A year later still going strong

 

What happens when a new believer is on fire and the follow-up process goes as it should?  We received a brief update about an individual who declared his belief in Bahá’u’lláh online a little over a year ago.  Now, one year later, he is actively involved in his local Bahá’í community AND has helped develop a website for the community!

Friends,

Thank you for your feedback on the first version of the proposed website for the Bahá’ís  of __.  Many improvements and tweaks were made as a result of your input. As you know, there is such a vast amount of info about the Faith that we could overwhelm a visitor.  Rather than reinvent the wheel and incorporate all that info here, I have used quite a few links (including some from your last suggestions, thank you!) throughout the text as well as on a dedicated Links page to give the reader access to that additional info.  I still have a few things that I am trying to get working properly, but nothing that would stand in the way of getting this up and running live very soon.  Refinements and changes will be an ongoing process.

Again, my thanks.

Peace.

A remarkable ability to naturally bring up the Faith

Here is the latest update from Rio Grande Valley, TX (A).  There is a junior youth group that has been started and is doing well and having the support of the local friends.  The final description of the friends’ capacities is particularly inspiring.

I twice visited the junior youth group that the travel teachers have helped 2 of the local friends have started up.  The group seems like it is doing very well.  Most of the junior youth are composed of the non-Baha'i relatives of the 2 animators (who live in the same neighborhood).  The participants are very attentive and enthusiastic, and they are already discussing what service they would like to do. . . .

Another youth from the wider community has expressed interest in starting up a junior youth group.  We studied the first two units of Ruhi Book 1 and some excerpts from Ruhi Book 5, we had our first meeting with 4 junior youth, which went very well.  Again, the junior youth seemed very enthusiastic, and by the second meeting two days later, they had already started planning different service activities for the future.  Also, on the second meeting, a Bahá’í junior youth joined the group, and two others expressed a desire to join as well.  I heard from a friend in the cluster that this group carried out its first act of service yesterday.  I believe both groups will do quite well.

One family held a devotional while I was there, and because of all the activity taking place at that time, they were able to invite a number of their neighbors and friends, and the devotional was consequently well attended.  A few of us also made a home visit to the mother of one of the junior youth to introduce ourselves and describe a little bit about the Faith.

The members of this cluster seem to have a remarkable ability to very naturally bring up the subject of the Bahá’í Faith with their friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.  Most all the people in the community I met shared this trait.  The community certainly was also trying to open up opportunities for service to more people.

Astonishing accomplishments in just 12 months

Sometimes when we are so busy with the teaching work, we don’t ever notice the progress that is occurring. And yet, when we pause to look back on where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we’re going, we can see that we have accomplished so, so much! The Regional Bahá’í Council for the Northeastern states just sent this message to all the Bahá’ís in that region. Wow! I have to say it again. Wow! In the space of just one year since the Regional Bahá’í Conferences, huge successes have been made on several fronts: cluster advancement, enrollments, homefront pioneering, etc. The accomplishments are stunning, and the Regional Council has used these successes as a window to encourage the friends to even more successes. This message also paints “the big picture” of how all the elements of the Five Year Plan and the various efforts of the friends fit together.

Dearly loved friends in the Northeast:

The Regional Bahá’í Council is delighted to share the wonderful accomplishments achieved in the 12 months since the December 13-14, 2008 Northeast Regional Conference held in Stamford, Connecticut. As the Universal House of Justice called on the friends gathered at the six Regional conferences in the United States, we are seeing that, “Every steadfast believer,” those who attended that conference, as well as those who were not able to do so, is showing “a faith and determination, a commitment to unity and sacrifice that will lift the Cause to a new stage in its development.” . . .

The Universal House of Justice said at Riḍván 2009, “A mere three years ago...” “With great vigour the friends everywhere began to pursue the goal of establishing intensive programmes of growth in no less than 1,500 clusters worldwide...” “But no one could have imagined then how profoundly the Lord of Hosts, in His inscrutable wisdom, intended to transform His community in so short a span of time.”

