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.

An engaging conversation

It’s happening more and more frequently. Someone contacts the Bahá’í community, perhaps through the 1-800-22-UNITE phone line, or the public Web site, or perhaps meets the friends at a core activity or during a teaching project. They ask to know about the Faith. A believer shares the fundamental verities through a heart-to-heart conversation, perhaps at their home, or at a public venue. A new soul enters the Cause and joins the community. This brief report from the Southwest region is along these lines. What is striking is the direct, engaged, conversation between the teachers and seekers. The declarations were naturally followed up with a study circle, and they are not letting geographic distance get in the way: look at what technology can do . . .

E met with myself and another believer. She brought along a friend, B. E was responsive immediately through the entire presentation. . . .

We had met at a coffee shop near her place of work. When we finished Anna’s presentation, she said she had questions, I said WONDEFUL! She asked about the teachings of the Faith about Christ, and we discussed progressive revelation and the importance of God never leaving humanity alone.

She also asked where Bahá’ís meet, as she wanted to meet other Bahá’ís. We discussed some of the activities in her area. B asked E if she had other questions. She said no, he said neither do I, and both declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh right there.

It was such an amazing and spiritual encounter. We discussed the concept of obligatory prayer, as well as Ruhi Book 1. We covered a few of the first quotations during that meeting. She is now participating in a study circle at her home. B lives in another city but is participating in the study circle via a computer chat program so they can see each other and include him in the conversation.

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.

"Something truly great is happening here"

There’s a certain point in a cluster’s history where a threshold is crossed. The hearts of the friends are touched in a new way, and they arise with love to serve the Cause with new levels of dedication. It is a point where the friends’ hearts, filled with both courage and love, arise to share the Message as part of an organized, collective, direct teaching effort. Here is a description of that joyful evening where this milestone was reached in Arapahoe-Douglas Counties, CO (B), shared by a member of that cluster’s area teaching committee.

Dear S,

I want to recount our second Cluster Reflection Meeting since we became a "B" Cluster. It was wonderful.

The clubhouse is full in Arapahoe County. 35 Adults, 7 children and 6 Junior Youth. We had 48 red and white roses next to a large photo of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. There was a slide on the screen of the Sea Gate in Akka. One believer told us about Bahá’u’lláh’s experience on that dark day entering the prison city while crowds threw things and called Him names. But what was happening in the spiritual realms was a different story. He heard the angels sing and was greeted by banners of light. She then sang "Soon will all that dwell on earth be enlisted under these banners." It was beautiful. We had a prayer for the 7 friends imprisoned in Iran. . . .

Then a junior youth gave an amazing and well presented account of his teaching team experiences. He began with a prayer and guitar music. It was so wonderful. And sitting in a ring around him, very quiet and respectfully, were all the children. They really looked up to him! Next, a new believer gave a talk about her teaching team’s experience and how they now have 6 kids in their neighborhood children's class. And how one little girl memorized a prayer of Bahá’u’lláh’s perfectly!

D was a perfect emcee. G and J gave a wonderful presentation about forming teaching teams and we broke up into discussion groups, came back together and reported our learning.

Then something wonderful happened: We formed 6 teaching teams for the cluster. Six groups of enthusiastic, excited and creative people decided their own individual paths of service and formed teaching teams! We have 6 teams and already 6 contact people. 6 different goals and focuses. And they all had children, youth or junior youth on them!

It was magic. It was wonderful and I think I actually heard the angels singing, "Soon will all that dwell on Earth be enlisted under these banners!" I am very, very happy tonight!

Something great is happening here. Something truly great. I think even when we don't we see it, when we feel like nothing is happening, there are things occurring in the spiritual realms that are so amazing. There really are banners of light. The angels really do sing.

In His Service,

M

Learning to reach out to everyone

The friends in Newark, NJ (B) are teaching up a storm! They are enthusiastically reaching out to all their contacts and striving to build connections so as to open up more opportunities to share the Message. Here is a collection of brief stories highlighting these efforts.

In the first, a friend shares with their contact the presentations they have learned from their participation in the Ruhi courses:

A friend and I made a home visit to one of my doctors, and we shared Anna’s presentation. Yesterday she told me she wants to participate in our community activities "unofficially". I plan to share the presentations on the life of The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh in the next few days; she is also coming with me to a devotional gathering. . . .

The next story shows the importance of reaching out to our neighbors and not assuming from the outset that they will not be interested:

One couple realized that none of the seekers they had invited to their monthly devotional were able to come. So, on the spur of the moment, they went to their next-door neighbors and invited them, explaining that they would be praying for religious freedom in Iran. While both neighbors showed interest, only one neighbor came. But he turned out to be a very receptive soul. He was moved by the prayers and music and showed a keen interest in the situation concerning Bahá’ís in Iran and in the Bahá’í Faith itself. The couple recognized the irony: They had known this neighbor for 15 years and had talked with him on many topics, but not Faith because they didn’t think he would be interested! In reality, all they had to do was to “unloose thy tongue.”

