"How My Faith Keeps Me Sober" - a fireside that attracted 11 seekers

This story was shared by one of the Baha'is in the southern states who attended Tony’s prayer gathering and informal discussion (a “fireside”) about the Faith.

Tony’s prayer devotional and fireside were phenomenal!!!  There were 11 (yes, eleven!) people who attended who are not yet enrolled Baha'is. There were 4 Baha'is who also attended.   Tony included quotes from the holy writings that dealt with the commonalities of the Baha'i Faith and the 12-step programs, such as gratitude, overcoming self, and powerlessness.  Following reading prayers, everyone sang We All Associate.”   I was surprised to see so many people singing!

The fireside was titled “How My Faith Keeps Me Sober”.   No sooner did Tony start, when one of the guests, Lucia started asking questions. Though the questions took him off topic for a little bit, it was fine because he wanted to answer her questions.  It was really cool ... The coolest part was when one of the newest guest, Samuel, and a guest who had been coming to the gatherings for a while, Terry, started answering the questions!!!   Terry hasn't been around in a couple of years, but that didn't stop him from telling everyone how great this Faith is and how it's the best Faith he's ever found.  He even said if he had the time to belong to any religion, he would choose Baha'i.  

Everyone was invited to join a study group being held on Mondays on the topic of Releasing the Power of Junior Youth (book 5), and another group that is starting on Tuesday on the topic of Reflections on the Life of the Spirit (book 1). 

Before he left, Samuel mentioned that he plans to join the study group on junior youth.  He also mentioned to me at the start of the meeting that he had been reading one of the books a Baha'i had given him.  He shared with me, "I've been reading it, and I gotta tell ya . . . I was born a Baha'i." 

I Had Baha’i Beliefs Before I Knew the Faith Existed

Sometimes we receive several blessings at once. A response coordinator shared this story about a youth who contacted her through an online conversation and then enrolled in the Baha’i community the same day. She then heard some wonderful news about the Baha’i community where the young woman who just declared resides.

The coordinator began the conversation by text...

Hello! I am a member of the Baha’i Faith responding to your inquiry. Do you have questions? I look forward to hearing from you.

The young woman then responded:

Yes, is it a requirement to go to a prayer circle or can I worship independently because there are no Baha`i centers near me?

The coordinator explained that worship is between an individual and God, and includes more than prayer. The youth texted back:

Can you clarify? I agree with all the central beliefs, I actually had all Baha’i beliefs even before I knew the Faith existed, but I don't understand what obligatory prayer is or if there are any special ways to worship.

The coordinator then explained obligatory prayer and community devotions:

Sure, there are obligatory prayers that a Baha’i must say once every 24 hours. There are three obligatory prayers and you can choose one of the three. We do not have congregational prayer, but we do have devotionals where people gather and pray together, people from all religions.

She then explained the wider concept of worship in the Baha’i teachings:

There are no clergy in the Baha’i Faith. Worship is not just prayer but every act you do that is conducive to the well-being of mankind and for the love of God is considered worship. Your profession, your art is a divine gift, and a form of service.

The coordinator included a link to an app for Baha’i prayers. The young woman then responded:

Thank you. I think I want to join the Faith. What should I do next?

The coordinator encouraged the youth to call her directly so that they could have a conversation about the fundamental verities of the Faith. She did and they talked for about an hour, and then joined the Baha’i community!

Not only are the youth’s parents supportive of her decision, but “out of the blue,” the coordinator received a call from a Baha’i in the very same community where the youth just declared.

The news? The Baha’is called to inform the coordinator that their community was able to form a Spiritual Assembly, the local Baha’i governing council, after several years. Though she is too young to be elected to the Assembly, she will receive the nurturing and support of a brand new one within her community!

The response coordinator wrote:

It just happened to be in the community this young lady who has just enrolled lives in! This is so typical of the Concourse on High assisting. I don't usually panic because Baha'u'llah is always there. (Sometimes I think I am just numb.)

In the book Paris Talks, ‘Abdu’l-Baha states:

In the Bahá'í Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are counted as worship. The man who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of his ability, conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer. (Paris Talks, p. 176)

Part 2: Precious Souls Engaged in Community Building

In the first blog about a dynamic new Baha’i couple in the Plains states, a member of the Auxiliary Board remarked: “It’s exciting that these precious souls are so engaged in the community building and learning processes.”

Another member of the Auxiliary Board met the married couple and shared: “…they are great—truly a gift from Baha'u'llah!! Their presence bodes well for establishing a sustained program of growth” in their new town, where they chose to pioneer and help found a Baha’i community.

A Baha’i friend shares how the couple continued to study the Faith online, after their original contacts in the community moved away.

