Bahá’í News/Issue 669/Text

←Previous

Bahá’í News Issue 669

Next→

Proofread onceReturn to PDF view

[Page -1]

Bahá’í News

December 1986

Bahá’í Year 143

The Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem

[Page 0]

Bahá’í News

‘Fearless, deeply loved’ Hand of Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem dies	2
Mr. Khadem’s address to Bahá’í Peace Conference in San Francisco	4
The Association for Bahá’í Studies holds its 11th annual Conference	8
Communications quarterly profiles the Amoz Gibson Training Centre	9
House of Justice comments on betterment of life, path to world unity	12
Around the world: News from Bahá’í communities all over the globe	14

Bahá’í News is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States as a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í world community. Manuscripts submitted should be typewritten and double spaced throughout; any footnotes should appear at the end. The contributor should keep a carbon copy. Send materials to the Periodicals Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, U.S.A. Changes of address should be reported to the Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center. Please attach mailing label. Subscription rates within the U.S.: one year, $12; two years, $20. Outside the U.S.: one year, $14; two years, 24$. Foreign air mail: one year, $20; two years, $40. Payment must accompany the order and must be in U.S. dollars. Second class postage paid at Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright © 1986, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

[Page 1] Fariburz Sahba (right), chief architect of the Bahá’í House of Worship in India, explains elements of the Temple’s construction to William T. Warden, the Canadian High Commissioner to India, and Mrs. Warden during their visit to New Delhi last May. The magnificent ‘Lotus of Bahapur’ is to be dedicated December 23-27 at a ceremony that is expected to draw thousands of visitors from all over the world. The four-day event, at which the Universal House of Justice will be represented by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, will end with a large public meeting at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Heading a stellar line-up of musicians and other performing artists scheduled to take part in the dedication is world renowned sitar virtuoso Pandit Ravi Shankar.

[Page 2]

Hand of the Cause Zikrullah Khadem

WITH SORROWFUL HEARTS ANNOUNCE PASSING INDEFATIGABLE FEARLESS DEFENDER FAITH DEEPLY LOVED HAND CAUSE ZIKRULLAH KHADEM. HIS STERLING SERVICES TO THE CAUSE, HIS TOTAL CONSECRATION TO TASKS ASSIGNED TO HIM BY BELOVED GUARDIAN, HIS OUTSTANDING EFFORTS AS MEMBER NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY CRADLE FAITH, HIS VALUABLE SOUL-UPLIFTING STIMULATION IMPARTED BODY BELIEVERS NORTH AMERICA, PARTICULARLY UNITED STATES BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY, HIS UNTIRING ENDEAVORS THROUGH HIS TALKS AND WRITINGS IN SAFEGUARDING COVENANT AND IN INSTILLING APPRECIATION LOVE FOR SHOGHI EFFENDI SHED UNDYING LUSTRE OVER PERIOD HIS ADMIRABLE STEWARDSHIP CAUSE GOD. OFFERING PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS RADIANT SOUL ABHÁ KINGDOM. URGE HOLD BEFITTING MEMORIAL GATHERINGS HIS NAME AT ALL HOUSES OF WORSHIP AS WELL AS IN ALL LOCAL BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITIES. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE NOVEMBER 14, 1986

As the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem often said in recounting the words of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, “sorrow and joy embraced” at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, during a memorial service November 15 for Mr. Khadem who passed away two days earlier in Chicago.

Foundation Hall overflowed with those who had come from nearby and distant locales to weep for their loss and to celebrate his life of service and victory.

Mr. Khadem’s wife, Javidukht, and their five children offered remarks that set a tone of love and appreciation. Their uplifting sentiments were echoed by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and representatives of the U.S., Canadian and Alaskan Bahá’í communities.

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears speaks at a memorial service for Zikrullah Khadem at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

Since the National Spiritual Assembly was meeting that same weekend with members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas and U.S. Auxiliary Board members, all were able to be present at the service to pay their respects to a man who was as deeply loved for his humility and self-effacement as he was greatly admired as a fearless and outspoken champion of the Cause of God.

The funeral service for Mr. Khadem, which was held in nearby Skokie, his home for the past several years, took place Saturday morning before the memorial gathering.

Mr. Khadem had enjoyed vigorous health until August, when it was found that he had a fatal illness. The illness soon confined him to bed, but he remained active, dictating letters and talks and sharing inspiring details of Bahá’í history distilled from his precise, scholarly memory.

Unable to attend the Bahá’í International Peace Conference held over the Labor Day weekend in San Francisco, he sent a message to the conference that was read to the friends by Mrs. Khadem (text is on pages 4-7).

In October, Mr. Khadem addressed

[Page 3] Pictured are some of the mourners who came from far and near to weep for the loss of the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem and to celebrate his life of service and victory at a funeral service November 15 in Skokie, Illinois.

a letter to the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly in which he thanked its members “from the bottom of my heart for all the kindnesses that you have shown ... to me over the past 26 years.

“I am deeply indebted to our beloved Guardian,” he wrote, “for having sent me to the West to witness the glorious victories of our beloved Faith. As I look back over the years, I can only humbly supplicate: ‘O Lord! Increase my astonishment in Thee!’ ”

Mr. Khadem was born into a distinguished Bahá’í family in Tehran in 1905. His surname, Khadem (in English, “one who serves”) was bestowed upon his father, Mírzá Nasrollah, in a Tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that praised his services to the Cause of God.

Mr. Khadem served from 1949-60 as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Iran, and was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God by the Guardian in February 1952.

During the lifetime of the Guardian, Mr. Khadem was given many specific assignments to travel throughout the world, encourage the friends, promote and protect the Faith, and help carry out the global teaching plans.

For 17 years, he also received the communications from the Guardian for distribution to the friends in Iran. Other unique services included assisting the opening of the doors of pilgrimage for the Bahá’ís of Iran, and securing many artifacts of the Cause such as the famous sword of Mulla Husayn.

After the passing of the Guardian, Mr. Khadem volunteered to serve as a Hand of the Cause in the Western Hemisphere. He was thus able to fulfill the prediction the Guardian had made in 1940 that he would send Mr. Khadem “to the West to witness the glorious victories of our beloved Faith,” as referred to by Mr. Khadem in his last letter to the National Spiritual Assembly.

He relocated to the West in 1960 and tirelessly pursued the successful completion of the Guardian’s Ten Year Crusade, which was culminated in the election in 1963 of the Universal House of Justice.

Mr. Khadem’s many services to the Supreme Body, like those to the Guardian, were characterized by instant, complete and exact obedience.

The House of Justice called upon Mr. Khadem to undertake an extremely important and delicate mission, documenting the details of occurrences in every place that was visited by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Mr. Khadem, always precise in writing or speaking of details of the Cause, painstakingly compiled that information.

Mr. Khadem’s talks were inspirational, suffused with contagious love for the Guardian. He was a scholar of the Old Testament and was learned in recent and ancient religious history.

Mr. Khadem also wrote books and articles about the Faith in both English and Persian.

