She "is like a heavenly fragrant breeze" - A new youth enrolls in the Faith!

Yet another vibrant youth has become attracted to the Faith, recently enrolled and attended one of the near-by youth conferences underway!

The friends who met her in the community share this bit of excitement about this new friend.

“Angela is extraordinarily sincere and of high capacity, a real asset to the faith. Her person is like a heavenly fragrant breeze. She went to the Boston Bahai conference as well. Thanks for reaching out."

 

The Grin Within - A personal story about becoming a Bahai

A woman in central Texas registered her declaration recently, and this is the story she shared.

Always I have been aware of the presence of the Spirit deep within me. Try as I may, my searching of religions and faiths would leave me wanting. This long seeking was worth the journey . . . I have found the source of the Grin Within...The Pure Spirit of Our Creator.

Recently a friend in Houston wrote the word Baha'i on a piece of paper given it to me. When I read it, I felt a quickening within. I asked my other Houston friend I was staying with what was Baha'i. She told me she was Baha'i for 40 years. She also had grown up around this note giver and his family who all were raised and practice the Baha'i faith for over 30 years. I was excited. It had quickly become evident this was not all coincidence. I could feel and was being shown how God's Plan was evident. That Sunday service [I had attended] was sooo unlike any I had ever attended . . . it just all made so much sense. Intuitively I felt all the Baha'i s I met that day were kindred spirits. Later over lunch with my two Baha'i friends I heard spoken and tried to repeat Ya Bahá'u'l-Abhá. My friend laughed at my expression when I spoke this . . . I felt a spark from within ignite and was left in a state of awe. I did not wait to [register my declaration to become a member of the Bahai Faith]. I wrote and signed my own declaration card!

Prayers I had only in my heart were and are being answered in perfect ways. One blessing after another are being given and shown to me. That next Sunday as I was preparing to attend the Austin's Baha'i Center meeting, I marveled how my world . . . my whole life had been rocked . . . not just rocked, but it had undergone a Tectonic Upheaval . . .

Years before when faced with very real desperation, I was given a prayer for healing.

God's Plan for our life is for:

Happiness
Peace of Mind
Joyous Activity
True Peace and
Unbroken Progress

and ask to not let your will interfere with God's plan.

The Baha'i faith IS Baha'u'llah’s Plan for my Life!

Ya Bahá'u'l-Abhá!

 

Over dinner: I was profoundly affected by the youth!

One family shared this story about how they were touched by youth visiting them for dinner and sharing the spirit of fellowship and love!

A group of 12 youth arrived Friday and just left last night. They deepened on letters from the House of Justice,prayed and made plans for their three-week campaign. The booklet that was compiled must have been done by the Counselors. Two of the youth who are orchestrating the group had travelled to Montreal and received deepening there. Three of the youth were Native Americans. One Native American chanted prayers. It was out of this world! Before the youth left he chanted a gratitude song with his drum, and each youth came up to us and hugged us and thanked us for the weekend. I am still on cloud nine! It touched me most profoundly.

The impact of this visit continues to resonate . . .

I can't tell you strongly enough how profoundly I was affected by the Native American chanting. He would cry out from his heart and the while house would reverberate! Another youth plays for [a] youth Symphony. She played her violin for us. It was like being at a professional concert! I was eating dinner when she started to play her violin. I couldn't pick up my fork! Her music reverberated throughout the house and everyone became silent.  . . .  They are now out in the neighborhoods [inviting] preyouth to the animators classes, praying together 3 times a day and [studying together in] book 5. Things are changing nation-wide.

Youth declares at conference - "I thought I was already a Bahai!"

As the 13 Youth Conferences are underway across the United States, stories about the youth who want to become members of the community are being shared.

What follows is a story about Ryan, an 18 year old who attended a recent Youth Conference, and on the last day, discovered that he hadn't yet registered his declaration to be a 'member' of the Bahai Faith. This was news to him because he had already been actively involved with the Bahais for more than 5 years and considered himself a Bahai! This story is told from the perspective of the volunteer at the regional level who follows up with those who register their declarations online for that region . . .

I wanted to share exciting news of a youth who registered as a Baha'i on his cell phone! The information came through the database and I just happened to be at the computer. I called his number and heard loud cheering in the background . . . .Five years ago when Ryan was 13, a neighbor [invited him] to the [local] Baha'i Center to help set up decorations for the Ayyam-i-Ha party. [Because] Ryan has had connection with the Baha'i community for the past 5 years [he] always thought he was a Baha'i. [N]o one told him he needed to register!

Ryan has completed Ruhi books 1, 2 and 3 and will be continuing the series after the Youth Conference. Ryan asked about the essence of God being Unknowable. He was encouraged to learn more about Baha'u'llah's life and stay connected to [his local] Baha'i Community.

This story highlights so many different attributes, from nurturing and love of the local community to technology access online.

 

 

 

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)

SED: Creating community unity through the Drive-In Theatre

Irene shared this news about her community and a creative way that one volunteer stepped forward to create community unity using a Drive-In Theatre!

I'm thinking of another project getting little notice:  The [city] Drive -In Theatre.  It is an initiative of one quiet person . . . with a purpose of creating community unity within different neighborhoods . . .  [He] contacts the various neighborhood community centers and available fire stations and sets Saturday night dates with them during the summer in which he will bring video equipment and family theme movies, set up an outside screen or use the side wall of the center, advertise the film that will be showing, both in the neighborhood and online, inviting the neighbors to bring their lawn chairs, their children and come and meet their neighbors and watch free old favorite movies.  The community centers are hungry for this kind of service.  The project requires maintaining contact with local police patrols, community centers, fire station staff and local businesses, maintaining his personal equipment and developing a long and growing email contact list.  It is fun.

SED: Local activities that benefited charities and agencies like "Tail Wagging Tutors"!

Sharon from Florida shares news of activities that have been underway in her community . . . 

I was pleased and happy to complete the National Statistical Offices survey request for Social Economic Activities in [our] Cluster.   Over the past year there have been a number of projects reported to me as the Statistical Officer that exemplify this Baha'i Communities commitment to outreach.   We saw a number of one-time activities that benefited local charities and agencies like the collection of food, clothing, and sporting equipment.  There was the creation of beautiful crocheted blankets, braided bracelets and hand painted rocks for critical ill adults and children.  We have Baha’is sharing principals of love and unity in yoga classes and monthly picnics that stress the importance of friendship and community building.  We have teams of specially trained dogs and owners engaged in a weekly literacy program "Tail Wagging Tutors" at the local library that impact 20-40 children.   Each month a new virtue and song is emphasized so these children are being exposed to moral and spiritual concepts.  This project has been in place weekly for 20 months and without fail.  We have a second therapy dog team [nearby] that visit nursing homes, rehab and juvenile units to just bring a smile to those they meet.   A few of these activities were newsworthy and received newspaper coverage. 

Sharon also looks to the future and importance of information sharing . . .

All of these activities are a vital part of that spirit of Baha'u'llahs that ask us to be generous with our time and resources and to always help those in need.  It is wonderful that the Department of Statistics at the World Center is interested in our efforts.  As such I will encourage our local community to continue reporting these valuable and far reaching efforts.