Their friends moved and they didn't know where to investigate the Faith. They found the Faith on the web. They have been studying the Faith for about two months on their own. They were asking questions in their (previous) church about all the people in the world that were not Christians and why they are condemned to hell because they didn't believe in Christ. They were told that if they didn't stop asking the questions they would be asked to leave the church. So, here she is seeking out the Baha'is. I told them that if they wanted to register as Baha'is they could do that online too.

In their original online contact, the couple wrote to the Baha’i community: “We have been doing research on the Faith, and believe that this may be the right path for us and would like information on the religion, and how to possibly convert.”

In Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, we read:

“Wert thou to consider this world, and realize how fleeting are the things that pertain unto it, thou wouldst choose to tread no path except the path of service to the Cause of thy Lord. None would have the power to deter thee from celebrating His praise, though all men should arise to oppose thee.” ~ Baha'u'llah

A new believer shares: “I think of Baha'i as a way of life”

A woman, who is a polyglot and a professional linguist, visited the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa Israel. She shared this message when reaching out to the American Baha'is at www.bahai.us:

“I visited the Baha'i Centre in Haifa last year. Since then, I wanted to get involved with Baha'i religion. I was contacted last year by a member, but could not answer as I had to travel abroad for family reasons. Now I would like to meet with someone to get more information.”

A Baha'i who lives near the woman reached out to her by visiting her home, leaving a prayer book, and how to contact her for more information. The Baha'i later shared that:

“I had a wonderful conversation on the phone with her this evening. I learned that since her visit to the Baha'i Centre in Haifa last year she has considered herself a Baha'i.”

With her husband, the Baha'i made another visit to the woman’s home. Together they discussed the fundamental verities of the Baha'i Faith, engaging in a conversation like Anna that they learned themselves while studying from the sixth book in the Ruhi sequence of courses. The woman posed a question about Baha'i identity:

My husband and I had a wonderful visit. Her only question was 'What does one do as a Baha'i?'

To investigate this question, the woman along with the Baha’i and her husband joined together to study the course “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit” which discusses the principles of service to the community, meditation on the Word of God, spiritual growth, and the importance of daily prayer.

Already this new believer has begun to serve her community by hosting a study group within her home. She has begun to identify herself as a Baha'i, and is demonstrating knowledge of the Baha'i teachings. The Baha’i shared that she is now an enrolled member of the community.

At the end of the evening she expressed one reservation. She said 'I have trouble thinking of this as a religion. I think of Baha'i as a way of life.' We talked some more about that in terms of ‘What is the definition of religion?’

Bahais believe...

“To be a Baha'i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.” - Abdul-Baha

Youth Who Declared Online: “Where has this been all my life?”

Here is a brief story from the Midwest region who encountered the Faith online thanks to an important Baha’i number—see below—and declared her belief online.

We have a new youth declarant who actually signed up online. She has been contacted and came with her parents to a Holy Day party last Friday. She brought her dad and stepmother too. She didn't know this, but there are so many connections. Her stepmom is Muslim. She has worked at a company since she came to the U.S. more than 15 years ago, which is owned by a Persian Baha'i. The stepmom has been aware of the Faith for a long time. Completely separately, the youth found and studied the Faith online and declared before she met any Baha'is. She has been brought up learning about numerous faith traditions. Her birthday is on the ninth of the month, so she has always been drawn to the number 9. She was Googling 9 sided symbols when the Baha'i Faith kept coming up. She studied about the Faith and said ‘where has this been all my life?’ Wow!

Regarding Baha’i youth who enter the arena of service, Baha’u’llah writes:

Blessed is he who in the prime of his youth and the heyday of his life will arise to serve the Cause of the Lord of the beginning and of the end, and adorn his heart with His love. The manifestation of such a grace is greater than the creation of the heavens and of the earth. Blessed are the steadfast and well is it with those who are firm.

(The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 415)

A Cancer Survivor: His demeanor, faith and character—just amazing

This is a story of a cancer survivor who, sadly, witnessed a Baha'i suffering from terminal cancer. The Baha'i chose to end treatment, knowing that his body would succumb.

The cancer survivor writes about this experience:

I am a cancer survivor and I am in a cancer support group. There is a friend within my group who has cancer and has been through many treatments. The time had come where treatment is no longer helping. He has decided to end treatment. This friend is a member of the Baha'i Faith. His demeanor, faith and character—it is just amazing. I have never seen anything like this. He is ready for his passing, smiles and talks about it.

The cancer survivor then requested information on the Baha'is in the vicinity.

In the Arabic Hidden Words, Baha'u'llah writes:

O Son of The Supreme! I have made death a messenger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?

