The Northern Ireland Training Institute website has just received its 100th Study Circleregistration.
Story 1
In preparation for the first expansion phase of our Intensive Programme of Growth, I had put the names of everyone I knew down on my computer (taken from personal teaching plans – Book 6). Against each person I noted how much of the Faith I had already shared with them (i.e. sharing prayers, home visits etc) and also an action of what I plan to share with them.
With six of my colleagues and one friend, I felt it timely to invite them to join a study circle – they previously knew what it was, as we’d talked about it – that would best suit them.
As we frequently talked about various subjects and happenings (family, death, crises around the world etc) and looked at these things more deeply, I found it very natural to bring in a Bahá'í outlook and initiate spiritual conversations on what was being discussed.
Out of the seven: one said yes, one was interested to know more of what it entailed, four others politely said no (time commitments and lack of interest) and the last one said he’d like to do one in the future.
Then I go away - pray and review what the result for each person on my list.
Story 2 Two of us had been going to a particular café for a year. We were looking for opportunities to teach and so during this time we became friendly with the owner of the café. Each time we were at the café we tried to mention something about the faith.
One time we were able to explain a little about the Bahá'í Faith to the owner, and after some time we explained to her about book 1 using one of those small booklets. She showed interest and so we invited her to start one with us. We even discussed the possibility of holding the study circle sometime after the café was closed.
One time the owner wasn’t there but her sister was and we also had the opportunity to explain to her about Book 1. She also showed interest and so we invited her to join as well.
Our hope is to start the study circle after theSummer.
Report by Cluster Coordinator Mahan Hashemi-zadeh
This priority cluster is now making excellent progress in conducting study circles. At present there are eight study circles running: 3 x Book 1, 2 x Book 2, 1 x Book 3, 1 x Book 6, and 1 x Book 7.
The shape of the Seven Valleys pyramid is therefore improving:
Being one of the 1,500 clusters in the world which is targeted to have an Intensive Programme of Growth by the end of the Five Year Plan, the goal for this cluster is to strive towards an ‘A’ cluster.
In an email last May, Councillor Shirin Fozdar-Foroudi suggested what is needed in this cluster:
Short strand and Ballybeen Junior Youth Groups have wound up for the summer. The Short Strand group successfully completed Breezes of Confirmation. Ballybeen Youth Group completed lessons 1 to 8 from Breezes of confirmation. It is hoped to resume Junior Youth Activities with both groups in mid-September after consultation with the youth workers in charge. In both cases the Animators involved obtained valuable experience in using the materials and have witnessed the positive effects they have on the Junior Youth using them.
The Markethill junior youth group was suspended due to pressure of examinations for both participants and Animators alike. Although this group consisted of Bahá’í Junior Youth only it provided a valuable opportunity for members of Lights of Unity (Kiyan, Emily, Molly, Nadim) and Darragh to gain hands on experience designing and delivering a Junior Youth session.
As part of the schedule designed for the Spearhead Campaign, a new animator training course was conducted, running from 29 July to 2 August. This course was piloting new material from Palabra Publications, which is to be the new Book 5 in due course. Five new animators were trained, all of which are in the Northern Lights Cluster.
In order to be fully trained, the new Animators will undertake practice preparing and delivering a lesson to a group of Junior Youth. This is planned to take place in September. There is another Animator training being planned to take place within the next one or two months. There are already some names down for this course. If you wish to take part in this, please contact Edwina or Soha.
Report by Junior Youth Coordinator Edwina Agahi
Cluster 1 (Northern Lights): Mahan Hashemi-zadeh
Cluster 2 (Stars of the West): Vida Lake
Cluster 3 (Hainsworth): Anne Munro
Cluster 4 (Seven Valleys): Sina Rezvani
Junior Youth Coordinator for Northern Ireland: Edwina Agahi
Children’s Class Coordinator for Northern Ireland: Pat Jamshidi
Regional Coordinator for Northern Ireland: Arjang Agahi
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