Professionally, he was associated for many years with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company as chief interpreter and director of the Educational Department. Later, he became secretary of the Iraqi Embassy in Tehran, and meanwhile was a successful businessman and entrepreneur who was fluent in Persian, Arabic, English and French.

Mr. Khadem’s death reduces to eight the number of the living Hands of the Cause of God.

Besides his wife, Mr. Khadem is survived by one brother, one sister, five children and 14 grandchildren, all of whom are Bahá’ís.

[Page 4]

Mr. Khadem’s Peace Conference message

This is a transcript of an address by the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem to the Bahá’í International Peace Conference in San Francisco. Mr. Khadem was too ill to attend the conference, and the message was read instead by his wife, Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem, on Saturday, August 30.

•

Beloved friends, Alláh’u’Abhá! With my poor health and my back problem, I don’t know whether I’ll be able to attend this conference. If not, I have asked my dear wife, who has been so kind to me, to read this message on my behalf if I am unable to present myself. I have asked her to convey my loving greetings to you all at this glorious, historic first International Peace Conference. You cannot imagine how close, how very close you all are to my heart and how very much I love you all. My dear friends, although I shall not be able to be with you in person, you are in my thoughts and prayers. May Bahá’u’lláh continually surround you with all His bountiful blessings.

I wish to start my talk with the beautiful quotation that Bahá’u’lláh confirms in His Writings, “Lord, increase My astonishment in Thee!” What a glory to be a part of this historic conference, the first Bahá’í International Peace Conference.

This conference is convened through the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, the governing body of the Bahá’ís of this country, under the tutelage of the Supreme Body of the Faith, the Universal House of Justice.

In the conference brochure, in the best way possible, they have explained the purpose of the conference on the front page by quoting from the statement on peace from the Universal

---

‘We know that, according to Jesus Christ, the Will of God will be done on earth as it is in heaven.... All of nature, according to the Guardian, serves this purpose: to bring mankind together, to call the people to the Kingdom of God.’

---

House of Justice. I will read a part of it and leave the rest to be studied:

“To the Peoples of the World:

“The Great Peace towards which people of good will throughout the centuries have inclined their hearts, of which seers and poets for countless generations have expressed their vision, and for which from age to age the sacred scriptures of mankind have constantly held the promise, is now at long last within the reach of the nations.

“For the first time in history it is possible for every one to view the entire planet, with all its myriad diversified peoples, in one perspective. World peace is not only possible, but inevitable....”

So with this beautiful quotation the conference started. I feel very happy that I am a part of it. What else can I add to these beautiful statements, the Program of Peace for the world?

The very purpose of God, according to the Sacred Writings, was to create man to know Him and to worship Him, which means we must live together in great love and harmony. It has been predicted that in this universe, one day the whole of mankind would become one family.

I very much like that beautiful verse of Persian poetry, which I’ll say in the original language, “Abr o bad o mah o khorshid o falak dar karand ta toh nani beh kaf ari o beh gheflat nakhori,” which means that “the clouds, wind, moon, sun and heaven are working together in order that man may earn his livelihood and not be ignorant, and mankind may live together in perfect harmony.”

This was the purpose of God for man from the very beginning which has no beginning; man has always been looking forward to this Great Day. All the prophets have spoken about this and have suffered the greatest sufferings to prepare us for this Day, to educate us and bring about love and unity.

In the Bible we read the beautiful verse from Isaiah, whom the Guardian honored as “the greatest of the Israeli prophets”: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called ‘Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.’ Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon His kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.”

In that passage, as well as in all scriptures, it is promised that “the Prince of Peace will come” and bring the whole of mankind into one family. “The Prince of Peace,” Jesus Christ in His second coming, has come to the world at the appointed time. Now.

For everything there is a time. The whole universe worked for that end. In 1844, the Revelation of the Báb brought this message of unity to mankind. The countries and territories of the world came close together. The first stirrings of His message, through the world’s first telegraphic communication, “What hath God wrought?” made it clear that “the earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.”

[Page 5] Bahá’u’lláh addressed us, “O People of the World! The tabernacle of the unity of God has been pitched up, and is calling all mankind to this tent.” The message of peace began in this Revelation in 1844 with the declaration of the Exalted Báb. By saying, “In My previous Manifestation,” when referring to the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh makes it clear that world peace was the purpose of God from the inception of the Bahá’í Dispensation. He educated us and uplifted us in order to prepare us for this great promise of peace.

After many years of His Revelation, the time was ripe for Him to give this program to the world. He wrote to the rulers of mankind, exhorted them, and warned them that the only solution to all the problems of the world would be through the unity of mankind which would lay the foundation for the promised peace. However, they were deaf to His call.

Again, the Universal House of Justice sent extracts of these Tablets to all the leaders of the world and told them about the message of peace brought by Bahá’u’lláh. Still, the world was not ready.

Bahá’u’lláh was so very patient all His life. About two years before He passed on, one of the great orientalists, the well-known Professor Edward Browne, had an interview with Bahá’u’lláh, the only one of its kind by a Westerner. Professor Browne was granted four successive interviews with Bahá’u’lláh. In one of them, Bahá’u’lláh spoke about His message of peace:

“Praise be to God, that thou hast attained! ... Thou hast come to see a prisoner and an exile....We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; ... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled ... what harm is there in this? ... Yet so it shall be: these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the Most Great Peace shall come....Do not you in Europe need this also? Is not this that which Christ foretold? ... Yet do we see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind....These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family....Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind....”

The Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem makes one of his last public appearances at the 1986 U.S. Bahá’í Convention in Chicago.

The beloved Guardian of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, the interpreter of His Writings after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, said in his writings that indeed, these interviews were “... immortalized by the Exile’s historic declaration that ‘these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away and the Most Great Peace shall come.’ ” This declaration was a momentous announcement to the West of God’s Plan for Peace. Edward Browne was blessed to receive and record it.

We know that, according to Jesus Christ, the Will of God will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Nothing will happen without the Will of God. Therefore, nothing can stop this process. All of nature, according to the Guardian, serves this purpose: to bring mankind together, to call the people to the Kingdom of God.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Son of Bahá’u’lláh, made a visit to the West, particularly the United States. It took Him months to complete His travels. In all the churches, synagogues and intellectual centers, He promulgated the message of peace to the world. He gave talks, informed, inspired, and showered His matchless love on all who were blessed to meet Him.

He had a great love for the West, particularly America. Here in California, He said: “I hope that advocates of

[Page 6] peace may daily increase ... until the whole population shall stand for that beneficent outcome. May the men of affairs in this democracy uphold the standards of international conciliation, then may altruistic aims and thoughts radiate from this center toward all other regions of the earth, and may the glory of this accomplishment forever halo the history of this country. May the first flag of International Peace be upraised in this state.” (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 376-77).

That was in October 1912, more than 70 years ago. In 1945, in San Francisco, the Charter of the United Nations was drawn up and proclaimed. Some 40 years ago, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was considered and approved by the United Nations, a conference was held, attended by international authorities, public figures, and well-wishers of mankind. The meeting began with prayers for peace. The first prayer which was said was a Bahá’í prayer, since the different religions were listed in alphabetical order. As “Bahá’í” was listed first, the first message was Bahá’u’lláh’s prayer for peace. Actually, that fulfilled the promise of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: the first call for peace came from San Francisco and was led by the words of Bahá’u’lláh.