In 12 months our region has gone from 10 to 23 clusters engaged in an intensive program of growth. 14 more clusters are projected to reach that stage by Riḍván 2011. This means that by the end of the Five Year Plan, 37 out of our 48 clusters—where 94% of the believers in the Northeast reside—will be engaged in an intensive program of growth. This will be a remarkable accomplishment to put before the Universal House of Justice.

The number of adult and youth enrollments in the Northeast has grown during this Plan from 97 in year one, to 184 in year two, to 387 in year three! We are witnessing growth as a fruit of the institute process. “Experience suggests that the more closely teaching approaches and methods are aligned with the capacity acquired from the study of the institute courses the more rewarding the results.”

Most of our growth comes from “believers...entering into closer association with people of many walks of life, engaging them in earnest conversation on themes of spiritual import.” But seekers are also contacting us. In the past year there have been 77 enrollments in the Northeast from seekers who contacted us through the Seeker Response System. The number of seekers in the Seeker Response System in the Northeast has quadrupled from 200, two years ago, to over 800 today.

Another great blessing of Bahá’u’lláh is that 50 homefront pioneers have arisen in the Northeast since the Regional Conference and have been placed in 18 clusters “to help form the core of believers needed to establish the mutually reinforcing processes of teaching and training.” The Regional Council would like to place at least 50 additional homefront pioneers in the next 18 months, many of them in 19 clusters where “the settlement of homefront pioneers, even for six to twelve months, will provide stability and continuity for the teaching work and the process of community building.”

In clusters where a core group of believers are actively involved in the institute process and engaged in direct teaching we often see Bahá’í institutions and agencies collaborating more closely; Local Spiritual Assemblies actively involved in cluster and core activities; and youth engaged in the provisions of the Plan. The Regional Council is confident of winning the remaining goals of the Plan when we see the sacrificial services being offered by homefront pioneers, mobile tutors and travel teachers; capacity being built in cluster agencies; two learning sites developing in the region; resource persons serving clusters; home visits becoming the norm; formation of junior youth groups and neighborhood children’s classes accelerating; human resources being mobilized through accompaniment; and the friends increasingly opening neighborhood activities to all inhabitants of their communities.

These are our accomplishments in the last year. They portend a wonderful outcome for the Five Year Plan in the months ahead. While there will still be challenges as we strive to achieve sustainable growth in cluster after cluster, the Regional Council is certain that our focused commitment to the framework for action will overcome every obstacle.

The Regional Council prays for opportunities to walk this path of service, together with you.

With much love, appreciation and admiration.

Regional Bahá’í Council of the Northeastern States

They also want to raise their children in the Faith.

We are delighted to provide an update to the story we posted a couple of days ago about an online declaration. One important point here is the assistance of a local friend who spoke the new believer’s language, which facilitated the affirmation process, as well as the follow-up. And the core activities lead the way for consolidation. . . .

Dear friends,

I am delighted to inform you that __ (E’s wife) has been affirmed as a Bahá'í. You may now complete the enrollment through eMembership. . . .

__ speaks English, but is most comfortable with communicating in her mother tongue. A local believer who is fluent in that language helped to complete the affirmation. She says that it is clear that __ considers herself a Bahá'í. __ also mentioned that they were planning to go to the Bahá’í Center soon.

C, you mentioned the other day that E has been working with someone and will soon be starting core activities. Will you be able to inform them of his wife’s registration?

E and his wife also want to raise their children in the Faith. So there are new participants for children’s classes.

This is so exciting!

Loving Bahá'i regards,

A

Milwaukee keeps moving forward

Here is brief update from Milwaukee, WI (B), where the friends continue to make progress on several fronts. Also check out on the slideshow several photos from their successful teaching booth at the Indian Summer Festival, a widely-attended annual Native American event in the area. Finally, the cluster is poised for future growth with a newly established area teaching committee.

There are now 6 regularly held Devotional Meetings in the cluster (taking place in localities all throughout the cluster)!