Enduring Results: “Everything made sense”

In its 28 December 2010 letter, the Universal House of Justice exhorts the Baha’is worldwide to:

…hold fast to the conviction that a direct presentation of the Faith, when carried out at a sufficient level of depth and reinforced by a sound approach to consolidation, can bring enduring results.

A married couple living the western United States recently entered the Baha’i community along with their children. Both hail from different countries in Europe, and both benefited from a direct presentation of the Faith, along with official follow-up, which had wonderful and enduring results.

As you’ll see, the wife became attracted through online research, and the husband's interactions with his wife and the Baha’i responding to their inquiry helped him embrace the Faith.

Despite living in the U.S. since the 90s, the wife regularly watches television from her native country in Europe. Last year she saw on report on woman and an Iranian Baha’i who married. She was particularly impressed by what the groom said about the Baha’i principle of gender equality.

So impressed, in fact, that she started researching the Baha’i Faith online. The Baha’is who followed up on her inquiries reported her as saying that “what she found out was exactly what she's always believed.”

The response coordinator shared that she:

…spent the entire day researching the Faith and knew all about the covenant, administrative order, and Baha'i laws, (e.g. prayer. and abstaining from alcohol). She really found out a lot and everything made sense to her. She mentioned the Twin Manifestations and that the Faith started in 1844. She was looking into the history of the Faith as well as the Teachings.

By the end of the same month, the wife declared her faith online and registered her children as well. In addition to her husband's interest and later enrollment, the wife's mother also registered online her interest in learning more about the Baha’i Faith.

In the same letter of December 28^th, the House of Justice asks the Baha’is to “strain every nerve” to ensure that the system we are working so hard to build “does not close in on itself but progressively expands to embrace more and more people.” In light of this married couple's sincere and open attraction to the Baha’i Teachings, the next sentence that the House of Justice pens is quite poignant:

Let them not lose sight of the remarkable receptivity they found—nay, the sense of eager expectation that awaited them—as they gained confidence in their ability to interact with people of all walks of life and converse with them about the Person of Bahá’u’lláh and His Revelation.

The response coordinator did have the opportunity to speak with the husband about “the Person of Bahá’u’lláh and His Revelation,” in the form of Anna’s Presentation, from Ruhi Book 6. The coordinator noted that he agreed with everything, affirmed the Baha’i laws that they discussed, and spoke about obligatory prayer.

The husband shared that as he grew up he became more uncomfortable with his upbringing in church, and had always believed in the unity of religion and of humankind. After his wife's enrollment, he began to read several Baha’i books and speak with her about joining the Faith. After contact with the regional coordinator, they decided to confirm his enrollment!

The oneness of humankind was also key in the wife's acceptance of the Faith, as the coordinator learned. Her prior marriage was with an African American man, with whom she had several children. The elimination of prejudice, the coordinator related, is something that she has always believed in.

After his enrollment in the community, the husband shared:

My wife and kids just became members and I have decided to join the Baha'i Faith as well. Thank you very much for all the work!

And, indeed, our work entails creating a community large enough to answer the needs of society and accepting more new members like this family. The Universal House of Justice writes:

…let them not forget the lessons of the past which left no doubt that a relatively small band of active supporters of the Cause, no matter how resourceful, no matter how consecrated, cannot attend to the needs of communities comprising hundreds, much less thousands, of men, women and children.

“I have become connected with my spiritual side”

In its Ridvan message of April 2012, the Universal House of Justice writes: “To observe the Baha'i world at work is to behold a vista bright indeed.”

Here is the heartwarming story of Angela, a woman who recently declared her belief in Baha’u’llah after researching the Baha’i Faith online. Living in the south-central region of the United States, Angela realized that she had reached a new stage in her spiritual journey when she discovered that the worldwide Baha’i community shared her own, deeply-held convictions.

In its Ridvan 2012 message, the House of Justice describes the significance of our efforts to share the message of Baha’u’llah:

In the life of the individual believer who desires, above all, to invite others into communion with the Creator and to render service to humanity can be found signs of the spiritual transformation intended for every soul by the Lord of the Age.

The House of Justice caps the same passage with a vision of the unfoldment of divine civilization:

In the spirit animating the activities of any Baha'i community… can be perceived an indication of how a society founded upon divine teachings might develop.

It is thus a wonderful confirmation of our efforts as Baha’is, both online and in person, to witness both the clarity and depth of Angela’s acceptance of Baha’u’llah’s Teachings.

Sharing her story, Angela writes that she first heard the word Baha’i from a friend who had joined the community. Roughly one year ago, while engaged in her own spiritual search, Angela once more heard about the Baha’i Faith. She writes:

When I saw the term (Baha’i) again, I began to research it and find out more about the Faith. The more I read and learned about the Faith, the more I realized that my beliefs go hand in hand with the teaching of the Baha’i Writings.

