New believers build community through core activities

The following accounts from two A-stage clusters in Arizona, taken from a recent issue of “Learning in Action”, a newsletter produced by the Regional Bahá’í Council of the Southwestern states, show some truly inspiring examples of new believers arising to serve. Empowered by their participation in training institute courses, their initiatives to start and carry out all the core activities are leading to a vibrant community life within their neighborhoods.

In two Arizona clusters, new believers are arising to share the message of Bahá’u’lláh with their family and friends using Anna’s presentation as a tool which is familiar to them. They are also co-tutoring study circles and teaching children’s classes.

When activities take place at a small geographic scale such as an apartment complex, it allows residents to see the Faith in action, such as Bahá’í children’s classes, junior youth groups and unity feasts. These gatherings give rise to meaningful consultation regarding the spiritual wellbeing of their neighborhood and often results in further declarations. In one neighborhood Feast, the junior youth shared their idea for a unity gathering for the neighborhood, and enlisted the help of the adults to accomplish it. In addition, three mothers who are participating in a Book 1 study circle and one youth have taken a Book 3 refresher course and arisen to teach children’s classes in the neighborhood.

A consultation at a neighborhood Feast in another cluster resulted in two neighborhood devotionals and two mothers arising to teach children’s classes. After studying Book 3, one mother has successfully taken over the class, being occasionally assisted by other friends. This has allowed other teachers to begin teaching the lessons from Book 3A to the older children. In this same neighborhood, four new believers have committed to studying Books 1, 2 and 7 and are all tutoring a study circle with accompaniment.

"We may think we are doing the 'teaching' but the neighborhood is actually teaching us."

It is a delight to share this story about a children’s class in San Jose, CA (A), which is taken from the July 2008 issue of “Learning in Action”, a newsletter published by the Regional Bahá’í Council of the Southwestern states. The openness, dedication, respect, humility and sincerity of the friends who are conducting classes for children and adults are truly inspiring. Carefully observed by community members, the friends’ genuine efforts have now built bonds of unity, trust and sharing.

On the first day, some of the Bahá’ís met a friendly family who requested repeated visits and were interested in hearing Anna’s presentation and studying the deepening themes from Ruhi Book 2. . . .

Soon after, this family’s front lawn became the center of activities for the neighborhood. A children’s class in front of their apartment door soon attracted large numbers of not just children, but people of all ages who welcomed this service. At present, 25 children attend the class weekly. The building manage says he can see improvement in the children’s behavior.

After closely observing the children’s class for several weeks, many residents started to appreciate its value. Adults became increasingly open. Youth became helpers. The diversity of the Bahá’í teachers was admired and their services were accepted because everything was out in the open and it was clear there was no hidden agenda.

More and more of the women in the neighborhood kept watching the children’s class, and it was discovered that they were interested in learning English. So the teachers offered to teach them English through prayers. The adult class is set up as a devotional meeting, also held in the open, and like the children’s class more and more people are showing interest in it. The women are thrilled to be learning what their children are learning. Comfort levels are rising and they are proud to be sharing Spanish-speaking tips to those Bahá’ís that are less than fluent in that language.

One of the Bahá’ís who teaches the classes says, “We may think we are doing the ‘teaching’ but the neighborhood is actually teaching us.”

Cooperating in a spirit of service

Exciting news from Pasco-Hernando, FL (B) which has recently finished an intensive teaching effort. Local believers, visitors, institutions, and youth volunteers from a teaching and service project carried out by the Magdalene Carney Bahá’í Institute called Project Badi—all cooperated in a spirit of joy and enthusiasm to reach out to the wider community and build new connections.

Dearest friends;

The Pasco/Hernando cluster’s teaching effort ended yesterday, with rewarding results. The Project Badi youth brought energy and excitement to the teaching work of our cluster. The East Pasco Local Spiritual Assembly did an amazing job in hosting the youth. Our sincere thanks to to all of them. Some of the highlights are as follows:

10 Firesides were held throughout the Cluster. 17 seekers who were interested in hearing the message of Bahá’u’lláh were able to attend these events, listen to Anna’s Presentation and participate in follow up discussions. . . .

The wonderful new believers who declared during our previous cycle hosted a fireside for their family, at which Project Badi youth gave a particularly moving Anna’s Presentation. We felt the Spirit of Badi in this gathering.

Over 20 people participated in the teaching activities, most of whom were from the cluster.

Following the first weekend, where 27 contacts requested to learn more about the Faith, there have been vigorous follow-ups by the Project Badi Youth and the friends from our cluster. Their efforts helped make connections with 18 contacts who have expressed interest in home visits, study circles, or devotional meetings.