7 New Believers enrolled this cycle

25 believers involved in Teaching Activities this cycle

3 Study Circles happening, with 15 participants

3 Children's Classes

The new Area Teaching Committee is eager to assist the friends in enhancing and systematizing their teaching work, creating a collective vision, and continuing an ongoing process of consultation, action and reflection in 3-month cycles of activity.

"Are these not wonderful problems to have?"

I guess we “spoke too soon” with last week’s story on the devotional gatherings at the Great Lakes Naval Station in the Waukegan, IL (*C) cluster. Here is an exciting update—these regular devotional gatherings at the naval base have led to some recent declarations! It shows the power of a core activity combined with a receptive population combined with systematic service of a dedicated group of friends.

Dear N,

You asked for a Great Lakes Naval Station update regarding the 4 recent declarations.

Last week, one young man, __, man declared his today after his second visit to the devotional gathering. He was leaving the Navy due to an illness. Another young man. __, verbally declared. I was giving J one of the necklaces that has a Bahá’í prayer for protection written on it. __ said he wanted one of those necklaces, and I explained that the Navy regulations allow us to give these only to Bahá’ís. He then replied that he considered himself a Bahá’í—so we made plans to complete his enrollment at the next week’s devotional. . . .

15 recruits attended that devotional gathering—a record. One of the men had brought 6 or 7 friends. A young lady brought 2 friends. We had a few returnees as well. Amazing.

The following week, one young man started out by saying (before the prayers) that he had wanted to declare last week but had been on duty, so could not come. __ from last week also wanted to declare. After opening prayers, we decided to split the group between those wanting to declare and those who were seekers. When we did this, 2 female recruits who had asked a lot of questions last week said they wanted to declare, too. This was astonishing.

We shared Anna's presentation with all 4 of these individuals with the help of a Bahá’í recruit and a local Bahá’í.

The spirit is contagious. We have again run out of the larger prayer books that we have been giving recruits who declare. We are nearly out of the necklaces with the prayer for protection. In a small way, these were a key element for inviting these souls to the Lord's banquet table. We are also out of the new registration cards. Are these not wonderful problems to have?

"O Lord, increase my astonishment at Thee!"

With gratitude to the Blessed Beauty for His teaching. May He let us continue to be of help.

Warmly,

M

Bonds of true friendship

Here is a supplement to our earlier posting about Aurora, IL (A). More than a year ago, the friends discovered a very receptive population consisting of several families from Burma, and an individual believer shares an update of some of the activities in this regard. What is really inspiring here is that bonds of true friendship have been formed between the Bahá’ís in the cluster and this population. This is not a superficial or fleeting connection, but something substantial that has grown over time. The friends are in it “for the long haul”.

The families continue to be in active contact with S and B, who have been holding Bahá’í children’s classes with the children on a weekly basis for more than a year now. S and B are absolutely stellar teachers. The children are memorizing passages from the Writings and learning Bahá’í concepts. . . .

Some if not all of the adults consider themselves Bahá’ís and have spoken of “making application” to “join the Temple” at some later date. They want to do this all at the same time. We have given them Burmese translations of the registration card and reviewed it with them.

One of the adults is teaching the Faith to another Burmese friend. He is interested in the Faith and wants copies of the prayer book and Ruhi Book 1 in Burmese.

One family had not seen me in a while and asked about me. So I made arrangements for myself and another Bahá’í to visit them. We did and prayed together—a little home visit, really.

The families were participating in a Burmese community event and so I arranged to attend with them. It was an enjoyable gathering, kind of like a “Taste of Burma”; one of the family’s daughters participated in a dance performance.

We also had Thanksgiving dinner with the families at S’s house last November.

It’s clear that over the months friendships between the families and various Bahá’ís in the cluster have been solidly established.

Another note of interest: The families have expressed an interest in visiting the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. It may be a while before they are able to do this, but we are keeping this in mind for when the time is right.

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.