She also describes the disconnect between her personal belief in oneness and the views espoused in church:

Although I believed in God, I felt like something was seriously missing. I had gone to church many times but the thought that two thirds of the world would go to hell if they did not accept Jesus as their personal savior bothered me. I love Jesus but I also love and respect Mohammed and Buddha. I always felt like an outcast because I believed in all religions and one God.

In addition to the teachings on spiritual unity, Angela found meaning in sharing her new faith with our worldwide community:

Becoming a Baha’i and knowing that there is a community of six million people who share the same belief is very comforting to me and I couldn’t believe that there is in fact a religion that believes what I believe in. I am excited to have joined such a wonderful community and I am looking forward to studying the Baha’i Writings.

She completes her story with this affirmation:

Life is a beautiful, mysterious experience with many lessons to be learned. I feel like I have become connected with my spiritual side and I am looking forward to feeding it every day. God bless.

Angela declared her faith in Baha’u’llah online. The Baha’is in her area contacted her to confirm her enrollment and were thrilled to receive this lovely description of her spiritual search. They report that Angela hopes within the month to start Ruhi Book 1 with a study circle tutor in her community!

"I Am Whole Now"

Here is the beautiful story of two brand new believers from Texas—a husband and wife who embraced the Faith within the same month, but followed their own spiritual journey and conducted their own independent investigation. The wife was the first to declare. She recalls:

When I was 15, I moved in with a relative because of the poverty and abuse I had experienced. I was searching for something to heal me, and I found Christianity—the faith of this relative. Now I'm almost 21, and I don't think Christianity fits my beliefs any longer. So I started searching again.

Earlier this week, my husband told me about a religion that one of his high school teachers had been a member of, called Bahá'í. He told me what little he could remember, but I felt it was exactly what I was searching for. I decided to do some research on it, and found the Bahá'í website where I requested that someone call me with more information. Then, that very same day, someone contacted me! It was like God meant for this to happen. But the day she contacted me was a really bad day—I had just been fired from my job—and I couldn't handle talking to anyone; I barely spoke to my husband that night. So yesterday afternoon she called me back and we discussed the Bahá'í religion.

As soon as she started talking I felt myself changing. When she had finished, I felt like a new person, like a hole in my heart that had been there for so many years had been filled. I joined immediately. I knew that this was what I was searching for.

I woke up this morning feeling like a new person! I won't go back to having that hole in my heart again. I can't put into words how this has made me feel—amazing, ecstatic, loved—all those words do not explain it. I am whole now.

Nineteen days later, there was more joyous news: her husband, who had originally told her about the Faith, also declared! Here is how he described his spiritual transformation:

Since I became Bahá'í, I've have more of a peace about myself. I love it! I decided that Bahá'í is true from researching it through independent investigation. It was all purely logical.

This is a definite transformation for me spiritually for me because I was Christian for so long, and that's one of the major "mutually exclusive" religions since it denies other faiths. Going from a religion like that to one so open as Bahá'í was a significant change, although not a difficult one for me. I always held the belief that all religions were based around a universal truth, but I could never find a religion that actually expressed that, and I was too scared to change my religion due to familial pressures. I tried to change my interpretation of Christianity to suit my beliefs, but it never really worked.

My very first encounter with Bahá'í was during my senior year in high school. My history/psychology teacher told us about her Bahá'í faith, but she never delved too deeply into it. This is understandable of course, as she probably would have been fired very quickly for doing so in a public school system. So I thought, "That's cool," and never really researched it until recently. Once I did, it just made logical sense, plain and simple.

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)

"I want you to register me. I am a Bahá’í."

Graduates of Ruhi Book 6 may remember the following quotation excerpted from The Advent of Divine Justice, in which the beloved Guardian outlined several duties of the Bahá’í teacher:

Let him consider the degree of his hearer’s receptivity, and decide for himself the suitability of either the direct or indirect method of teaching, whereby he can impress upon the seeker the vital importance of the Divine Message, and persuade him to throw in his lot with those who have already embraced it. Let him remember the example set by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and His constant admonition to shower such kindness upon the seeker, and exemplify to such a degree the spirit of the teachings he hopes to instill into him, that the recipient will be spontaneously impelled to identify himself with the Cause embodying such teachings. Let him refrain, at the outset, from insisting on such laws and observances as might impose too severe a strain on the seeker’s newly awakened faith, and endeavor to nurse him, patiently, tactfully, and yet determinedly, into full maturity, and aid him to proclaim his unqualified acceptance of whatever has been ordained by Bahá’u’lláh.

