempted visit in order to do productive follow-up and to avoid re-contacting those who have expressed non-interest.  Include date and approximate time of visits.

She loved how this was "Faith in Action"

Home visits are a powerful means to forge friendships, to engage the community of interest, to nurture new believers—just to name a few things! The friends in the Howard County-Laurel, MD (A) recently set an ambitious goal for themselves to carry out 50 home visits during the current cycle of their intensive program of growth. This is a wonderful way to focus efforts and encourage ourselves to S T R E T C H to a new level of service. And what exciting home visits! The core activities and the institute process are all woven in with prayer and study of the Word of God—a truly coherent pair of gatherings.

Allah'u'Abha!

Here are 2 home visits toward our goal of 50!

First, M reported to me that she did a home visit this week with her friend and her friend’s mother. I quote, "And I started talking about children's classes and how my mom teaches children's classes. __'s mom asked if it's through the Bahá’í Faith, and I said yes, but that it was a service to the community and open to children of all religious backgrounds. And then she was saying how she read about the Bahá’í Faith and how she likes how it’s all inclusive. So then I proceeded with sharing the deepening theme about the Covenant." . . .

Wow! That is my Book 2 collaborator!

Second, J and I had a home visit with __, a contact who has already attended firesides and Holy Days in the community. We had in-depth conversations about the Bible, about Bahá’u’lláh, about the Bahá’í fulfillment of Biblical scriptures. We reviewed all the 6 main Ruhi Books with her (yes ALL 6 of ‘em), she loved how this was 'Faith in action', and she wants to start Book 1 next month. We then followed this with some potent verses from the Hidden Words and the Book of Certitude and ended with a prayer where we were all holding hands. Ya Baha!

Empowering new and old friends in Springdale

The friends in Springdale, AR (B) have been teaching up a storm. There is so much to celebrate in this recent cluster report, both in terms of the learning that has been gained and the results that have been achieved. The friends are working with a receptive population, empowering old and new believers alike through the institute process, and engaging Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’ís on campus. Two important areas of growth are their children’s classes and home visits.

Enrollments: 3 new Bahá’ís this cycle, 9 so far this year.

Friends arising to serve: 17 participants in a recent teaching project in Springdale, 26 homes visited, 17 return visits requested. . . .

Empowerment of new believers: 2 believers have finished studying Book 1 and will start Book 2. One of them will host the next Feast, as well as begin receiving home visits. Another believer has started Book 1, received a home visit, will give a fireside with 2 other believers next Friday, and will cook for a Holy Day celebration.

Empowerment of veteran believers: Around 5 friends shared Anna’s presentation for the first time during the direct teaching project. Around 15 Bahá’ís have taken training for and/or grasped the importance of the Book 2 deepening themes and their use in home visits. Several friends in a number of communities have carried out their first ever home visits, and additional believers are ready and making plans to do their own home visits.

Empowerment of Local Spiritual Assemblies: A member of the Regional Bahá’í Council visited the cluster and conducted a training for Local Spiritual Assemblies about the Institute process—right before Unit Convention. The training reviewed the skills and acts of service tied to each Ruhi book.

Children’s classes: 4 classes are active and continuing, and 1 new one has started this cycle. 2 of these are composed entirely of children from the wider community.

University Bahá’í club: It is formed and active and will have a regular devotional gathering, as well as firesides every other week.

Insights about receptive population: The main receptive population in this cluster is the Marshallese community. Most want to study the Ruhi Books and listen to the deepening themes in Marshallese. So we need to raise the number of Marshallese tutors and individuals who can make home visits.

There are already 2 confirmed Marshallese tutors, and another 2 just need to complete Book 7 to finish the sequence. Several Marshallese friends also learned the first part of the first deepening theme. They found it very useful. They like the idea of giving this theme in Marshallese, but request a non-Marshallese Bahá’í to accompany them to pray and answer questions if needed. So there is an opportunity for more of the non-Marshallese friends to work together and bond with the Marshallese through accompaniment.

To raise more Marshallese resources to carry out home visits, we will go theme by theme, practicing each one in the field before moving on to the next one.

Connecting with a receptive population

With joy we share this report from Kentuckiana (A), which has now had over 20 new believers in last 2 months. The Bahá’ís are connecting ever more intimately with a receptive population, new believers are rising up to teach everyone they know, and each home visit brings a fresh and wonderful surprise. Teaching is truly bringing the world together! Some photos of the new believers are now posted on the slideshow.