Following ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to America in 1912, after the first World War, President Wilson went to Europe and presented his peace proposal with its 14 points. He called the nations to peace. Most supported him, but not, unfortunately, the leaders of America. President Wilson passed on in grief because his own countrymen could not appreciate his historic contribution. His role was a very important one and he deserves to be mentioned in this historic conference.

In His Writings, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said that with this announcement of President Wilson’s, the Dawn of Peace broke upon the world. That was the Dawn of Peace before the sunrise.

Bahá’u’lláh’s message of peace, first announced to Edward Browne, was universally proclaimed by President Wilson. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá calls it “Fajr-i-Sulh-i-Azam darakhshid.” That means: the Dawn of the Great Peace has broken. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá praises him for his efforts. According to the beloved Guardian, in God Passes By, written in 1944, this “Peace Program ... stands out as the boldest and noblest proposal yet made for the well-being and security of mankind.”

Unknowingly, from the creative spirit infused into the world by Bahá’u’lláh’s announcement, everyone and everything, all of nature, in fact, is serving to bring into being the Christ-promised Kingdom of God on earth. The rays of the Sun of Reality, the Prince of Peace, according to Jesus

---

‘Bahá’u’lláh’s message of peace has now spread to every land, to all countries, islands and territories. In the United States alone there are thousand of localities where Bahá’ís reside and more than 1,700 local Spiritual Assemblies.’

---

Christ, have been warming the hearts, educating man, and germinating the seeds to bring mankind to this great purpose. This is the will of God, and nothing can change it.

The whole world cannot change it; rather, the whole world has no choice but to serve this end. Bahá’u’lláh left us the blueprint for His new World Order and left us ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to clarify it and the Guardian to bring it into being. He gave us a new World Order for all of mankind. He said, “the old world order is being rolled up and a new one laid out in its stead.” The new order was spread at that time.

Of course, we as human beings could not appreciate or understand it, but it infused a new spirit into the world. It was irrigated by the suffering and blood of the martyrs, thousands of them, who are still giving their lives in the Cradle of the Faith in Persia, in order to bring into being this new Order for the world. It is their sacrifice that has brought this message out of obscurity.

This World Order of Bahá’u’lláh was given to us just two years before He passed on when His tabernacle was pitched up on Mount Carmel. The Tablet of Carmel was revealed in which Bahá’u’lláh emphasized that soon the Ark of God will sail and the Laws of God will flow to the whole world.

The Supreme Body of the Faith is, according to the Bahá’í Writings, “the source of all good and freed from all error.” This means that God protects, inspires and guides them in their decisions as a body.

This body came into being in the Formative Age of the Faith after the passing of the beloved Shoghi Effendi. It continued the work that the Guardian had started, the strenuous labors that he shouldered alone, the labors that consumed all his energy and left him without a moment’s rest throughout his life.

The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, that embryo that the Guardian nurtured, has matured and will come into fruition under the care of the Universal House of Justice. After the passing of the beloved Guardian, the Universal House of Justice directed the Bahá’ís of the world, spread the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh, propagated the Faith according to the Tablets of the Divine Plan of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and protected His Cause.

Bahá’u’lláh’s message of peace has now spread to every land, to all countries, islands and territories. In the United States alone there are thousands of localities where Bahá’ís reside and more than 1,700 local Spiritual Assemblies.

So now we can see how the Will of God has been fulfilled. Bahá’u’lláh, the Prisoner of ‘Akká, the Manifestation of God for this Day, the Prince of Peace, alone and unaided, with the power of the Word of God as His only provision, has transformed the world and “has made all things new” according to the prophecies of the Bible.

From that first announcement, all of creation has served this purpose. His teachings of unity, the equality of men and women, the abolition of all prejudices, the unity of science and religion, universal compulsory education, and so forth have permeated the minds and hearts of all people to prepare the way for peace.

The Universal House of Justice reprinted excerpts from the Messages of Bahá’u’lláh and His Tablets to the rulers and leaders of mankind and sent copies to current leaders. Many responded positively, whereas when Bahá’u’lláh first addressed them more than 100 years ago, no one except Queen Victoria of England gave a favorable response. Over this past cen-

[Page 7] tury, the spirit infused into the world by His teachings together with the ceaseless labors of His followers the world over have been at work to prepare the way for the Kingdom of God promised to us in all Holy Books.

The time is now ripe to reap the first fruits of peace. This year has been declared International Year of Peace for all mankind. It is in this year that that body, the Universal House of Justice, with the inspiration of the Almighty, formulated a statement on peace and addressed it “To the Peoples of the World.”

This message, entitled “The Promise of World Peace,” has been delivered to all the heads of state and leaders of thought as well as to the population at large. Many have responded very favorably and appreciated the need for a united effort to bring about peace in the world. Among these was our beloved President who has been very sympathetic to the tragic plight of the Bahá’ís in Iran and has voiced his support on a number of occasions.

This show of support by an American President was predicted by Bahá’u’lláh in His Most Holy Book, the Book of Aqdas. Many others, in Europe, in the House of Lords, in the House of Commons, in countries throughout the world have voiced their support and appreciation. Many have studied the Bahá’í program for peace and have said this is the only solution to the problems of the world. Others have sought the advice and help of Bahá’í institutions in their own countries for help in their programs of social and economic development.

Many international aid organizations recognize the value of the Bahá’í approach and cooperate with Bahá’í institutions to implement educational and welfare projects.

The show of support throughout the world is too numerous to discuss in detail. I will give you just two examples.

I received a letter dated 21 July 1986 from the Bahá’í International Community addressed to some of the Bahá’ís and National Spiritual Assemblies. I quote: “On June 2, 1986, the Council of the City of Cambridge in Massachusetts unanimously passed a Resolution encouraging citizens to read and study the peace statement issued by the Universal House of Justice. The Resolution was adopted in response to the presentation of the statement to the Council, by the local Spiritual Assembly....It not only warmly endorses the peace statement, but pays a generous tribute to the leadership of the Bahá’í community in a range of progressive concerns.” What a victory!

I also want to share with you an excerpt from the following telex, dated 7 August 1986, from the Universal House of Justice:

“In humble acknowledgement Bahá’u’lláh’s unabated confirmations, we inform friends everywhere private visit to Bahá’í World Centre Prime Minister Cook Islands Sir Thomas Davis and Lady Davis 3 and 4 August. Occasion made historic by Prime Minister’s initiative in requesting consultation with Universal House of Justice regarding world peace.

“Visit also marked most concrete response to date by political leader to peace statement released to peoples world last October. During consultations which took place on first day in council chambers following Prime Minister’s visit Shrine Báb and on second day at Mansion Bahjí following his visit Shrine Bahá’u’lláh, Sir Thomas discussed his thoughts about world peace and his desire for practical action consonant with challenges and opportunities facing vast Pacific area....