The following story from a Bahá’í teacher illustrates the importance of considering a seeker’s receptivity, and then practicing patience, tact, and determination to confirm that soul in the Cause.

Carrie first heard about the Faith from a Persian immigrant in the Dallas/Ft. Worth (Texas) area in the mid 1970s. In June of this year (2012) she registered as a Bahá’í online, as did her son in Amarillo. A day or so after she declared, we spoke about the Faith, but for some time after that we only texted. One night I texted her around 9 pm, intending to ask her about a Bahá’í gathering she attended a few weeks earlier. And she called me!

She said she enjoyed the Bahá’í gathering, and that she had also gone to another gathering at a young couple’s home. She said that “you felt like you were growing” and that “it was like an oasis.” She appreciated the readings of the various world religions. Carrie is Jewish, and she thought it was pretty special that when it was her turn to read, the selection was a Jewish prayer.

But then Carrie said, “I am still Jewish.” My heart sank. I decided I would pray, and ask Martha Root, Lua Getzinger and some friends who have passed on for help. I imagined their souls circling above us. Carrie shared that she had recently celebrated Yom Kippur. It is the one day each year that all the doors and windows of Heaven are open. She also explained that Rosh Hashanah is the New Year, and that “you progress into the Throne Room.” It sounded like a big deal, but I had never heard of that. I felt helpless. What could I say? I just said, “It sounds beautiful,” because it did.

Carrie’s son Ben declared in Amarillo around the same time Carrie did. This summer they visited the Bahá’í House of Worship together, where she bought them matching prayer books. She keeps hers in her bag and it is always with her, and she likes that physical aspect of it. She also likes the physical aspect of the Star of David. When she visits patients in her nursing work, she opens her bag to get her tablet, and she sees her prayer book. It comforts her, and she knows that her deeds have an effect on those she serves. But she said, “if you believe in Bahá’u’lláh you have to agree with the teachings of all the religions. I don’t know if I can do that.” I felt a panic, but decided to stay silent. My heart sank again.

One of Carrie’s patients is in the home of a Vietnamese couple. The wife is Catholic and the husband is Buddhist. When Carrie visited them she noticed an altar with a Buddhist figure and incense burning, but in their home were also Catholic symbols. The husband said that in their family there are many religions. ”But when we get together,” he told Carrie, “We accept one another.” I could hear the peace and contentment in Carrie’s voice as she related this experience. What he said made perfect sense. It was soothing to her. It was “the way.” It was beautiful.

We had spent well over an hour talking, and it was late. I wanted to take a chance and see if she was moving towards Bahá’u’lláh or taking a step back. I wondered if she was sorting out all these religions. So the question that came out was, “Carrie, do you think the Bahá’í Faith is the organization, the religion that the world needs to unite us all?” She paused. “Yes, I do.” That gave me the confidence to ask her about how she had requested to be registered as a Bahá’í three months earlier, but then later told me she was still Jewish.

Her reply seemed random, but was profound. “My son received his Bahá’í ID card so quickly.” I asked, “Are you wondering why you have not received one after all this time?” She chuckled. I took a deep breath and said, “Well, when he registered, and I called him back, it was clear that he had read about the Faith, believed in it and wanted to be registered. When I called you, we talked for a bit, you shared your belief in Bahá’u’lláh, but then said you were Jewish. I’m not a pushy person, so I decided to just continue to talk with you. I’ll do what you want me to, if you want to register or not.” There was a pause. Then she said, “I want you to register me. I am a Bahá’í.”

Overjoyed, I shared that I wanted to sing a prayer that Bahá’u’lláh revealed while in prison, “God is sufficient unto Me.” She hummed along in a few places! It turns out that when she was at the House of Worship this summer, this was playing in the book store.

With Carrie, the spiritual signs and connections just never end. Thank you, Concourse on High!

The Path

That the path of service upon which we are currently embarked “can be experienced and known, not only by one or two but by scores and scores” and that “ it belongs to the community” becomes increasingly apparent through stories shared by a Baha'i Seeker Response Coordinator in one region.

One by One -  Sharin was a Muslim woman who had married a Muslim man through an arranged marriage. The marriage did not work out, and she later married another Muslim man, who was less active in his faith.  When Lea, a Bahai, called Sharin to learn of her story, she shared that she had been frustrated and “tired of being stern and angry.”  She shared that she was stern with her children because that’s what she understood was her role as a Muslim mother but that she grew angry and frustrated with how it made her feel.    

She went onto the Web and searched the words “unity,” “love,” and “peace,” and for each one, the Bahá’í Faith came up. As she read more, she learned about the Faith and decided she wanted to be part of it. She started attending devotionals at the home of a St. Louis couple, and eventually declared. She shared with Lea that she removed her veil and “I felt such freedom.  For the first time, I felt like I could think for myself.”  