Remembering the 7

Increasingly, people are seeking out the Bahá’í Faith on their own. They research it on the internet, check out books in libraries, etc. And then, they reach out to the Bahá’í community. Some call the 1-800-22UNITE phone line, others may send an email through the public Web site www.bahai.us. When they do, the friends at the national, regional and local levels work together to respond to their inquiry, say prayers with them, share a presentation on the Faith with them, connect them with local Bahá’í activities—whatever the seeker requests.

We are delighted to share with you a trio of joyful stories from some of the friends at the regional level who respond to seeker requests, answer their questions, and ensure that they are put in touch with believers who live near them. In this first one, some of these friends have been encouraging each other’s efforts by periodically setting goals for themselves of the number of new believers they would discover through their interactions with the seekers who have contacted the Bahá’ís through the above-mentioned channels: . . .

Dear friends,

The South Central SRS team reached its goal of 12 new believers!

We may set a new goal. All the prayers and efforts of the friends over the years and recently, as well as “direct” teaching, show us that Bahá’u’lláh has made things happen as they have.

Sincerely,

A

Now that one goal is completed, they need a new one!

Dearest A and Company . . .

I love your spirit. Alright, A . . . your choice, what is our new goal.

Sent with love,

S

And in doing so they are remembering the 7 Bahá’í leaders who are imprisoned in Iran for their beliefs.

Dear friends,

For now, may I suggest 21. When thinking of the 7 who are imprisoned leaders in Iran, each has 2 parents, 14. So 7 + 14 = 21. Let us teach for them and their parents. We will remember them every day, and teach teach teach!

With love and devotion,

A

Study circle at a church continues to connect hearts

We continue to receive inspiring updates from Sebring, FL (C). Here, an individual believer has taken to heart Bahá’u’lláh’s command to “consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.” She has visited a local church, made many friends, and even started a Ruhi Book 4 study circle with some of the church members. This persistence and openness is yielding amazing results, and the study circle participants are each beginning to connect with the Faith in their own way. Here are a couple of excerpts from her story:

__ says that when they first read the Writings, they could recognize “something holy” about them. __ says that they love the teachings, believes that Bahá’u’lláh is a Messenger from God and that all the Prophets are Messengers and equal. I expressed that this is what we believe, that we are not to draw distinctions between God’s Messengers.

And __ explained today that they had been approaching the Bahá’í Faith with skepticism and was just studying it with their friends. But hearing Rainn Wilson’s interview with Oprah Winfrey has now further sparked their interest, because Rainn Wilson emphasized that the arts are a way to worship God, and __ is very interested in the arts. So this has made a big difference.

L

Pledges fulfilled with joy

All over the country, the friends are joyfully implementing the pledges made at the Regional Bahá’í Conferences held in December. The spirit is dedicated, the action is systematic, and the results are exciting. Here is a summary shared by a believer in a cluster in the Northeast region:

Of the 3 new children’s classes pledged, our cluster has fulfilled 3 to date.

Of the 2 new junior youth groups pledged, our cluster has fulfilled 2 to date.

Of the 15 devotional gatherings pledged, our cluster has been able to fulfill 11 to date.

Of the 50 home visits pledged, our cluster has fulfilled 36 to date.

Let us rejoice in our accomplishments!

Personal systematic action on pledges

A few months ago, the pledges were made. And now they are being carried out! One of the beautiful things about the series of Regional Bahá’í Conferences in December is that not only have so many of the believers been mobilized into action, their services are being carried out in a systematic, organized, methodical manner. That is why we are sharing some excerpts of an individual believer in the South Central region, who reports the progress made so far on their own personal pledges—which, by the way involve several communities in a number of clusters. It is one example of the types of persistent and focused efforts that are helping clusters throughout the country advance.

Personal Three-Month Plan for Moving a Goal Cluster in the Region: Log of Personal Accomplishments So Far

PRAYER:

Recited daily the Teaching Prayer for the region to recognize receptive souls

Participated in prayer campaigns, and specific daily prayers for specific matters.

Participated in weekly devotional meetings. . . .