“Once again action by leader from Pacific Ocean calls to our minds one of Bahá’u’lláh’s most trenchant assertions concerning power His Cause: ‘Should they attempt to conceal its light on the continent,’ He wrote, ‘it will assuredly rear its head in the midmost heart of the ocean, and, raising its voice, proclaim: I am the Lifegiver of the world!’ ”

In reference to Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablet to the Kings, the beloved Guardian states, “Bahá’u’lláh ... warns them that ‘Divine chastisement’ will ‘assail’ them ‘from every direction,’ if they refuse to heed His counsels, and prophesies His ‘triumph upon earth’ though no king be found who would turn his face towards Him.”

The Guardian foresees that the kings and rulers of the world, out of desperation from their own impotence, will turn to the Universal House of Justice for counsel. Friends, this is a unique period in the history of mankind. How blessed we are to be able to witness these triumphs, these first, sweet, precious fruits of victory!

His Plan is unfolding. This conference is another historic step. Thanks to the Lord of the Age that we are alive and blessed to witness this event where we can partake of the first choice fruits of the labors, suffering, and sacrifice of the Author of this Faith, His Prophet-martyred Forerunner, and His twin interpreters, together with the sacrifices of His lovers all over the world whose efforts and very lives are offered in His path.

For my part, as a humble representative of the Cradle of the Faith, from that dark corner of the world, I am very grateful that I have had the bounty to raise my voice on behalf of the Bahá’ís in Iran in this historic conference, in this blessed state from which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá predicted the call for peace would originate.

The Bahá’ís of Iran are suffering day and night and have from the beginning of this Revelation offered their lives that this Faith may emerge from obscurity. Now, in the midst of their agony, they can be succored by hearing of the astounding victories of the Faith throughout the world.

Friends! Do you not behold the presence of our beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, amongst us? Can you not see His overwhelmingly loving and smiling countenance? Do you not feel His magnetic personality, His gentle demeanor, His undoubted pleasure as He witnesses the fulfillment of His predictions? Friends! There is no doubt; He is with us!

“Basha, ta sobheh dowlatash bedamad!” “Wait, this is only the break of dawn, only the beginning!” “Een hameh avazha az shah bovad!” “All these melodies descend from the King of Glory!”

Thank you, my beloved Shoghi Effendi! Thank you, that you planned for me, your humble servant, to witness all these victories and the glory of this historic occasion!

[Page 8]

Association’s 11th annual Conference

The 11th annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, held August 20-24 at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, was the largest such gathering to date with about 2,000 adults taking part.

Planned as a response to the request by the Universal House of Justice that each national Bahá’í community sponsor at least one major event to mark the United Nations International Year of Peace, the Conference focused on the theme “Beyond the Quest for Peace: Creating a New World Order” and was organized according to a number of aspects of the peace statement addressed last year to the peoples of the world by the House of Justice.

The opening session, “The Promise of World Peace,” was keynoted by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, who was followed by youth speakers Helen, John and Amelia Danesh of New Zealand, addressing the theme “Youth: A Dynamic Peaceful Force.”

The opening session ended with the winner of the Association’s essay competition in the high school category, Kenneth Sooley (a 15-year-old non-Bahá’í from Newfoundland) presenting his paper, “Peace Through Mutual Understanding,” after which Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum presented him and the other two winners, Nancy Ward in the university category and Paul Hanley in the general category, with their awards.

The second plenary session was highlighted by the annual Hasan Balyúzí Lecture, given this year by Counsellor Adib Taherzadeh on “The Human Soul.”

Following this, the Conference was broken into a number of simultaneous sessions at which papers were presented on the themes “Strategies for World Peace,” “Dynamics of World Peace,” and “The Socio-Politics of Peace.” A workshop was also given on “Preparing the Successful Paper: What Every Writer Should Know” by Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of the U.S. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, and her assistant editor, Richard Hill.

Friday evening featured a banquet for dignitaries in the Great Hall of the university, followed by a Concert for Peace which included diverse performances by Conference guest Dr. Ervin Laszlo of the Club of Rome (an accomplished pianist), Gordi Munro, the Táhirih Choir, the Do’a World Music Ensemble, Nancy Ward, and the One Planet, One People Please singers.

Saturday morning’s session was centered on “Peace and the New World Order” with presentations by Dr. Laszlo (“Science and Prophecy: Humankind’s Path to Peace in a Global Society”) and Dr. Hossain Danesh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada (“Creating a New World Order: The Bahá’í Paradigm”).

Saturday afternoon saw Professor Ross Woodman of the University of Western Ontario give his presentation on “The End of the World: Whatever Happened?” It was followed by a Native American peace pipe ceremony, in which Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, Dr. and Mrs. Laszlo, and other dignitaries took part.

Saturday evening focused on “Women and Peace” with papers by noted Jungian analyst Marion Woodman, Bahíyyih Nakhjaváni, Greg Dahl, Nancy Ward and Dr. Jane Faily.

Sunday morning’s final session offered a peace forum with Dr. Laszlo, Professor Woodman, Mrs. Woodman, Dr. Danesh and Ms. Nakhjavání participating as panelists. Following this, Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum addressed the conference briefly, and ‘Alí Nakhjavání, a member of the Universal House of Justice, delivered a moving talk on the theme of peace.

The finale of the conference saw the children enter the hall and perform a “peace chant,” which was followed by musical and slide presentations.

The annual meeting of the Association was held Sunday afternoon, and that evening a special gathering was arranged for the Persian-speaking Bahá’ís with addresses by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and Mr. Nakhjavání.

In addition to the main Conference, a large number of ancillary events took place including a conference on peace for young people ages 12-15, a children’s peace conference for 6-to-11 year olds, and a nursery peace conference for those younger than six years.

An exciting aspect of these conferences was the participation in them by speakers from the main Conference including Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, Counsellor Taherzadeh, and Dr. Laszlo.

The peace conference for young people was singularly blessed by the participation of the Hand of the Cause of God ‘Alí-Muhammad Varqá who showered love on his young audience and visibly increased their love of learning about the Faith and the solutions it offers for the ills of humanity.

On the Wednesday and Thursday preceding the main Conference, eight more auxiliary gatherings of agencies and affiliates of the Association for Bahá’í Studies were held. These included the Bahá’í International Health Agency, the Bahá’í Education Institute, the Bahá’í Institute for Environmental Design, the Bahá’í Family Institute, a conference for those in the legal profession, and conferences on cultural minorities, the arts, and agriculture.

[Page 9]

Amoz Gibson Centre gains recognition

In a lush tropical setting 15 minutes’ drive from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a vital new educational facility has come into being. Situated on a five-acre hillside farm, the Amoz Gibson Training Centre was established in 1982 and is operated by CIRBAL, an international Bahá’í field agency for development media. The centre provides practical, “hands-on” training in appropriate media and technology for the spiritual, social and economic development of people the world over.