At a devotional gathering, she gave her 17 year old son a prayer book and encouraged him to read from it, which he did. Vern shared that “right away, the children saw in her a change and they too began to change.  They started to experience love in the household.”  How profound the impact of the Faith on this family!  

Sharin shared how she also began to picking up papers and trash and began sweeping the sidewalk outside her home. Her neighbors asked her what she was doing and she exclaimed that she was “making the neighborhood more beautiful.”  They too joined in and began to clean up the streets together.

Scores and Scores - While visiting via Skype with a Persian couple whom he met during a recent Pilgrimage, Vern learned that the couple was in the midst of celebrating Naw Ruz; they live in Australia. Vern and his Persian friend were taking an upgraded iPhone for a test drive.  

Vern began sharing some exciting news about recent seekers who had come in through the seeker response system.  Enamored by the stories, the Persian friend put him on visual Skype for the entire group of guests at this couple’s huge Naw Ruz celebration to hear. Vern shared about how the program works and some of the stories of the seekers.  

“You could see their eyes light up and the excitement build in each one of them!  How blessed I feel to share it with friends half way around the world—it’s a 13 hour difference between here and Australia!”

Going the Extra Mile to Respond

Many people first contact the Bahá’í Faith through the Seeker Response system (online at www.Bahai.us, or via the 800-22-UNITE phone number).  An ongoing challenge in responding to the needs of these seekers is finding local friends who will commit to following up, no matter the sacrifice.

The following story, as told by two Bahá’ís from the Central region who recently visited with a seeker, illustrates how they responded quickly and with love.  In addition, because their Regional Council has encouraged home visits as a part of the response process, this husband and wife teaching team drove for over an hour to visit with this seeker in his home.  It is interesting to read what the seeker thought of the Bahá’ís as a result.

We started by asking him what had led him to contact the Baha'is.  He's a Missouri Synod Lutheran, Viet Nam vet, and very open and receptive seeker.  He had already begun looking through the web sites in the e-mail that was sent to him in response to his request for information.  We went through much of Anna's conversation, up to the laws section.  We explained study circles and devotional meetings, and we said a prayer with him.  We left him with a small prayer book and a copy of the Hidden Words.  He said he felt like he had a lot to digest, and will let us know when he wants more.  We will continue to be in contact with him, following up on elements of our conversation as appropriate.

One noteworthy piece of information, related to the seeker response system:  He was very intrigued about the quickness of the responses he's received, saying that we must be VERY organized.  And he was very impressed that we would drive all that way to see him with no expectations or assumptions, instead of simply talking on the phone, or relying on email.  It is amazing to think that there are incredibly open and receptive souls like this all over!

Online Registration System

Many people who do not have Bahá’í friends or associates come across the teachings of the Faith via the internet.  The online registration system at www.bahai.us enables them to join the community and get connected:

J. (from an “A” cluster in the Northeastern region) registered her declaration online.  She received a follow-up call from a Bahá’í, who reported that J. was crying with joy.  The local Assembly was informed, as well as the cluster core team who identified someone to accompany J. on her new path of learning and service.

B. (from a “C” stage cluster) had been a fan of Rainn Wilson for many years.  He started following Rainn on Twitter, and discovered Rainn is a Bahá’í.  From there, B. investigated the Faith online, making stops at www.soulpancake.com in addition to Wikipedia and various Bahá’í websites.  B. registered his declaration online, and soon a Bahá’í met with him to present the fundamental verities of the Faith.  His wife is open to his newly found Faith, and they are parents of an infant.

In registering online, Z. said: “I am excited to finally declare myself a member of the Bahá’í Faith.”  Before making this decision, he had read Bahá’í literature on the internet, and gained a good understanding of the Central Figures of the Faith.  Z. attends _____ university where he plans to join the Bahá’í club (or form one, if none currently exists).

F. (age 17, from the Southeastern region) was raised by a Presbyterian mother and an atheist father, has a Jewish grandmother, and attended Catholic school.  He is very interested in religion.  Through learning about the Bahá’í Faith online, F. has understood the importance of studying the sacred Writings, and saying the Obligatory Prayers.  He registered to join the community via the link at www.bahai.us, and is sharing all about his newly found Faith at his school.  With the enrolment of F., his cluster has been shifted from the “D” stage (no Bahá’ís) to “C” stage -- he is the first Bahá’í in his cluster!

