Dear Friends,
The 9th of January letter from the Universal House of Justice has stirred the whole Bahá'í Community to rethink our ways of doing and being, challenging us on an individual level, to become engaged in a systematic process that has at its core, two essential movements.
Firstly, to provide a steady flow of believers through the sequence of courses offered by our Training Institute, the aim being to provide a body of trained and deepened teachers of the Cause.
The second, as a result of the activities of these believers, will provide the impetus that moves geographical clusters from one stage of growth to the next.
However in carrying out plans on an individual, group or Local Assembly level we must remember the guidance given us by the Universal House of Justice when they state: “The believers are encouraged to be open to new methods, to use a variety of approaches and not blindly insist upon doing the same thing everywhere… a condition in which different individuals will concentrate on different activities, appreciating the salutary effect of the aggregate on the growth and development of the Faith, because each person cannot do everything and all persons cannot do the same thing.” (Page 12 Promoting Entry by Troops)
Already in Northern Ireland individuals have arisen to the call of the Universal House of Justice to make use the Arts to help inspire the hearts and as a catalyst for understanding. Yet more needs to be done. The energy and enthusiasm of our youth is beginning to be channeled into organisations of influence in Northern Ireland. Youth are beginning to take up teachers posts in the George Townsend School thereby providing a powerful role model for others. But this is only a glimmering of the true capacity of our youth which has yet to be tapped.
True religion should serve to release the capacity latent in every human heart whether that heart be that of a man, a woman or a child. In so doing the giver becomes more deeply in love with Bahá'u'lláh, and the community a happy and vibrant one. Our collective challenge is to find ways in which this becomes a reality.
BAHÁ'Í COUNCIL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
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