Within easy reach of all the Americas, the training centre shares space with CIRBAL’s Broadcast Division, which oversees the planning and construction of Bahá’í radio stations throughout the world. These highly successful radio operations have been featured in professional journals because of their unique emphasis on local participation and management, and their innovative educational and cultural programming. Radio stations currently exist in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Panama and the United States, with others under construction in additional Latin American countries and in Africa. They are staffed by members of the local community, many of whom received their training at the Amoz Gibson Centre. Several articles about Bahá’í radio stations have appeared in earlier Development Communication Reports (see Nos. 40, 42 and 44).

---

In the classroom, a wide range of instructional methods is employed, from traditional lectures to role playing, mock interviews, audio-visual presentations, panel discussions, independent projects, workshops, and self-administered exams.

---

Bahá’í radio stations are bases for education and community service. In the Andes, these stations have become the most popular in the region. When the station at Lake Titicaca, Peru, stopped broadcasting for a week while awaiting parts for its transmitter, campesinos went to the city to demonstrate, thinking the government had taken the station off the air. In Bolivia, thousands of villagers walked for days to attend festivities associated with the anniversary of Radio Bahá’í.

Course offerings

Originally established to prepare volunteer workers for these stations, the centre began with a three-week, 140-hour radio broadcasting course. The course, now offered annually, is organized around an intensive, six-day-per-week schedule covering the fundamentals of educational and cultural broadcasting, programming and production, legal and technical topics, and management. In the classroom, a wide range of instructional methods is employed, from traditional lectures to role playing, mock interviews, audio-visual presentations, panel discussions, independent projects, workshops, and self-administered exams. Throughout the course, students are immersed in a multi-cultural environment designed to foster a spirit of cooperation and service, in addition to providing instruction in specific knowledge and skills.

An expanding curriculum

In response to rapidly expanding media opportunities and the corresponding need for skilled volunteers, the

This article, “Training Broadcasters: The Amoz Gibson Training Centre,” is reprinted from the Summer 1986 issue of Development Communication Report (No. 54), which is published quarterly by the U.S. Academy for Educational Development. It was written by Randie Gottlieb, administrator of the Amoz Gibson Centre, who received her doctorate in Media and Instructional Development from Boston University.

curriculum has evolved to become an integrated program in Development Communication with six to eight training sessions held each year. The program is intensive and practical, designed to prepare students for all communications-related aspects of project management including technical maintenance and the training of others. The curriculum is divided into five broad areas: hardware, software, human development, international service, and participatory media theory and practice—all presented from a Bahá’í perspective.

Academic offerings range from weekend workshops to month-long courses in communication management, broadcast engineering, graphic arts, radio programming and production, photography, script-writing and announcing, silk-screening, journalism, and exhibit design.

Special training

Courses have also been designed to meet the needs of special groups, like that given for the future staff of the Bahá’í radio station recently constructed in rural Panama. Instructors for this course were challenged to develop new teaching methods appropriate for the Guaymi Indian participants, who had little formal schooling and no experience with even the most basic audio production equipment. In one session, students learned to produce “oral scripts,” in which pictographs are organized into an outline that then serves as a guide for a radio interview or presentation. In the evenings, the Guaymis alternated between studying and sharing beautiful examples of their folk tales, traditional

[Page 10] music, and dance. During the final course evaluation, they commented that the two-week session had taught them “what radio really is and what it can be—for education, for our culture, for teaching humanity....”

Occasionally, the centre sponsors off-campus activities such as a 14-country media training trip through the Caribbean in 1984, and an international “Script-writing, Programming and Production Workshop” conducted for staff members and managers from three Bahá’í radio stations in South America, that was held in Puno, Peru, during that same year.

As one of the very few institutions that offers training for media trainers as well as for local participants in a media project, the Amoz Gibson Centre has brought in students from more than 25 developing nations including members of national Bahá’í administrative bodies, non-literate villagers, university professors, young people investigating career possibilities, and North Americans who train to serve abroad as volunteer workers and as consultants to the local project staff. Classes are conducted in both English

---

Gibson Centre offers communications program rich in field experience, community development

The Development Communication program at the Amoz Gibson Centre in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, offers tools for the achievement of a dynamic coherence between the spiritual and practical requirements of life on earth—an integral part of the Bahá’í concept of the unity of mankind and a necessary ingredient of world peace. Through direct participation in radio and other media projects in Bahá’í communities the world over, the Centre offers a program rich in field experience—linking communications philosophy, organization and human resource management to the technology appropriate to extend the benefits of community development to society as a whole. Development Communication seeks to establish both “new bases for human happiness” and “new instrumentalities toward this end.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization)

One such instrumentality is Radio Bahá’í Ecuador, a radio station established in 1977 to serve the rural indigenous population around Otavalo. Staffed by local volunteers, it was the first to transmit in the native language of the region, broadcasting traditional Andean music, uplifting prayers and passages, community news, questions and answers on nutrition and agriculture, presentations designed to improve the condition of women, and special classes for children. One of the most popular daily features is “El Noticiero Local,” affectionately called “La Vaca Perdida” (The Lost Cow) by the staff, since it provides a forum for villagers to transmit messages they deem important, free of charge. Radio personnel conduct field surveys of listener needs and preferences, create and edit their own programs, and operate and maintain the equipment.

Bahá’í radio stations are bases for universal education—blending material, human and spiritual elements. In the Andes, these stations have become the most popular in the region. When the station at Lake Titicaca (Peru) stopped broadcasting for a week while awaiting parts for its transmitter, campesinos went to the city to demonstrate, thinking that the government had taken the station off the air. In Bolivia, thousands of villagers walked for days to attend festivities associated with the anniversary of Radio Bahá’í. In Ecuador, doctors from a rural health center returned to the station to ask that their announcement offering free eye care be discontinued, as the response was so overwhelming they couldn’t handle the number of cases. Through messages of inspiration and guidance, respect for the dignity and value of the indigenous culture, and focus on the needs of the local population, the Bahá’í stations have become a positive force for grassroots development, and a vital part of the communities they serve.

In response to the need for training volunteer workers for the various radio operations, the Amoz Gibson Centre was established in 1982 by CIRBAL, an international Bahá’í field agency for development media. Since that time, the Centre’s student body has ranged from non-literate indigenous Bahá’ís to university professors from more than 25 developing nations, as well as North Americans who learn to serve abroad as volunteer teachers of the Native population. Within easy reach of all the Americas, the Centre shares space with CIRBAL’s Broadcast Division, which oversees the planning and construction of Bahá’í radio stations throughout the world. The Centre’s affiliations include stations in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Panama, Liberia, Chile and the United States.

The Development Communication program is intensive and practical, designed to prepare students for all aspects of project functioning including management, programming and production, technical maintenance, and training of others. The program is divided into five broad curricular areas: hardware, software, human development, international service, and participatory media theory and practice—all presented from a Bahá’í perspective. Some offerings are specialized (Radio Production Laboratory, Broadcast Engineering, Photography Workshop), while others cut across several areas of the curriculum (Introduction to Development Media, Community Radio Broadcasting, Development Communication).