Encouragement in action

 

It is a joy to watch one of the friends in action as they encourage and accompany the other friends in their service.  What follows is an excerpt of an email from a regional seeker response coordinator to a member of a cluster’s core team about a seeker in their cluster who had contacted the 800-22UNITE phone line.  Some interesting aspects of this message (besides its overall loving and uplifting tone!):  Asking the core team member to match the seeker with human resources in the cluster who have received the relevant training from the institute courses, encouraging the local friends to ascertain the seeker’s interests and needs so that appropriate follow-up steps can be arranged, and reminding the local friends to coordinate and share information with each other so that their response to the seeker can be as effective as possible.

Dear J,

As the seeker response coordinator for our region, I’m emailing you (and will phone you today too) as the cluster development facilitator for your cluster, to see if you might be able to find us a local experienced Bahá’í to promptly contact (by mail) this new seeker residing in __. . . .

A couple of days ago, __ left a message on the 800-22UNITE phone line and asked for Bahá’í literature to be mailed to him, which the National Teaching Office has done.  I am eager to pass on to you his information so that you might be able to arrange as promptly as possible for a local Ruhi-trained Bahá’í to write a warm note to him, mention the seeker’s 800# call, ask if he received his literature, has any questions about the Faith, would like a home visit, other literature, etc.

As he has only supplied his mailing address, and only requested literature (i.e., he did not request visitors), postal mail is currently our option for communicating with him and striving to nurture his attraction to the Faith—perhaps accompany him into core activities, if we are able to learn if his interest lies there.

Something he said in his message implied that he might already be meeting with a local Bahá’í.  If he did meet with a Bahá’í, it might mean that a door has opened for further interaction, nurturing, teaching, etc.  Therefore, I would like to ask if you could try to learn if any Bahá’ís in the area did meet with him?  If we can learn he is in contact with a local friend, you or I could talk to that person to see how it went, and then arrange appropriate follow-up through home visits, etc.

I’ll wait for your reply before sending you __’s contact information.  Please feel free to call or email me with any questions or ideas you might have about making contact with him.  We are trying to swiftly arrange for Bahá’í contact with this seeker, since we know that the sooner he experiences warm contact and conversation, the more likely his flame of interest will be sustained and assited to grow.

A long series of love, unity, care, effective follow-up and the core activities

 

Sometimes when you haven’t heard from someone for a while, checking back in with them brings a wonderful surprise.  The following story is an example of this.  Also, we said it a few days ago, and we’re saying it again:  lots of seekers are VERY interested in the training institute courses!

The seeker had originally contacted the Bahá’ís through the public Web site www.bahai.us:

My best friend is a Bahá’í.  He wanted me to learn more about his religion and I am really interested in it.  I am very busy with school and work but I do want to make time for this.  Please give me more information!  Thank you so much. . . .

Some time later, the regional seeker response coordinator followed up with this seeker by sending an interactive email with links to several Bahá’í sites on the internet, including some Bahá’í videos.

The seeker then emailed back:

Hello,

I watched the videos and they were very uplifting!  I was in Ruhi classes before but I got too busy.  I am now at a place where I would be able to participate in Ruhi classes again if at all possible.  I would really love to attend and learn about the Faith.  Is there any way I can attend a study circle?

Thank you for the videos and for your consideration.

Some time later the regional seeker response coordinator shared this news:

Dear Friends,

Today I heard the super news that this friend declared at a recent devotional!

She had been in our database for a couple of years, and had also been corresponding with her Bahá’í friend all along.  She responded to one of the emails I sent out.  Then a teaching team called on her and met with her at a coffee shop.  Then she attended a Holy Day celebration, followed by a Book 1 study circle.  Her enrollment is just one of the details in a long series of love, unity, care, effective follow-up and the core activities.  The journey continues . . .

Keep your eyes and ears open

 

At the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, IL, visitors can fill out cards to request more information on the Faith, on Bahá’í activities near them, to be put in touch with a local believer, etc.  The card also has a box that people can mark if they want more information on how to join the Faith.

When someone who visited the House of Worship from another part of the country filled out such an “interest card”, the regional seeker response coordinator for her region was notified:

Would you be willing to investigate further, either directly with __ or through your contacts at the cluster level, to determine if anyone has asked her about her interest in becoming a Bahá’í?  This is not an actual declaration, but we would also not want to avoid missing this important request of the seeker.

The regional seeker response coordinator later reported:

Thank you for prompting me.  I got a hold of __ and she said she wanted to become a Bahá’í, so I affirmed her.  A very receptive soul.

The registration was completed online.

She was overwhelmed with the effort that was made to connect with

 

This story is an excellent example of clusters (3 in all) working together to follow up with a seeker who had called the 800-22UNITE phone line, and “match” them with other Bahá’ís who lived nearby and who also spoke their native language.  This rapid and dedicated efforts helped provide a strong foundation for the warm friendships that then developed.