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT:

Completed Ruhi __ in an intensive course.

Competing Ruhi __.

Not yet completed Ruhi __.

Will participate in intensive institute campaign in __ cluster.

Co-tutoring Ruhi __ in __. Will probably complete in a few weeks.

Co-tutoring Ruhi __ in another cluster; halfway done.

Co-tutoring Ruhi __ in __.

Participating in a one-on-one study circle with a friend.

OTHER CORE ACTIVITIES:

Organized home visits by members of the __ community to an isolated believer.

Carried out a home visit to another friend.

Helped with children’s classes in __.

Have tried to start a junior youth group but this has not happened yet.

TEACHING:

Have expanded personal contacts for teaching. Record contact information for everyone with whom I discuss the Faith so I can stay in touch with them.

Made connections with other friends to strengthen friendship and begin spiritual conversations. I have also tried to use a direct approach when teaching the Faith.

Participated on direct teaching team that shared Anna’s presentation, resulting in several individuals asking for more information about the Faith and requesting return visits, which then led to some declarations.

Organizing fireside.

Made an additional contribution to the local fund for the teaching work.

You know you love the numbers! (Because they show us how far we've come)

We’ve pulled out the following excerpt from this report of recent teaching activities in the Pee Dee, SC (A) cluster since it launched its intensive program of growth. It’s a lot of numbers and figures, and in this case the numbers very clearly illustrate the tremendous progress the friends have made, both with teaching and follow-up, just in the past few months, as well as the high receptivity to the Faith.

Dear friends,

As you can see, the Pee Dee cluster has made great progress. Where previously it was quite challenging to commence a Book 1 study circle, now 14 of the 18 most recent declarants are participating in Book 1. Also you can see that after sharing Anna’s presentation 35 times with seekers, 18 people declared, which is a strong indicator of both the effectiveness of the teaching and the receptivity of the community.

Now for the numbers: (You know you love the numbers!)

From 12-13-08 thru 03-05-09 in the Pee Dee Cluster . . .

We visited 251 different homes in 7 different areas of the cluster.

We made 587 total visits to those 251 homes. . . .

There were 308 times that there was no answer.

There were 66 times that we got the response of “not interested”.

There were 218 times that we were invited for a return visit.

There were 35 individuals with whom Anna’s presentation was shared.

We had 18 dear souls declare their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

We had 14 of the new believers start Ruhi Book 1.

We had 4 of the new believers study at least one deepening theme from Ruhi Book 2.

We have 1 of the new believers already hosting regular devotional gatherings at their home.

Tangible coherent progress

This report from Alameda County South (Fremont), CA (A) is a wonderful example of a cluster steadily progressing. Three months after the Regional Bahá’í Conference, its inspiring effects are now tangibly reflected: More believers are arising to teach and start core activities, the cluster launched an intensive program of growth, and all the friends’ various efforts are supporting each other in a coherent way.

One of the friends notes that the Regional Bahá’í Conference in Los Angeles “created tremendous energy in the believers”. For example: . . .

Some arose afterwards to offer devotional meetings in their neighborhoods and at their workplaces, which has boosted the number of devotional gatherings in the cluster.

Some started study circles.

Some worked to sustain a jeopardized children’s class by finding a new location for it.

Attendance at the last reflection meeting increased.

During the expansion phase, friends from neighboring clusters lent their support, so together we had 11 teaching teams during the first weekend and 7 teams the second weekend. Friends from our cluster are now carrying out home visits and sharing deepening themes with a family of new believers.

Also noteworthy are the insights being gained about core activities. In particular, experience is showing that they all support each other:

One of the key elements for the success of the children’s classes has been the steadfastness and consistency of the teachers of these classes. Further, the children who attend these classes are themselves the most effective means of inviting other children to the classes.

Children’s classes can be a bridge to study circles: A teaching team met a youth who expressed interest in teaching a children’s class, and they have started a study circle with her.

Institute courses help start devotional meetings: As a result of a Book 1 refresher course, a family has now started in their home a devotional gathering followed by a fireside.