“The scientific and technological advances occurring in this unusually blessed century,” the Universal House of Justice stated in The Promise of World Peace, “portend a great surge forward in the social evolution of the planet, and indicate the means by which the practical problems of humanity may be solved.” Development, the House of Justice points out, is largely dependent upon natural stirrings at the grassroots, from which it should receive its driving force rather than by imposition of plans from above. The purpose of the Development Communication program at the Amoz Gibson Centre is to help these grassroots efforts: promoting education in science and technology, training in the techniques and tools of communication, and respect for the spiritual nature of human progress.

---

[Page 11] and Spanish—many times on a fully bilingual basis. The centre is presently consulting with several universities about the possibility of offering joint degree programs, a step that will allow eligible students to receive college credit for courses taken at the Arecibo campus.

The centre has attracted a highly qualified faculty with extensive media and international experience including the executive producer of a national radio education project in Kenya; a doctor of education specializing in cross-cultural communication and media; the manager of a rural black community-service radio station; and a well-known South American TV and film producer who now heads National Radio and Television in Peru.

Staff and faculty are, for the most part, volunteers, contributing their expertise to a “boot-strap” operation whose facilities have been built gradually, financed by proceeds from course tuitions. Much of the equipment and educational materials were acquired through donations.

With its emphasis on appropriate media and technology, the Amoz Gibson Centre also hosts an ongoing program of research and development. In conjunction with CIRBAL’s Broadcast Division, faculty members have pioneered inventions ranging from solar-powered community radio to low-cost 12-volt power for lighting and small appliances in rural homes. The centre makes extensive use of this alternate energy system to power everything from the ceiling fans in classrooms to the computer in the office.

For the Bahá’ís, development is largely dependent upon needs at the grassroots, from which it should receive its driving force, rather than by imposition of plans from above. The purpose of the Development Communication program at the Amoz Gibson Centre is to help these grassroots efforts—promoting education in science and technology, training in the techniques and tools of communication, and promoting respect for the spiritual foundation of human progress.

---

Colombia

Representatives of the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Bahá’í faiths gathered to celebrate World Religion Day this year in Barranquilla, Colombia. Representing the Faith was Gustavo Correa (far right).

[Page 12]

Solving the problems of mankind

Betterment of life

The Universal House of Justice is aware of the magnitude of the problems that the Bahá’í communities face, but as the response to the Message of Bahá’u’lláh increases and as the Bahá’í community throughout the world shows its ability to overcome these problems, the attention of men and women in every stratum of society will increasingly be drawn to the Faith. The most urgent need now—so late is the hour—is for the Bahá’ís to spread the Message, while they are still able to do so, to the largest possible number of their fellow human beings, simultaneously expanding and consolidating the Bahá’í community as quickly as they can with the resources at their disposal. As mankind passes through the darkest phase of its history, the Bahá’í community will have to face not only entry by troops, which it is now experiencing, but, before too long, mass conversion.

The first step in the reconstruction of human society is for individuals to accept Bahá’u’lláh as the Manifestation of God for this age and to begin to strive, as well as they can, to follow His Teachings in their individual and in their communal lives. Conversion is but the first step, yet it is the essential one. Without it, no amount of expertise or scientifically based knowledge will have a lasting effect, because the fundamental motivating and sustaining power will be lacking.

As the Bahá’í community grows it will acquire experts in numerous fields—both by Bahá’ís becoming experts and by experts becoming Bahá’ís. As these experts bring their knowledge and skill to the service of the community and, even more, as they transform their various disciplines by bringing to bear upon them the light of the Divine Teachings, problem after problem now disrupting society will be answered. In such developments they should strive to make the utmost use of non-Bahá’í resources and should collaborate fully with non-Bahá’ís who are working in the same fields. Such collaboration will, in the long run, be of far more benefit than any attempt now to treat such scientific endeavors as specifically Bahá’í projects operating under Bahá’í institutions and financed by investment of Bahá’í funds.

Paralleling this process, Bahá’í institutional life will also be developing, and as it does so the Assemblies will draw increasingly upon scientific and expert knowledge—whether of Bahá’ís or of non-Bahá’ís—to assist in solving the problems of their communities.

These excerpts from letters written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice concerning the work of Bahá’ís in solving the problems of mankind appeared in the Australian Bahá’í Bulletin, No. 353 (October 1986).

In time, great Bahá’í institutions of learning, great international and national projects for the betterment of human life will be inaugurated and flourish.

The Bahá’í work for the reconstruction of human society can thus been seen to comprise three streams: the most fundamental is the spreading of the Word of God, the winning of the allegiance of ever greater numbers of men and women to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and the establishment of the Bahá’í Administrative Order; concurrent with this is the contribution to human advancement and to the progress of the Bahá’í community made by individual Bahá’ís in the pursuit of their daily work; and then there are the projects and institutions for human advancement launched and operated by Bahá’í Spiritual Assemblies as their resources grow and the range of their activities expands. It is for the Universal House of Justice to direct the energies of the believers in these various channels and to make known what activities are timely and have priority. (From a letter dated August 21, 1977)

The path to world unity

Concerning the transition from the present system of national sovereignty to a system of world government, the House of Justice fully agrees ... that the Bahá’ís must do all in their power to promote this transition. This requires several related activities, all of which are goals of the present Seven Year Plan. One is the establishment as rapidly as possible of firmly grounded, efficiently functioning local Spiritual Assemblies in every part of the world, so that seekers everywhere will have a point of reference to which they can turn for guidance and for the Teachings of the Faith. A second is the deepening of the believers, of all ages, in their understanding of and obedience to the Teachings. A third is the proclamation of the Faith to all strata of society, and in particular to those in authority and to leaders of thought so that those who hold the direction of peoples in their hands will learn accurately about the nature and tenets of the Faith and will grow to respect it and implement its principles. A fourth is the promotion of Bahá’í scholarship, so that an increasing number of believers will be able to analyze the problems of mankind in every field and to show how the Teachings solve them. A fifth is the development of relations between the Bahá’í International Community and the United Nations both directly and with the highest UN institutions and at a grass-roots level in areas of rural development, education, etc.

As you are no doubt aware, the Guardian indicated that the development of mankind from its present chaotic condi-

[Page 13] tion to the stage of the Bahá’í World Commonwealth would be a long and gradual one. The coming into existence of a World Authority and the initiation of the Lesser Peace is one major transformation in this process, and will be followed by other stages of the development of the Faith as outlined by Shoghi Effendi in his writings. Undoubtedly, as these developments are taking place, the counsel the institutions of the Faith can give to governments, the pattern of world administration offered by the Bahá’í community and the great humanitarian projects which will be launched under the aegis of the Universal House of Justice will exercise a great influence on the course of progress. (From a letter dated January 19, 1983)

---

Germany

The Bahá’í Publishing Trusts of Germany and India were represented October 1-6 at the International Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, whose theme was ‘India—Change in Continuity.’ The latter’s booth was especially eye-catching because of the model of the House of Worship in New Delhi. Surrounded by large-sized photographs showing various stages of construction of the building, and by literature produced by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of India, the booth attracted about 6,000 visitors, hundreds of whom were informed about the edifice and about the Faith. Many visitors expressed their concern for the persecuted Bahá’ís in Iran and their hope that the cruelties inflicted upon them would soon end. Of course, the model of the House of Worship attracted the attention of architects and architecture historians who accepted information about the building with special delight. Journalists from Germany, India, England, Israel and other countries also received information about the House of Worship and the Faith, which was given to them in a folder with photos and short descriptions. On Friday morning, under the headline ‘Bahá’í—German and Indian—at the Book Fair,’ the local paper in Hofheim, the town in which the European House of Worship is located, published an article with a photo of the India Temple describing parallels between the two Houses of Worship. Those visitors who seemed especially interested were given copies of the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement. Among those who visited the German Publishing Trust’s booth was West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Compared to book fairs of the past few years, the number of people who knew of the Faith and longed for more detailed information was greatly increased. Personal experiences and friendships with Bahá’ís proved to be a most important factor for creating a positive attitude toward the Faith.

