Some of the most inspiring and instructive stories of the Five Year Plan recount the experiences of new believers. From these souls we are given a first-hand impression of what attracted them to the melody of Bahá’u’lláh’s voice and what motivated them to walk the path of service. This is a type of learning that should stimulate our outreach and give us greater confidence in our teaching work. For ultimately our aim in the Plan is to assist “growing numbers of the world’s people to find the Object of their quest” as the new Bahá’ís in the accounts below have been guided to do.
Many of the stories in this issue are drawn from clusters in Western countries where it is sometimes felt that people are less receptive to the Faith. The moving responses of the new believers in these areas testify to the fact that there are “ready souls” in every city and that the daily afflictions striking humanity are preparing hearts to receive the message of Bahá’u’lláh, if we but offer it directly. In a Ridván message the Universal House of Justice reminded us that we have “a sacred duty to perform towards every other one who is not yet aware of the call of God’s latest Manifestation.” That duty is teaching.
We now have the instrumentality of the institute process so that as we teach the Faith to seekers, they grow in insight and become committed to serving the Cause to the best of their abilities. As the following stories so compellingly affirm, a balance in expansion and consolidation is being achieved, even in areas where large numbers are enrolling. It is heartening to witness more and more in the teaching work the fulfilment of these inspired words by the House of Justice describing the true nature and purpose of the teaching process.
Teaching may also be likened to kindling a fire, the fire of faith, in the hearts of men. If a fire burns only so long as the match is held to it, it cannot truly be said to have been kindled; to be kindled it must continue to burn of its own accord. This is the “state of enkindlement” that we hope will be expressed “in unremitting action in the field of service” by thousands upon thousands throughout the course of the Plan.
The following stories illustrate how new believers naturally begin to walk a path of service when their faith is enkindled and nurtured through their study of the Creative Word and their experience with the institute process.
These accounts from the United States represent two very different areas of the country—Easley, South Carolina and San Francisco, California. But in both cases the loving attention of the friends and the transformative experience of the study circles fostered in the seekers a desire to arise and serve as soon as they embraced the Faith.
California
The path I have found myself upon these past six months is a glorious one, beginning as a search, and culminating in belief. I have seen glimpses of the Bahá’í Faith throughout my life and was blessed to meet my friend Mona, who wears the beauty of the Baha’i religion as the precious jewel that it is. She taught me much about the Faith and upon relocating to the San Francisco area, a deeper exploration of the Faith and its community was a top priority of mine. The memory of my initial visit to the Bahá’í Centre in San Francisco will never escape me. I entered knowing no one and left feeling immersed within and a part of a warm and open community. Within a week’s time I was scheduled to participate in the first of what has come to be many study circles. This particular study circle was structured around Book 1, Reflections on the Life of the Spirit.
As I have come to see through my participation in the Ruhi program, each book is designed to provide its reader with a more lucid and concrete understanding of the Faith itself, beginning with exposure to excerpts from Bahá’u’lláh’s revelation and carrying on with investigating and penetrating questions regarding the concepts within the Bahá’í revelation. In the study circle on Ruhi Book 1, I was given an opportunity to understand the nature of the Bahá’í religion and also the Bahá’í community. Two wonderful facilitators conducted our weekly classes, both playing a formative role in my understanding of the beauty and depth of the Faith. Their capacity to answer my endless questions with patience and wisdom never ceased to amaze me, and I hope to one day have the ability to teach as they have taught.
Upon the conclusion of Book 1, I had declared myself a Bahá’í, as that was my path to travel. The incredible thing is that one need not be a Bahá’í to feel as though they are a part of the community. I felt as welcomed the first day I entered the doors of the Centre as I did on the evening of my declaration. It is open doors and hearts which Bahá’u’lláh calls us to share with one another, and I as a recipient of these favours can only hope to give, as I have been given to.
South Carolina
The story about one friend, Melanie, began when she and I met at library story time. We were both pregnant with our now almost five-year-old girls. As new friends, we kept in touch and occasionally met for lunch and went to free summer movies. Two years ago, while talking on the phone about home schooling (which Melanie does with her children), the subject of the Bahá’í Faith casually came up. Melanie had seen the Bahá’í sign on the highway in Easley and had meant to call the number, but still hadn’t. Acting immediately, I took books and information to Melanie the next day and invited her to bring her children to children’s class. Melanie gladly came with her three children.
The opportunities to teach Melanie flowed naturally. Most every week my son and I went to Melanie’s home around the corner from where my daughters were taking gymnastics. The visits helped to develop a friendship and allowed Melanie a chance to ask more questions or share what she was learning. Melanie was invited to attend a Book 1 study circle in Easley and was joined by her husband, Steve. The local Bahá’ís worked together to nurture and support Melanie. Many prayers were said to Bahá’u’lláh to guide and help her. Melanie declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh in May 2005.
She continues to enthusiastically participate in the study circles, attend Feast, support children’s classes, and has even partnered with another Bahá’í to start a home visit prayer team. Together they and Melanie’s children (ages 10, 8, and 4) visit Bahá’ís who are isolated or sick and share prayers with them. Melanie is also teaching! One challenge for her has been the response from her home school friends in this Bible Belt area. Melanie has remained steadfast, shares her Faith, and continues to deepen her knowledge of the Bible and its fulfilment in the Bahá’í Faith.
This issue of “Reflections on Growth” also contains inspiring accounts from many countries of how new Bahá'ís can become active servants of the Cause, including a short item from the United Kingdom. A new believer plunged into the sequence of courses shortly after he became a Bahá’í and finished the sequence during the course of a few months. He subsequently pioneered to Colombia where he is serving as a cluster institute coordinator for the Ruhi Institute.
Each new issue “Reflections on Growth” is made available by the Bahá'í Council. It is distributed electronically to local secretaries, and the Friends are encouraged to obtain their own copy for study. Hard copy or individual electronic copy is also available from the Secretary of the Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland (see page 8 for details). Check with your local secretary, and keep an eye on the bahai-ni e-announce list for new issues.
Cluster 1 (Northern Lights): Mahan Hashemi-zadeh
Cluster 2 (Stars of the West): Vida Lake
Cluster 3 (Hainsworth): Anne Munro
Cluster 4 (Seven Valleys): James Holmlund
Junior Youth Coordinator for Northern Ireland: Edwina Agahi
Children’s Class Coordinator for Northern Ireland: Pat Jamshidi
Regional Coordinator for Northern Ireland: Orang Agahi
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