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8. Service to the Community
One demonstrates his love for God by the way he treats others. Serving others is an important part of Bahda’i life. ‘Abdu’l-Baha explains: ‘‘This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people.’’ ‘® Baha'is need not wait to go to an established place at a certain time to worship. One’s daily life is worship if he lives in service to others.
‘Abdu’1-Baha was the perfect example of a life of service to humanity. He spent much of His time visiting the sick and was a welcomed visitor in the homes of the poor. The needy often came to Him for assistance. He always had a kind word and a warm smile to lighten their burdens. Once when ‘Abdu’ |-Baha’s entire family was sick, He cared for them, washed them, and fed them, taking no rest until He finally fell ill Himself. During the first World War He instructed the Baha'is to grow extra crops, which He distributed to hundreds of people who other- wise would have starved. ‘Abdu’]-Baha’s whole life was de- voted to serving mankind.
Each individual must try to serve others, and the Baha’i community as a whole must become known for its generosity and concern for all people. The Local Spiritual Assembly should try to become aware of the problems and needs of the people in its town. It can then organize the believers to fill some of those needs. The Bahda’is can visit shut-ins and people in nursing homes with no family of their own. If there are needy
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families in town, the Baha’ is might organize a food or clothing drive in which the whole town could participate. If one section of town is badly in need of a clean-up, the Baha’is and other citizens could organize a project to clean that area. Transporta- tion is often a problem for some people. Baha’ is with cars could offer to take these people shopping or to the doctor.
Offering religious classes for the children of a community is an important service Baha’is can perform. Such classes teach children the basic truths of all the world’s great religions. A Baha’i community may want to provide social functions for local youth. Many parents would be glad to have their children at events sponsored by the Bahda’is instead of wandering about with nothing to do.
In each community there are many needs with which Baha’ is can help and thus become known for their service to all people.