Here is an account of another devotional gathering:

Our community held our first public devotional to pray for Religious Freedom in Iran. There were guitars and drums and prayers chanted, recited and sung in various languages and many religions. It was beautiful and poignant, and served several purposes: raising awareness about the plight of the Bahá’ís in Iran and providing the several friends, neighbors and acquaintances who attended a chance to experience the uniqueness and diversity of the Bahá’í community. The process of reaching out to invite contacts to the gathering has opened some doors for future relationship-building and personal teaching. (About 65 people attended, including 16 friends from the wider community, including a reporter from our town paper.)

Later that day my family had dinner at our home with the parents of one of my daughter’s best friends. The conversation led to questions about the Bahá’í Faith and a 40-minute, genuine discussion about the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and spirituality in general. One bit of learning: I really need to memorize more of Anna's presentation! But I think there will opportunities for that soon.

Here is a report of a devotional gathering in Spanish; you can see how the core activities help build bonds of unity and community-building:

My family hosted a Spanish language devotional with three Bahá’ís and three seekers. We all offered prayers for healing and consolation. A wide discussion about Faith in general followed, where the precepts of the Bahá’í Faith were covered as well as talking about how, through Faith, we can begin breaking down the barriers of cultural assumption that tend to divide people from different countries. It was a beautiful, hopeful and hope-filled discussion.

This last story shows how the 1-800-22UNITE phone line connects searching hearts to the Bahá’í community, and is also a reminder to never assume who will or will not be interested!

A believer hosted a "Spirituality and Mental Health Day" at her work and invited a Bahá’í psychologist to give a presentation. After the talk, a mini devotional was held using many quotes from the Hidden Words. At least four people asked for copies of those quotes. Two weeks later the teacher received an email about a woman in her cluster who had contacted the 1-800-22-UNITE phone line. She was surprised to find that the person named in the email was her coworker! This believer had spoken of the Faith to many people at her work but never thought to speak to this particular person. It was a lesson to truly be “unrestrained as the wind” when sharing the message of Bahá’u’lláh. The seeker is planning to study "Reflections on the Life of the Spirit" along with their spouse.

Exhausted and energized at the same time

Grand Junction, CO (B) is moving forward and full of energy and activity. The friends have been engaged in direct teaching, reaching out and involving new contacts in core activities (planned in such a way to support each other), using celebrations of World Religion Day and Ayyam-i-Ha as opportunities to share the Message, and reflecting on their experiences to identify receptive populations. All I can say is, WOW!

We had our first direct teaching effort yesterday morning, the Ayyam-i-Ha Party last night and devotions, children's classes and a junior youth group this morning It's been very busy—whew—and uplifting all at the same time.

For a small number of people teaching for a few hours yesterday, we feel pretty exhausted and energized all at the same time! Is that possible? 13 people were serving on 4 teaching teams, and that includes our little children. . . .

We met 14 people who wanted some information about the Faith and of those, about 6 homes requested some sort of follow-up, wanted to be involved in core activities, or asked to listen to Anna’s presentation.

The best part: one of the people visited yesterday came to devotions today with her children. A presentation on the Faith was shared with her while the kids were in the children's class, and she declared and registered all of her children! Yá-Bahá’u’l-Abhá! She will be starting Ruhi Book 1 next week, which will be held at the same time as the children’s class.

We also had 58 people attend the Ayyam-i-Ha celebration, of whom 16 were from the Community of Interest. Usually we have only about 40 at these events. That's an increase of almost 20! One of those was an individual we met during the direct teaching effort.

A college student that we had first encountered during World Religion Day and who was interested in learning more also came last night and brought a friend. They both had fun and thanked me over and over. We have 3 other members of the community of interest involved in Ruhi Book 1.

It seems that the highest receptivity has been encountered in apartment complexes and among young people and young families. The ground is definitely fertile. Please dear friends, continue your prayers and reach out to your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers and give them this most Precious Gift.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

R

Building blocks of a new civilization

The institute process and core activities lay the foundations for a new community life and are the embryo of a new civilization. This process is occurring in every corner of the globe. A recent inspiring example of this comes from The Dalles-Wasco and Hood River Counties, OR (C). The friends have a strong outward-looking orientation here. They are reaching out to their neighbors and have established flourishing children’s classes and a junior youth group. And in the same way they have welcomed new believers into their community.

Believers residing in this cluster have recently made huge strides in developing their Institute Process. They have made a real connection to those neighborhoods where children's classes are strong and which include mostly children from the wider community. One of the classes has been running for two years now and the home has become a focal point of neighborhood activity. The teachers of these classes are developing strong relationships with the families.

A junior youth group has recently started and which is an outgrowth of another neighborhood children's class. The animators were able to start a group with 13 junior youth from the wider society.

Several new believers have been welcomed into a loving community life. The new believers are involved in the sequence of courses and are visited regularly for the purpose of deepening.