Devotional meetings open doors for teaching: As a teaching team visited homes in one neighborhood to invite people to a devotional meeting held there, it provided opportunities to present the Faith directly.

Kansas City arises with courage to fulfill pledges

The effects of the Regional Bahá’í Conferences continue to resonate throughout the country. Here are three truly amazing and truly delightful stories from Kansas City, MO (A) from believers who have arisen to fulfill their pledges. These stories speak for themselves. Go KC!

The first is an inspiring story of a believer overcoming all doubts and obstacles to arise with confidence and courage:

__ listened at the Conference to the messages from Counselor Mora and Counselor Walker through a headset translating it into her mother tongue. The call to arise was clear to her, and her heart began to glow. When members of her cluster gathered together in a breakout group, she watched her community unhesitatingly pledge services to the Cause. Her heart's desire has been for so long to offer children's classes for those in her neighborhood. For so long she had considered her barriers: her accent, a lack of a partner, no meeting places, etc. Reminded of words of Counselor Walker that "now is the time to stand up for Bahá’u’lláh", and as she gazed upon the faces of a sea of dedicated servants any hesitation turned into utmost determination. She wrote her pledge down: one new children's class. . . .

Upon her return home, with the writings of Bahá’u’lláh on her lips, she began knocking on doors, extending the invitation for children's classes to families across her neighborhood. From its very start the average number of children attending her weekly neighborhood classes was 12, making it the best-attended children's class in the entire cluster. She prepares all materials and refreshments herself. She often goes to a few homes to remind the children of the class. Now, the walls of her room are adorned with the memorization quotes the children have been working on and her sister, observing the need of another teacher has also stepped into the field of service.

Children’s classes can also kindle the hearts of new believers, as this next wonderful story shows.

After the conference in Chicago __ developed a strong desire to visit a new believer who had enrolled into the Faith during Kansas City's initial intensive teaching effort but with whom the friends had not since been in touch. Together with her husband they went to that home for a visit and were welcomed in. Although the individual was friendly, he did not initially appear interested in any activities. __, looking at his young children, used the power of her intuition and courage and said, "We will be here tomorrow for children's classes for your son." To their surprise, the man enthusiastically embraced the idea. Since then __ has gone every week to teach children's classes to this man’s young children and other friends nearby. This has not come without challenges. But week after week she comes by to pick them up, waits as they get ready and happily go to class. The average number of students that attend is 8.

This last very inspiring account is shared by a youth who has arisen to help a nearby B-stage cluster in the region advance by helping to form junior youth groups.

After attending the Regional Bahá’í Conference in Chicago, Illinois, I gained a great amount of insight. I saw many Bahá’ís and their accomplishments and found out that our surrounding cluster was in need of a junior youth group animator training. As soon as Kansas City found out about this need, our time to arise and serve had come, once again. Plans were made for KC Bahá’ís to travel to Wichita, Kansas two weekends in a row and hold an animator training, in order to pursue junior youth groups in the near future. The animator training went unsurprisingly amazing. Seven youth attended this training, which means we now have seven more animators in our neighboring cluster. We went through two units of Ruhi Book 5 the first weekend, and the third unit the next weekend. The Bahá’í youth were so excited and had so much enthusiasm. To our surprise they were ready to go and start up new junior youth classes as soon as the training was complete. Two new resulting junior youth groups in Wichita have began this week. All of this is a result of arising to the call of the Universal House of Justice at this critical hour.

Friends in Northeast fulfill pledges with joy

The friends in the Northeast region have been truly galvanized by the recent Regional Bahá’í Conference in Stamford. Both the believers who attended that event and those that were unable to do so have intensified their efforts in a spirit of joy and excitement.

For example, a believer in the Syracuse, NY (B) cluster reports:

At our last Nineteen Day Feast we had a very lively discussion on the topic of pledge fulfillment. Everyone is making progress on their pledges and there was a beautiful exchange of offers for areas where anyone was struggling to fulfill their pledges. I’m unsure what an A-stage cluster looks like, but this spirit is new to us. Surely we are approaching our goal. It’s got to be the best consultation I’ve experienced at Feast. . . .

