Connecting with neighbors

Here is an account of young people out in the neighborhood in Franklin/Hampshire, MA (B), under the blazing sun. Nothing complicated: the youth simply reached out to their neighbors and fellow youth, offering children’s classes and asking people if they were interested in learning about the Bahá’í Faith. With practice, and the power of prayer, they became more confident in interacting with people and introducing the Faith in a natural way. The cluster institute coordinator reports:

Dear friends,

I had the great honor this weekend, of accompanying 3 youth in their first attempts at sharing the Message in the Franklin/Hampshire cluster. We gathered on Saturday at 2:00 to say prayers. Three of us had attended a session the previous evening to practice Anna’s presentation. The nervousness in the room was palpable, but began to soften as we read from the Writings. We consulted and discussed different approaches we could use when talking to people.

At 3:00, we set out (in the 90 degree heat) and began visiting homes. We had agreed to teach for an hour and meet back at the apartment at 4:00 to reflect on our efforts.

The first time was the hardest, but it got easier as the afternoon went on. One of the friends introduced himself as a neighbor and explained that they were starting a Baha’i children's class. Then he invited people to listen to a brief presentation about the Baha’i Faith and its message of unity and the nobility of every human being.

Everyone we met was polite and most were quite friendly. They seemed happy to meet a neighbor, and quite at ease to say: No thanks, I'm not interested if they weren’t interested. When we met other young people, we engaged them in conversation in a very natural way, asking about their lives and their studies. At some homes we were invited to come back at another time.

We returned to the apartment at 4:00, to wait for the others. By 4:15, we realized that they must still be engaged in teaching. So we started saying prayers for them. Finally, at about 5 pm, they bounced in with beaming smiles. They had 2 opportunities to share the message, both with other young people, including giving Anna’s presentation outdoors under the blazing sun. They said they felt the effect of our prayers for them.

Please join me in showering our precious youth with encouragement for their courageous efforts.

In a humble posture of learning,

Your cluster institute coordinator

Youth spread the message in Hampden County

In more and more places around the country, youth are arising with confidence to share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh with their friends and neighbors. Here is a report from one of the participants in a teaching effort in Hampden County, MA (B), where a spirit of openness and love has made new connections. They have also learned that some young people are eager to share the Message with others as soon as they are introduced to it.

Dear Friends,

Saturday was an exciting day in Springfield, Massachusetts. 5 youth from Franklin/ Hampshire cluster, two youth from Hampden County, one of their friends, plust two adults gathered together and prepared ourselves spiritually. We then went to visit some neighborhoods in Springfield.

Everyone had very rewarding experiences. One group met a mother who asked to hear Anna’s presentation in Spanish. During their presentation she was moved to tears by the creative Words of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Another group met some high school students who asked to be contacted for information about participating in junior youth programs. . . .

We were once again confirmed by what the youth can do for the advancement of this Cause. We also witnessed that younger generations are very open to investigate and learn about the Bahá’í Faith. The junior youth programs and neighborhood children’s classes conducted in these neighborhoods have won the admiration and interest of the participants’ parents and friends.

By the end of the day, the friend of the Bahá’ís who participated in today’s teaching declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh and signed a declaration card.

A follow-up to the above story:

Today, three of us went to home visit the new believer. She wasn’t home but another teenage family member was on the porch. She expressed an interest in listening to a presentation about the Faith. A youth gave Anna’s presentation with love, patience and confidence. The young woman listened with focused attention throughout the 40-minute presentation, and declared at the end of it. She then enthusiastically asked if she could share the Faith with her friends and bring them to a Book 1 study circle.

With love, awe & amazement,

T

Seekers grateful for persistence in follow-up

The National Seeker Response system works to connect individuals interested in learning about the Bahá’í Faith with nearby believers. Here are two stories shared by the regional seeker response specialist for the Northeast that illustrate the importance of patience and persistence:

Last year a seeker contacted us through our Web site, http://www.bahai.us. He wanted to get in touch with the local Baha'is and attend some events. We sent him lots of contact information and then sent follow up messages every month for a year, but he never replied. The local Baha'is also tried repeatedly to contact him to no avail. Just when we were going to stop trying we sent one last message and he answered! He had been away and couldn’t reply to our messages until he returned home. But he was so grateful we kept sending them, and now he is in touch with the local friends, attending core activities and very involved with local Baha'i events. . . .

Another seeker called us last year. We called him back many times, left voicemail messages, sent emails and invitations to events, both from the regional office and locally, but no reply was forthcoming. Finally as we made our last attempt to contact him, he replied by email saying how grateful he was we hadn’t given up on him. He now was ready to engage in the Baha'i community and its activities. A home visit to show Anna’s Presentation has been planned by a local teaching team.

Both these seekers were overjoyed that we were still reaching out to them. It makes us remember that we must persevere, systematically and lovingly.

Youth brave the heat in Pittsburgh

Here is a report from a teaching effort in the Pittsburgh Area, PA (*C) cluster. Some of the friends had previously attended a teacher-training event in Rochester. What followed was a joyful and enthusiastic and very intense weekend devoted to teaching involving over a dozen youth. It’s been done before in subfreezing weather; these friends carried out their activities in 98 degree summer heat!