[Page 14]

The world

Jamaicans receive peace statement

“The Promise of World Peace” has been widely distributed throughout Jamaica. So far 12 ministers of government have received it, as well as members of the Senate.

Newspapers have carried photos of presentations of the peace statement to the Governor-General, Sir Florizel Glasspole, and to the Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The presentation to Prime Minister Edward Seaga was broadcast on national television.

Many other dignitaries have received the statement including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the president of the Court of Appeals, the chief of staff of the Defense Force, the commissioner and acting commissioner of police, and the vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies.

On October 25, 1985, a 13-nation UN Model Assembly in Kingston closed with a presentation of the peace statement to the assembled delegates. On that occasion, the president of the UN Association of Jamaica and the vice-president of the World Federation of UN Associations were given copies of “The Promise of World Peace.”

* * *

A three-member delegation composed of members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Jamaica met last February with 10 executive members of the Jamaica Council of Churches at the Council headquarters in Kingston to present copies of the peace statement.

Mr. Elias Zohoori, secretary of the National Assembly, read a letter from that body explaining the purpose of the meeting, praising the unifying role of the Council of Churches, and expressing appreciation for the freedom of religion on the island.

The peace message was then presented to the Council president with two books for the Council library, Bahá’í World Faith and Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

Nigeria

Bahá’ís in Nigeria celebrated Naw-Rúz with a football (soccer) match as the ‘Brilliant Stars’ of Ibadan, Oyo State, hosted the ‘Bahá’í Peace Makers’ from Bendel State. The referee (center, holding ball) was Dr. Akanni Bankole, a Bahá’í who operates a veterinary clinic in Ibadan. About 300 people watched the ‘friendly match,’ publicity for which included 60 posters, and many youth were attracted to the Faith when the teams were organized. Team members included Bahá’ís, Christians and Muslims.

Bolivia

In response to an invitation from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religions, the National Spiritual Assembly of Bolivia has appointed Mrs. Ana de Albarracin to the Bolivian Commission for the International Year of Peace.

The Year of Peace was inaugurated in Bolivia last March 10 in the presence of the entire diplomatic corps, ministers of government, members of the armed forces and the Catholic Church, and the Bolivian Commission of which the Bahá’í community is considered a member.

Bahá’í principles have been graciously accepted by the commission, and quotes from the writings were included in its “Plan of Action,” a consensus document outlining its philosophy and aims.

Cyprus

A children’s fireside last December 22 in Nicosia, Cyprus, was attended by 20 delighted parents who watched as a number of beautifully costumed children presented passages from the Bahá’í writings and prayers relating to the principles of the Faith.

Each of the youngsters had a card hung around his or her neck with a “principle” lettered on it. As each card was read aloud, it was hung on a tree.

Songs were presented in English and Greek, affecting a greater harmony than that of the music alone.

[Page 15]

Thailand

‘Together for World Peace’ are the members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia at their meeting last March 24-31 in Bangkok, Thailand. Seated (left to right) are Dr. Perin Olyai, Sábir Áfáqí, Rose Ong, Dr. Iraj Ayman, Zena Sorabjee, Zabí-hu’lláh Gulmuhammadí and Michitoshi Zenimoto. Standing (left to right) are Vicente Samaniego, Dr. John Fozdar, Dr. Chellie Sundram, Burháni’d-Dín Afshín, S. Nagaratnam, K.H. Payman, Masíh Rawhání, Bijan Fareed and Rúhulláh Mumtází.

Germany

Eleven-year-old Gunter Meyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Werner Meyer, pioneers from Canada to Osnabruck, Germany, won the 1986 national German-language reading competition for non-German children.

After having only 14 months of instruction in the German language, Gunter won in his category at the state level by reading an essay on peace by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which he found in a German Bahá’í book, Frieden (Peace).

One month later, in May, Gunter entered the national competition where he successfully competed against 10 other students, some of whom had been living in Germany for four to five years.

The jury, Gunter’s father wrote, was taken by surprise: “... they expected a nice children’s story, but instead listened to a difficult text with meaning and power which they (themselves) barely understood!” Some of the judges, he added, even took notes.

The Meyers’ younger son, now in second grade, also reads and speaks German. The Meyers credit the children’s performance to their belief in the value of education, and count it as a confirmation for pioneers everywhere.

* * *

Sixty people attended the first Conference on Teaching the Chinese sponsored by the Far East Teaching Committee of Germany and held March 1 at Langenhain.

Attendees learned about the geography, history, religion and modern society of China and consulted on opportunities for teaching Chinese people living in Germany.

* * *

On February 27, the Weisbadener Kurier published an article on the Bahá’í Home for the Aged, the first dependency of the Mother Temple of Europe.

The article, based on an interview with Bahá’ís at the National Center in Langenhain, Germany, is accompanied by a photograph of the House of Worship.

Vanuatu

Pictured is the local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds on Tanna Island in Vanuatu, built by local Bahá’ís and opened in April 1986 just prior to the annual National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Vanuatu.

[Page 16]

United Nations

An impressive account of youth activities in Bahá’í communities all over the world in support of the International Year of Youth, compiled by the Bahá’í International Community office in New York City, was forwarded last May to the United Nations headquarters.

An edited version of the report will appear in a UN publication recounting activities of non-governmental organizations during IYY.

The activities of Bahá’ís on five continents reflect a wide variety of observances by the Bahá’í world community of the IYY theme, “Participation, Development, Peace.” They range from humanitarian service and social work to educational campaigns, ecological efforts and the production of literature and special materials.

The BIC report points out that the message of January 3, 1984, from the Universal House of Justice to all Bahá’í youth urged them to “conscious participation in the affairs of the world” and called upon them to “aid the realization of ... aspirations for a world without war.”

Bahá’í youth in more than 50 countries held IYY activities. In 22 of them, the Bahá’ís collaborated with government agencies or other non-Bahá’í groups to sponsor events.

A small sampling will serve to show the many and varied activities cited in the BIC’s report:

In Africa, there was aid to the drought-stricken, care for the sick and elderly, and tree-planting in Chad; youth tutored school children in Botswana and Zambia; and youth dramas entitled “Peace or Sword” were presented in three regions of Zaire.