And in New Haven, CT (*C), a friend reports progress on pledges:

3 people finished an intensive Book 3 and are starting a new children’s class.

A new Book 2 study circle is starting.

The students at the university are starting a new children’s class and a junior youth group.

Teaching is continuing.

Seekers are fulfilling the pledges they have made!

A friend from Rochester, NY (A) reports:

The friends have already begun to fulfill their pledges to help our sister cluster, Syracuse. AT least 4 of the friends have been actively involved. One has been tutoring a Book 6 study circle.

We would like to thank the International Teaching Center and our Regional Bahá’í Council for modeling a cluster reflection meeting at the Stamford conference. We used this model to structure our own cluster reflection meeting. We encouraged the friends to focus on the guidance and to channel the stories of celebration to show what has been learned.

Finally, many individual have arisen to serve as a homefront pioneer or travel teacher to a nearby cluster or to a receptive neighborhood within their cluster. The institutions and individual believers have been assisting them in various ways, including temporary financial support, opening their homes to host pioneers, or simply praying for their success in searching for apartments in an identified receptive neighborhood! The Northeast is truly on fire.

"It is my duty to tell everyone and not decide who is or is not ready"

Last month we saw an inspiring story shared by an individual believer from Scottsdale, AZ (A) about how the Regional Bahá’í Conference she attended transformed and encouraged her, and the children’s classes she started with her friends and neighbors. Here is an update on the classes, as well as some reflections on sharing the Faith directly in a spirit of openness and detachment without any agenda—or assumptions. Once again, you can see the high interest in children’s classes.

One of the many promises I made to myself after the Regional Bahá’í Conference in Los Angeles was that I WAS going to start a children's class for my younger children ages 10 and 7. I promised myself that I would send an e-mail to my friends, the mothers of the 10 year old girls my older daughter is friends with. So in the new year, when school had started again, I did just that.

I had learned about the new Ruhi Book 3A and needed to see it right away as I was told it was made for older kids. So __ was kind enough to meet with me one on one and go over the first lesson with me. Though I probably need to meet with her more and go over more lessons with her, I went ahead and sent my e-mail to my friends hoping for the best, but really expecting the worst. . . .

At first I was a little surprised that all but one accepted to bring their children to come to the Book 3A class Friday's after school. Yes, one mom was very honest with me and said that this was not for her and her daughter, but we are still great friends. I said no problem. My friends know that my friendship with them is not dependent on whether or not they are receptive to my Faith. And I did have 10 other moms who said YES after all!

So began my Book 3A class for my 10 year old daughter and her friends. It just so happens that a lot of the 10 year old friends of my older daughter also have sisters the same age as my younger daughter. I mentioned to one of the moms, who is one of my close friends, how great it would be to have another class with the younger ones, but unfortunately I didn't know if I could find a teacher in time for Friday's class. To my surprise she offered to teach the class if I felt that she could do a good job. I said yes right away and so that is how our Book 3 children's class began. It is held at the same time as the Book 3A.

All of this was great. To add to my good fortune, a wonderful Bahá’í neighbor and friend and an expert in Book 3 (because she's done it so many times) offered to accompany my friend in her efforts with the Book 3 class and provide the materials. So far we have had three classes.

To further my good fortune, other moms had heard about this class through their kids in school and took the initiative to write or call me about whether it would be ok for their children to come as well. I was stunned. I couldn't believe that I was being approached instead of me approaching others.

So our classes grew larger.

In the classes we tried to memorize the quotes from the Writing. Things go slowly, but the children are trying hard and learning, and they love to say the quotes. There are amazing stories. This class is showing me the purity, strong spiritual connection with God, and capacity of the children.