Some of the friends from Pittsburgh friends attended the teaching seminar in Rochester and planned their teaching project during that event.

14 youth and young adults (including 2 from Rochester) participated in a mini teaching seminar back in Pittsburgh which started Friday evening at 6pm and went until past midnight! They did not want to stop practicing. Saturday, after deepening on teaching quotes, more practice, and prayers, we went out to visit a neighborhood for 5 hours in 98 degree temperatures! . . .

The two Spiritual Assemblies provided teaching materials, hospitality and food and continued prayers throughout the weekend.

One outcome was a real opportunity for a junior youth group in the neighborhood. The teachers were to re-visit and meet with the parent of the junior youth interested during the week.

We gathered for reflection and celebration at 6:30 pm Saturday evening and left the host's house around 1:00 am!!

The friends now have a concrete example of the dynamics of a collective teaching effort, the community warmly rallied around the efforts of the youth and young adults, and the sweetness of their own teaching experience will be a real impetus for their ongoing efforts.

Loving regards,

Your Auxiliary Board member

Lending support to neighboring cluster

Accompaniment and support helps the friends to gain confidence to serve the Faith. In some places advanced clusters are reaching out and lending their support to neighboring clusters that are at an earlier stage of growth. Here, a believer from Boston, MA (A) is encouraging the friends to assist with the emerging teaching efforts in neighboring Rhode Island (B):

Dear Friends,

Allah-u-Abha! The past six weeks in the Boston area have been exciting with many Friends developing capacities for direct teaching.

One other way we can help is seeing ourselves as resources for clusters around us that are taking early steps toward what has begun to happen with vigor here in Boston. The friends in Rhode Island have recently met 3 people who declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh, after visiting just a few homes. In response to such a confirmation, the Local Spiritual Assembly is sponsoring its first-cluster wide teaching day this Saturday.

If you have some experience and are free to assist these friends, please do go and participate. And if you can't go, please offer a prayer on their behalf.

Love,

Your Auxiliary Board member

Venturing out for first steps

Everything begins with a first few steps. The friends in Philadelphia SW, PA (B) recently ventured forth for the first time to share the message in a neighborhood in their cluster. The area teaching committee secretary shares their reflections on their experiences:

A total of four teachers came together. It became the first time ever to visit a neighborhood in this cluster to share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. We felt privileged to have been part of this small yet historic beginning.

Seeing the effects of reciting the Word of God to total strangers moved all of us tremendously and was very confirming of our Faith. . . .

Two of us stood on a windy street corner with the first young man we encountered on our first day; he listened intently to the presentation, and then told us that he feels it is true that Bahá’u’lláh is the Manifestation of God for today. His eyes lit up when we told him, "Then you are already a Bahá’í." This was the highlight of the weekend.

On reflection: We have made the first small steps. We need to do more preparation next time. Also, we need be sure to gather together for prayer and reflection at the conclusion of each day we go out, as well as pray together before we set out.

Area Teaching Committee Secretary

"Baha'i village" is a "natural outcome of falling in love"

This report from San Diego, CA (A) is so beautiful I hesitate to add anything to it. The believers in this cluster have had the bounty of discovering a neighborhood where so many residents have shown an interest in the Faith that they now have a “Bahá’í village” within the community. After a year of dedicatedly and humbly walking a path of love and service alongside neighborhood residents, bonds of friendship have been formed, and a new community life is emerging. Here is an account from one believer:

A year ago we began visiting homes and inviting people to children’s classes that we held in the park. Now, a year later, we have two believers who have moved into this neighborhood, which we call our Bahá’í village, to live. The spiritual impact of their move has been enormous. The new Bahá’ís are deeply moved that these friends have left their homes to come and live with them and be their neighbors. The children and junior youth in the classes and junior youth groups come to their home every day and when they are told, “This is your home,” they have taken it literally. . . .

Whereas before the children’s classes and junior youth group meetings only happened maybe once a week, now they happen almost every day. Walking down the street you will always run into new Bahá’ís and seekers that we’ve met earlier and they invite you to come to their home. It is truly a Bahá’í village.

About 100 individuals have joined the Faith during the last six months in this cluster. About half of the youth and adult new believers are participating in study circles. Almost all of the new believers are receiving regular home visits and are participating devotional gatherings. About 70% of newly registered children are attending Bahá’í children’s classes. A number of new believers are sharing the Message with their own family and friends and are taking part in teaching activities in the neighborhood. We have also established a junior youth group with the families.

This level of activity is unprecedented in our cluster. It was a natural outcome of falling in love with these beautiful new family members and our lives becoming intertwined together.

Another believer shares some of her experiences:

I learned so much today. First of all, I realized that my role is simply to introduce the Bahá’í Writings to seekers or new believers, and then they take it from there to share the Message with each other. I also learned why the practices associated with the Ruhi Institute courses are so important for community building. I got a glimpse of how the institute process will be the dominating force behind building a strong community in every neighborhood. Above all, I was reminded of the power of spiritual forces that assist us with tasks that appear impossible.