Dearest Friends,

Recently I was in Kentuckiana, and had the great pleasure of meeting __, who originally comes from Burma and recently became a Bahá’í as a result of a neighborhood teaching effort. He has subsequently taught the Faith to 12 others in a month. I asked B, who has been taking the lead for the teaching and consolidation activities with this group of wonderful friends to share their story with us. . . .

With warmest love and excitement,

C

The first time that I met __, I was on a teaching team with J. __ opened his door with a smile on his face and was courteous and hospitable and invited us into his apartment. There was already a small crowd of people in his apartment; some of them gave their seats to us.

I started sharing a presentation about the Faith. Two of the people present were missionaries who were not happy that we were there and kept trying to start an argument. I emphasized that the Bahá’í Faith is all about love and unity. __ asked us to continue, so I continued to the end of the presentation.

At the end, __ asked if he could “buy the book”. So we gave him some prayers and a pamphlet and promised to bring other books later.

The next day, I visited him again, this time with my husband. __ and another friend were there and welcomed us in and brought water for us.

We had brought a book for them. After some socializing, I asked them if they wanted to go over the presentation again since there were many interruptions yesterday when I shared it the first time. They agreed. So I shared Anna’s conversation from beginning to the end, at which point they both declared their faith in Bahá’u’lláh.

I have been visiting this place ever since to share deepening themes with __. Each time I take some different Bahá’í friends. And most of the times I go there I see some new faces. In fact, __ invites his friends over to meet us and hear a presentation about the Faith. So I change the deepening to sharing Anna’s conversation, and each time, __ helps me and translates it for his friends. He now has his own set of materials to share Anna’s conversation and has done this about 5 or 6 times with me.

We also invited __ and some other Bahá’ís to our home. He came will all his Bahá’í friends plus some other people too. Our plan was to have a unity feast with some prayers, some Hidden Words in Burmese and some music from Burma. I asked __ if his friends have come to meet us and to hear about the Bahá’í Faith. He said yes. I asked if he wants us to share Anna’s conversation with them. He said yes.

What can I say? Bahá’u’lláh has showered us with His blessings and has sent us more bounties. Bahá’u’lláh has knocked at my door again. Should I open the door or should I miss the opportunity? So I did it again. I shared the presentation. 2 adults declared their belief. There were 2 children there (their father is a Bahá’í) and I gave __ 2 child registration cards and explained they would need to get their parents’ permission to register.

There are 13 new Bahá’ís as a result of working with __. 10 are adults and 3 are children. __ is eager to meet everybody and wants to learn how to organize a Feast and other activities in his neighborhood.

Here also is a story of a home visit involving many of these new believers. One of the deepening themes from Ruhi Book 2 was shared.

Yesterday, 5 of us went to S’s place. There were 5 other new believers there.

S is moving to another state where his family is. I had a gift for him, a framed picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. We started our meeting with some prayers. __ is always eager to say not just one buy many prayers all in a row.

We shared the deepening theme on the topic of the Bahá’í Fund. __ was translating paragraph by paragraph. We then closed the discussion with some prayers.

We had some good refreshments and good socializing. G took some pictures of all of us all together, and I will send one to S so that his parents can see some of the Bahá’ís. We also got his new address so we can inform the Local Spiritual Assembly there to contact him.

We said goodbye and left, but all of them followed us, as is their custom of showing courtesy, all the way to where our cars were parked.

When a new believer enrolls, they tell everyone they know about their experience

Here is an update on the second expansion phase in Kentuckiana, KY (A), and again, it is very exciting. The friends discovered 10 people who declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh. And now, this cluster has an organized and dedicated follow-up plan that is seamlessly connected to their teaching efforts. The friends are rapidly learning and immediately applying their new insights.

__ reports of their home visit:

Two of us went to visit __, a new believer. When we arrived at his home, there was another man who we had never met before. After greeting and an opening prayer, we decided that, although we had come to share deepening themes with __, we instead should share Anna’s presentation with the new person. So we asked the new believer, to help me share Anna’s presentation as well as to translate. So __ and I shared the whole presentation, while the other teacher was the silent prayer partner. And this new person declared! After spending more than an hour together, we left the place with joy and a spiritual feeling. . . .

The above report shows how important it is to do follow-up home visits as soon as possible with the new Bahá’ís. When a new believer enrolls, he or she tells everyone else they know about their experience. This is a crucial time to be nurturing and to be there. Though the original purpose of this home visit was deepening, the teaching team was flexible and we discovered another receptive soul.

So, if you haven’t scheduled a home visit, do it today! Then report back to E what happened so we can keep the database up-to-date and make sure none of the new believers slip through the cracks. If language differences make it difficult to communicate, please let us know what language they speak so we can provide materials for them in their language.