I feel very humbled by what I have seen. I have decided to never ever judge the capacity of anyone as it related to the Bahá’í Faith. It is my duty to tell EVERYONE about it, not to decide who should hear about it and who is not ready. This is not to say that I haven't had my share of e-mails telling me that "this is not for me at this time," or "I'm sorry, but I can't come to your devotional." In fact, I just had a devotional last week that no one came to or RSVPed. So I prayed by myself. I was not the least bit upset, hurt, or dismayed. I'm having another devotional tomorrow and another one next week. I am offering a gift. If no one can accept it for the time being, then I will partake of it myself. I'm not sad, ashamed, or hopeless. I am overjoyed at having overcome one of my biggest barriers in teaching the Faith, that barrier being myself.

With love,

YP

Scottsdale, AZ

The teaching spreads to every part of the cluster

This update from Savannah, GA (A) has some exciting news: The teaching and core activities are now starting to spread to more and more parts of the cluster.—now more things happening in more areas of the cluster. The institute process is taking off, the Bahá’ís are reaching out to their friends and neighbors, new believers are being welcomed into the Faith, and existing bonds of unity are being strengthened. Finally, there is a great example of a “within-cluster” homefront pioneer. Everyone, wherever they are living, is helping Savannah move forward!

Hello friends:

The last couple of weeks have given us various opportunities to incorporate more fully the efforts of every friend in EACH location in our Savannah Area Cluster. The friends in Statesboro had a wonderful, diverse entry in the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade, supported by friends and youth from Savannah, as well as their own contacts in Statesboro. The friends there have just finished Book 4 and will be starting Book 5 next month! They want to take Book 5 so they can start a junior youth group in Statesboro with some of their friends from the parade. They have also recently begun a Book 1 with 5 or 6 participants from the wider community. . . .

In the Chatham County part of the cluster, the friends visited neighborhood where a Bahá’í family lives and invited children who live there to a new children's class. 5 neighborhood children and one set of parents along with 6 of the Bahá’í children participated. Everyone had a great time, and the children are anxious to invite their friends! As we expand our teaching beyond the area near the Bahá’í Center in Savannah, this neighborhood has been chosen by the area teaching committee as one place where a collective teaching effort will continue along with the monthly children's classes.

Last week two youth brought a 14 year old junior youth by my house because "he wanted to be one of us". After some discussion among all of us, he decided to enroll. Please say prayers for him and his family. Tonight he and one other of the young friends came by my house to hang out. We watched a little bit of the super bowl and they talked about how they wanted to catch up with the others in their youth classes starting this week.

We also have a 19 year old native Savannah youth who has started her year of service as a home front pioneer right here in Savannah. Her action adds greatly to our ability to work with the many youth and junior youth who have become believers. We are growing in size and capacity to systematically continue to grow. There is so much more to say but I will stop now.

Keep us in your prayers please

Love,

M

Core activities growing in Solano County

The effect of the recent Regional Bahá’í Conferences can be seen in communities across the country. One tangible way, as can be seen in this brief report from Solano County, CA (B), is a significant increase in core activities. The friends there are also planning to use their reflection meeting to help sustain their progress.

Dear Friends,

Since the conference in Los Angeles in December, the momentum has been steadily increasing in our cluster:

Already started or starting soon: 12 new regular devotional gatherings and 7 new study circles!

We'll be celebrating these and other achievements and deliberating on how to keep the momentum growing at our upcoming reflection gathering on Saturday. Hope to see you there!

Warmest regards,

Your cluster development facilitator

Regional Conferences give courage

Around the country, the recent Regional Bahá’í Conferences has given the friends from all backgrounds the inspiration and courage to rise up and serve in new ways. Here is a beautiful example from East Valley, AZ (A), shared by an individual believer:

One of the amazing outcomes of this recent process has been the engagement of the friends who have recently arrived in our cluster from Iran. One particular individual was so moved by the regional conference in Los Angeles that she is now serving quite intensely in our cluster. She has been teaching children's classes, hosting devotionals, and moving through the sequence of training institute courses quite rapidly in the last few weeks. A few others are also moving along the same path as this courageous and dedicated woman.