In the Americas, Bahá’í International Youth Conferences were held in Argentina, Belize, Canada, El Salvador, Jamaica, Peru (giving rise to eight national and international youth projects), the United States (with youth from 42 countries attending) and Hawaii (with youth from 20 countries and islands in the Pacific).

In Chile, Colombia, St. Lucia and Venezuela, school-related projects such as tutoring, sponsoring educational programs and holding contests all emphasized the IYY theme of “Participation, Development, Peace.”

In Asia, youth from 24 countries attended an Asian Bahá’í Youth Conference in New Delhi, India; another conference was held in Thailand; an island-wide school competition on IYY themes was conducted in Taiwan; and a variety of medical services were rendered by Bahá’í youth in both India and Pakistan through rural “camps” which offered free medical treatment to villagers.

In Australasia, Bahá’í youth conferences and rallies were held in Kiribati, Guam, Australia, New Zealand and Tuvalu.

Sixteen countries in Europe held significant programs including projects for charitable, altruistic and humanitarian organizations.

In Antwerp, Belgium, 1,452 youth from 45 countries attended an IYY conference; in Greece, youth volunteers visited orphanages and homes for the elderly, planted trees, cleaned a section of a forest, and joined in activities of the Ministry of Youth; in Iceland, Bahá’í youth published a special magazine for IYY; In Ireland, young people volunteered to join the Mobile Teaching Institutes in African countries; in the Netherlands, youth raised funds for a hospital boat project in South America, while Sweden hosted three international youth summer schools featuring studies on peace.

Meanwhile, the Landegg Conference Centre in Switzerland hosted an IYY conference whose participants included Swiss non-governmental organizations.

One unique contribution (among many) by Bahá’í youth in the United Kingdom was the distribution of one and one-half million copies of the UN Declaration of Human Rights to secondary school students in England.

Canary Islands

The first local Spiritual Assembly of Güimar, Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, was formed in January 1986. Pictured are its members (standing left to right) Horst Schmoller, Natascha Schmoller, Odilia Palmer (pioneer from the U.S.), Heidrun Schmoller and Aladin Alai, and (seated left to right) Elsy Alvarado Rodriguez, Agustin Rodriguez, Mahnaz Neheedin Herrera and Manual Herrera.

[Page 17]

Alaska

Dewey Ehling of Anchorage, Alaska, was honored last February for his dedication to the youth of his community as the fourth recipient of the annual Honor Kempton Award for Service to Humanity given by the Bahá’ís of Alaska.

Mr. Ehling is the conductor of the Anchorage Youth Symphony and the Anchorage Community Chorus. In addition, he is artistic director of the Alaska Festival of Music, director of the Alaska Fine Arts Camp, and director of music for the Anchorage School District.

Tod Jones, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska, presented an inscribed plaque to Mr. Ehling who responded with sincere appreciation and ended his acceptance speech with the prayer, “Blessed Is the Spot.”

Spain

A press conference held January 25 in Palma de Mallorca to launch the peace statement in the Balearic Islands had impressive results.

Six newspapers and three radio stations were represented as the Spiritual Assembly of Mallorca ‎publicy publicly‎ presented “The Promise of World Peace.”

Articles appeared in both the English- and Spanish-language papers, reflecting the high level of interest created by the press conference.

Two lovely “Peace” posters have been printed in large quantity to help the Bahá’í community of the Balearic Islands proclaim the message of peace throughout 1986.

India

A. Manisegaran, a traveling teacher from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, visited India’s Tamil Nadu State for 11 days last January and February, presenting the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement to 22 prominent people in Madras and five in Pondicherry.

He made hundreds contacts with influential people throughout the state including writers; journalists; professionals in the cinema, radio and television; artists; performers; civil officials in culture and development; and businessmen and bankers.

United Kingdom

The Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom was represented for the first time last April with a booth at the prestigious London Book Fair held at the Barbican Centre. The book fair is one of the largest in the world, and provided many excellent opportunities to proclaim the Faith to publishers, book sellers, authors and visitors from overseas. Also, because of an error in the catalog which is used as a map to guide visitors around the fair, the entry for a well-known Jewish publisher was also shown as the Bahá’í booth number, resulting in a large number of Jewish authors, media people and educators from all over the world visiting the Bahá’í booth ‘by mistake.’ An attractive photograph of the Shrine of the Báb drew considerable comment and led to many requests for literature and further information about the Faith.

Belgium

More than 60,000 copies of “The Promise of World Peace” have been distributed within Belgium to about five per cent of the country’s population.

King Baudoin I received the statement by mail, while presentations have been made in person or by mail to local and national politicians, professors, lawyers, physicians, clergy and more than 2,000 members of the media.

The impression of enhanced prestige and status for the Faith has been proved by greatly heightened interest in the Bahá’í booth at the annual International Book Fair in Brussels.

* * *

A local Spiritual Assembly has been formed in Eupen, Belgium, the first Assembly to be formed in the German-speaking part of that country. Pioneers from Germany and two Iranians from Pakistan have joined the community, which will continue its strong efforts to teach the local population.

* * *

A radio station manager in Malines, Belgium, invited two Bahá’ís to speak about the Faith on an hour-long program last December 1. The two spoke about Bahá’í principles, social laws, community life, and the need for peace in the world.

Dominican Republic

The Barahona Area Project, begun last June in the Dominican Republic, is bringing in many new believers who are, in turn, teaching the Cause. At the end of one month of teaching, there were about 1,500 new Bahá’ís in some 24 localities.

[Page 18]

from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust
Bahá’í history comes alive in

STORIES FROM
THE DAWN-BREAKERS

Thirty tales of faith, courage, and sacrifice
from the early days of the Faith told by the
Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and
embellished with Persian music. Based on
the book of the same name by Zoe Meyer.

Shaykh Ahmad’s Secret • The Young Man in the Green
Turban • The Shepherd’s Dream • Mullá Ḥusayn and the Báb
• The Letters of the Living • The Story of the Báb • The Báb’s
Messengers • The Message to Bahá’u’lláh • The Dream of
Bahá’u’lláh’s Father • The Storm • The Adventure in the Desert
• The Story of Ṣádiq • The Báb is Taken Prisoner • The White
Bird • On the Road to Ṭihrán • The Castle of Máh-Kú • ‘Alí
Khán’s Dream • Ṭáhirih • The New World Order • Muḥammad-
‘Alí’s Vision • The Trial of the Báb • Fort Ṭabarsí • The Siege •
The Dream of Quddús • The Story of Vaḥíd • Ḥujjat • The Martyrdom
of the Báb • God’s Cause Today • Bahá’u’lláh

• An excellent way to introduce the entire family to episodes of Bahá’í history
• An exciting resource for deepening classes for all ages and family sharing
• An inspiring way to start or end your day as you commute

Four 60-minute
cassettes packaged in an
attractive vinyl binder

     $2400*

*no charge for postage and handling

Available from

Bahá’í Distribution Service

415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL ■ Tel. 1-800-323-1880