The last ten days have required a group effort and many Bahá’ís participated that haven’t served on teaching teams before. We made great progress during the expansion phase. Now it’s time to follow through and show the new believers how the Faith works in our daily lives.

We are asking each team to please return all lists and forms to E. Also, please return your teaching binders to J if you aren’t using them, or give them to the friends who will be carrying out consolidation. Also pick up the deepening theme folders from J. The area teaching committee will meet to discuss how the expansion phase went and figure out how to assist the teams in their consolidation work over the next two months.

A true team effort

I’m posting this chain of emails (plus a few comments) because it is a fine example of how the friends at the national, regional and local levels can work together to respond to seeker inquiries.

First, a seeker called 1-800-22UNITE line and left a message. The National Teaching Office then forwarded the message to the regional specialists. Notification was also sent automatically to that local community (which the system does for specific clusters).

One of the regional specialists emailed back:

Dear N, that is a wonderfully precious seeker. Do you have those 2 books he requested at the Teaching Office so that we can send them to him? Also, I will look to see who is in that community. Also, maybe he is a candidate for the new telephone Ruhi Class. I am sharing this with A as we share seekers if one of us has too many, vice versa. Love you. Let me know before I call him. S . . .

The other regional specialist noted:

Hi S and folks in the NTO,

Since he is a “pass through”, I've made a comment mentioning that the NTO will send one of the books, and so the local folks can see the comment. He said it was okay to visit, so maybe they'll go to his home. (By the way, the local Bahá’ís have already assigned him to a believer: a very good sign!)

So for the first book, yes, please send it to him. Please just write that we don't keep the other book in stock, but it's on the web. Perhaps print 10 pages for him from that book and we'll see how he responds.

How does that sound?

A

So, then the National Teaching Office did that.

Dear Friends,

I have sent him the requested book, a print out of some of the web pages of the other, and the regular introductory packet, along with a cover letter.

That’s great that the local folks are already on the ball.

Thanks for your collaboration.

Finally, one of the local believers sent email that the cluster institute coordinator will go and visit the seeker at his home.

Talk about a team effort!

"This is what we envisioned when we began direct teaching"

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow can keep the friends in Vermont (A) from teaching. Here is a story of an uplifting home visit, and is yet another example of how bonds of friendship and unity are the strongest foundation for teaching efforts.

Due to the torrential downpour and lightning, no one was outside; it was quite unusual to see the courtyard deserted, as most of the time it is full of children of all ages. We visited a couple of apartments of people we had previously met, but were not able to find anyone at home. So T suggested that we visit her friend __, who leaves nearby and who has been meeting with T and sharing prayers for over a year. . . .

__ welcomed our damp group of four into her home with open arms, seated us in the living room, and showed us wonderful hospitality and joy. Three of us chatted with her in her native language. We said some healing prayers for her son. We also recited two prayers of the Báb, “Remover of difficulties” and “God sufficeth”, and shared a little about the life of the Báb. __ read the prayers out loud and showed compassion and distress for the martyred Báb.

We asked her if she would like to study together and have more discussions about the Faith, to shich she readily agreed. She and T will see each other and pick a time.

This meeting was what we had envisioned when we began direct teaching, and it came about from the long association, true loving friendship and patient development of the relationship which T has built with this friend. We will reflect and consult on this, and will take great care to accompany __ and her son in their investigation of the Faith.

Quick follow-up to an online registration

Here is a brief but very compelling report of a declaration in a B-stage cluster in the Central region. This individual is one of the growing numbers of people who have taken advantage of the opportunity to register their belief in Bahá’u’lláh online. This new believer was quickly connected to her local Bahá’í community and to the institute process. This also shows the importance of home visits in the follow-up process.

It’s official! We have a newly registered Bahá’í in our locality. I’m meeting with her and the community at the next Nineteen Day Feast, and will speak with her to arrange a new tutor to meet with her. Thank you for the prayers, we are feeling the effects!

Further details: M found the Faith on her own. She has been investigating and searching for a Faith. She called up P, who was the listed contact in the newspaper article on the Faith that she had read. M investigated it online, and she registered herself online. The seeker response regional specialist then sent an email to P verify the registration. P visited M for the first time, and M said that she’s too old to monkey around, and she doesn’t want to waste time. She wants to immerse herself into the community and doesn’t need any more questions answered. So, I spoke at length with P, and suggested she visit M’s home a least one time each Bahá’í month (and take some of the other believers who need to build their confidence in carrying out this service). It’s also good if she can attend Feast, and begin participating in study of Ruhi Book 1 as soon as possible. I’m going to meet with her to introduce her to the institute process and connect her with a tutor. We are all too excited.