Last month __ called 800-22UNITE.  We guessed her cluster based on the area code of the phone number she provided.  From her accent, it seems that she was a Spanish speaker.

One of the friends in that cluster received the notification of __’s inquiry and immediately left a voice mail for her.  They talked on the phone the next day and it was learned that she actually lives in another cluster.  She also revealed that she speaks Portuguese rather than Spanish. . . .

So this believer then called M, who lives near this seeker, as well as K and A, who live nearby (now 3 clusters are all involved!).

It turns out K and A speak Portuguese and they know other Portuguese-speaking Bahá’ís that are tutors.  So a Portuguese Ruhi Book 1 study circle was set up.  All the while this multi-cluster accompaniment was being monitored by the regional seeker response coordinator, and some prayers and other literature in Portuguese were located and sent to the believer that lives nearest to her so she could receive it at the fireside scheduled for her the next night.

Over the course of her first month’s contact with the Bahá’ís, __ was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and effort that was made to connect with her, find Bahá’ís who could converse with her in her native language, as well as provide literature in her language.

She subsequently declared at a fireside last month, and has started bringing her family to events and they are interested as well.

What kind of person goes out of their way to help a soul on their search?

 

The Seeker Response System is about collaboration—for example, between the regional and cluster levels—to follow up with and meet the needs of people who reach out to the Bahá’í community.  In this case, an individual in a C-stage cluster contacted the public Web site at www.bahai.us.  A team of 2 believers in the area then met with him.  Two thinks are particularly striking about this story:  First, the team engaged him in a conversation where both sides were sharing and listening.  Second, the seeker was genuinely moved by the Bahá’ís taking the time to come meet with him personally.

The Auxiliary Board member and I met with __ at a park and answered a number of questions.  He had typed out his questions and we answered them while also sharing quotes and concepts from Anna’s conversation where they were pertinent to the discussion.  We wanted him to empty his cup first. . . .

After that first meeting he emailed us back:

It was also nice to meet you!  You were very helpful in answering my questions and very thorough.  I really appreciate you taking time out of your afternoon to come and meet a total stranger.  What kind of person goes out to help another soul on their search?  I think it takes a truly thoughtful and genuine person to assist another in such a way.

I hope to be able to continue meeting with one or both of you as time permits and we are able.  Maybe one day soon I could join you at a worship meeting?  If you are open to that let me know.

We hope to see him on the weekends.  I’ll consult with __ to see when we can connect with him again and meet his needs.

This teaching team member then provided an update

We will do our best to meet with him and share the deepening themes from Ruhi Book 2 as a start.  He knows about the Ruhi Institute and is interested in taking the books in the sequence.

Starting a conversation with the clusters

 

Growth requires decentralization in many aspects of how we do things.  And decentralization requires—you guessed it—capacity building at the cluster level.  One area where particularly exciting developments are occurring is in learning how to respond to those individuals that reach out to the Bahá’í community through the 800-22UNITE phone line and the public Web site www.bahai.us.  Here, a regional seeker response coordinator shares some of the most significant recent learning with friends at the cluster level.  This is a beginning of a conversation that will help empower more of the friends on the ground, both widening and deepening the pool of human resources!

Dear friends,

In April, the seeker response representatives that serve at the regional levels across the U.S. had a conference call to share insights about this amazing process we're engaged in:  to effectively respond to those dear souls to reach out to us to learn more about the Bahá’í Faith!  I thought you might be interested to hear some of the ideas that were shared.  I'm sure, with all of your experience, many of these will be familiar joys and challenges.  And, I hope others will serve to expand and/or enhance your service.  Of course, if you all have any additional insights or questions, please do feel free to share! . . .

1) Rapid response is crucial!!

2) A phone response, when possible, is much more effective than email or post mail, for most individuals.

3) When email is used, dynamic emails that give the seeker things to do and links to click on are very effective.

4) It takes time to follow up with seekers and nurture their learning.  Utilizing local resources (e.g. other teachers in the area) is essential.

5) Entering in detailed notes on the Action Log (and all of the drop-down items such as “started core activities”, etc.) and the Future Action feature is very important.

6) Follow up with older seekers and re-establish contact.

7) Listen effectively and be ready to adapt your approach based on what they say.

8) Offering to share Anna’s conversation with a seeker can warm their hearts and help strengthen a connection with them.

9) Engage the Area Teaching Committee.

10) Use the framework of action describe in the 5-Year Plan when responding (e.g. make a home visit, offer Anna's conversation, have a devotional with the seeker, start Book 1, etc.).  As much as possible, go to the seeker instead of inviting the seeker to you!