Lights of Guidance/Firesides

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Lights of Guidance edited by Helen Hornby Firesides

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828. Firesides More Effective Than Publicity

"… I would like to comment that it has been found over the entire world that the most effective method of teaching the Faith is the fireside meeting in the home. Every Bahá’í as a part of his spiritual birthright, must teach, and the one avenue where he can do this most effectively is by inviting friends into his home once in 19 days, and gradually attracting them to the Cause. After the individuals have confidence in the pioneer, and the pioneer in the individuals, then they can be taught and confirmed in the Faith. This method is far more effective than advertising in newspapers, public lectures etc. The Guardian is encouraging the believers over the world, including those on the home fronts, to engage in this method of teaching."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the Bahá’í Group of Key West, Florida, March 31, 1955: Bahá’í News, No. 292, pp. 9-10)

829. Must Hold Fireside in Home Once in 19 Days

"The friends must realize their individual responsibility. Each must hold a Fireside in his or her home, once in 19 days, where new people are invited, and where some phase of the Faith is mentioned and discussed. If this is done with the intent of showing Bahá’í hospitality and love, then there will be results. People will become interested in 'what' you are interested in, and then be interested in studying. Individual firesides will bring the knowledge of the Faith to more people, under favourable circumstances, and thus constantly enrich its circle of friends, and finally its members. There is no substitute for the teaching work of the individual."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, March 6, 1957: Bahá’í News, No. 317, July 1957, p. 4)

830. Service Once Rendered by Priest is the Service a Bahá’í is Expected to Render Individually to His Religion

"The believers must be encouraged to teach individually in their own homes. Bahá’u’lláh has enjoined upon the Bahá’ís the sacred obligation of teaching. We have no priests, therefore the service once rendered by priests to their religions is the service every single Bahá’í is expected to render individually to his religion. He must be the one who enlightens new souls, confirms them, heals the wounded and the weary upon the road of life, gives them to quaff from the chalice of everlasting life—the knowledge of the Manifestation of God in His Day."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries, July 5, 1957)

831. That Home is a Garden of God

"Blessed art thou for having opened the door of thy home unto the people to come and hear of the Kingdom…

"Know that in every home where God is praised and prayed to, and His Kingdom proclaimed, that home is a garden of God and a paradise of His happiness."

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Vol. I, p. 68)

832. Fireside in Home is Example of Individual Goal

"… It is now imperative for every Bahá’í to set for himself individual teaching goals. The admonition of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to lead at least one new soul to the Faith each year and the exhortation of Shoghi Effendi to hold a Bahá’í fireside in one's home every Bahá’í month are examples of individual goals. Many have capacities to do even more, but this alone will assure final and complete victory for the Plan."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World, November 16, 1969: Messages from The Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 35)

833. Must Aid New Believers to Become "True Bahá’ís"—Then Introduce Them to the Community

"… One of the best ways to teach is what the Americans call a 'fireside', in other words a little group of your friends in your own home, to whom you can introduce a few believers whom you feel would be congenial and help confirm them. When you have made them true Bahá’ís, then take them to the community and let them be accepted. In this way they are protected from tests until their faith is really strong."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 18, 1950)

834. The Holy Spirit Quickens Friends—Must Become Channels for Its Diffusion

"… The fireside method of teaching seems to produce the greatest results; when each one invites friends into their homes once in 19 days, and introduces them to the Faith. Close association and loving service affects the hearts; and when the heart is affected, then the spirit can enter. It is the Holy Spirit that quickens, and the Friends must become channels for its diffusion."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 27, 1957)