Three Project Badi Reading Circles and Youth Empowerment classes were successfully completed in two communities. Two children’s classes have also been organized which will be held in these localities in the coming weeks. We are hoping that the Project Badi youth who live in this cluster can take the lead in conducting these.

Beloved friends, we need your dedicated and sacrificial acts of service to help with the follow up visits, holding study circles, devotional meetings, and supporting and teaching children classes. We would appreciate your contribution and support by contacting the area teaching committee secretary and letting us know in what capacity you will be able to help.

With loving Baha’i greetings

SG

Anna's presentation continues to make waves

Anna’s presentation continues to make waves in Greenville, SC (B). Here is an update from a believer there:

Here is an update on our "Anna's" experiment!

We invited three friends to the Bahá’í Center to share Anna’s presentation with them. Two of them took turns reading the presentation; the third asked questions and shared her comments, which we all attempted to address. We then invited her to declare her belief that Bahá’u’lláh is the Manifestation of God for today. Yes! was the reply, with more bouncing on the couch with joy.

So in the past few days there have been several people—adults, youth, junior youth and children—who have all declared their belief and requested to join the Bahá’í Faith. We will soon be organizing a Book 1 study circle for the adults and youth.

Wow!

Your Brother,

j

Learning how to invite new seekers to become involved

Here is an update from Ramsey County, MN (A), where the friends are learning about on the connections between sharing the Faith and building spiritual communities, and they have enhanced their abilities to ascertain the receptivity of those with whom they share the Message.

Dear Friends, Alláh'u'Abhá,

After a week of return visits to neighbors who had asked us to return, and prayers for new and established connections alike, some of the friends in the cluster met this morning with our new Counsellor, Alison Milston. Then we went off to our communities: some to continue with follow-up, some to meet new friends, and as always some believers dedicating their time to prayer for the success of everyone’s efforts.

When we came back together this evening, we had a wonderful reflection on the day's and week's activities. There was powerful consultation about what sharing the message is, and that it involves, in the words of our National Spiritual Assembly, “learning how to build spiritually vibrant communities in which people of every age and background find sustenance and fulfillment.” One realization was that we should of course welcome new seekers to join us in the reflection meetings.

Sensing level of interest has been a vital lesson during our recent activities. As always, we have had a range of responses. A few have clearly responded to the message of Bahá’u’lláh. Some are deeply interested in learning more, sharing prayers, and studying this latest Dispensation. Several more were interested in their children participating in children’s classes.

Recognizing all of these responses, and more, come from our efforts to directly share the message of Bahá’u’lláh.

Please keep up the prayer tomorrow and beyond as we continue our efforts.

Warm Bahá'í love,
S

"What the Baha'i Faith means to me"

Here is a delightful story from a family who shared the Faith at an age-of-maturity birthday party and built sincere connections with friends and classmates.

Our daughter recently turned 15. We all decided to celebrate with all her friends from school and any parents who would like to come. She had already held several "inspiration night" devotional gatherings with friends, and this gave her the confidence to share her faith with them. The party invitation included the following:

Turning fifteen is a significant milestone in the Bahá’í Faith.

Considered the "age of maturity" it means one is embarking on an exciting and important process toward adulthood.

This implies responsibilities to develop one's own spiritual life, and consider how to be of service to humanity.

There is no set way to celebrate 15, but we wanted to gather friends and family for this special evening with food, music, and a brief program.

We hope you can join us!

Parents are welcome to stay, if they would like.

The program consisted of a powerpoint presentation prepared and given by our daughter on "What the Bahá’í Faith means to me." In the background of each slide she had put photos of family, friends, and various representations of issues in the world (like environmental degradation). This made the concepts and quotations personal and relevant to her 45 friends who joined us for the party.

As a result, several of her friends want to know more about the Faith, she will continue the devotional meetings and we may organize a Book 1 study circle with interested friends.

Thank you.

H

Richmond (a B-stage cluster) shares the news of new declarations

Keep an eye on Richmond, VA (B) where the friends are practicing working together more systematically and learning all of the aspects of the processes of growth. Here is a brief summary from the cluster development facilitator.

Dear Friends,

The Richmond cluster is in the midst of an exciting new beginning, very much in consonance with the fresh stirrings elsewhere in the country and the world. Through the guidance and example of our Auxiliary Board member and our Regional Bahá’í Council, we have identified a neighborhood to visit, and have completed a full cycle of planned activity, similar to an intensive program of growth (and, though we are still at the B stage it felt “intensive” enough). Already we have met several people who have declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

There is surely more to come.

Loving regards,

B