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[Page 1]

Joyous triple announcement from Universal House of Justice

To the followers of Bahá’u’lláh throughout the world

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

On the occasion of the Day of the Covenant, amidst the dramatic events within and without the Faith which evince an accelerating momentum in the concluding months of the Six Year Plan, and less than half a year from the beginning of the long-anticipated Holy Year, we rejoice in conveying this triple announcement to the entire Bahá’í world.

• Seven new National Spiritual Assemblies will be formed at Ridván 1992: Angola in Africa; Greenland in the Americas; and Albania, the Baltic States, Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland in Europe. The emergence of the latter five will set a befitting seal on the victorious supplementary Two Year Plan launched at Ridván 1990. In addition, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Congo Republic, after a lapse of more than a decade due to political conditions, will be re-established.

• The Office of Huqúqu’lláh has been established in the Holy Land under the direction of the Chief Trustee of Huqúqu’lláh, the Hand of the Cause of God ‘Ali-Muhammad Varqá, in anticipation of the worldwide application next Ridván of the Law of Huqúqu’lláh. Concurrent with this development are the steps being taken by Dr. Varqá to organize regional and national Boards of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh, following the example of the Board already functioning in the United States.

• At Ridván 1993, immediately following the Holy Year and during a period which will witness the holding of the seventh Bahá’í International Convention at the World Center, a Three Year Plan will be launched. The national goals of this global Plan will be set through consultations between the Continental Counselors and National Spiritual Assemblies. The unusual character and rapidity of developments both inside and outside the Faith signify the necessity for a short, flexible Plan attuned to the dynamic nature of the times.

This momentous announcement, coinciding significantly with the opening of a new term for members of the Auxiliary Boards on all continents, is indicative of the fresh flood of divine confirmations pouring upon the current efforts of the Community of the Most Great Name in all parts of the planet. The coincidence demonstrates anew the existence of tremendous challenges and opportunities which must be met, and it calls attention to the vital role to be played by these distinguished servants of the Faith in aiding the believers everywhere to attain further heights in the unfolding glory of our great Cause.

We are moved to appeal to the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in every land, at this critical moment in the destiny of the Cause and of humankind, to make a supreme effort to gather the as yet unharvested victories in the fast-fleeting days remaining to the Six Year Plan. Let them do this that they may enter, with a fit sense of triumph, the impending Holy Year—a period charged with untold significance and pregnant with possibilities for major advances of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, possibilities which can only faintly be imagined as the Centenary of His Ascension draws closer.

Our ardent hopes for you all are intermingled with our supplications at the Holy Threshold that the Blessed Beauty may, to an unprecedented degree, rain down upon His loved ones His invigorating, victory-inducing confirmations.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice November 26, 1991

Inspiring! Mr. Sears completes historic 5-city tour

‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge.’—Bahá’u’lláh

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears reviews his notes before speaking to the friends in Tolleson, Arizona, the third stop on his inspiring five-city tour of prominent teaching areas in the U.S.

By KEN BOWERS

In mid-November the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears successfully concluded an historic tour of five of the most vibrant and vital teaching areas in the United States, during which he called on the friends to arise and achieve the important goal of large-scale expansion by the end of the Six Year Plan at Ridván 1992.

Mr. Sears’ heroic effort, undertaken in spite of advanced age and poor health, has served to inspire Bahá’ís in every area of the country to redouble their efforts to teach the Cause of God as never before, in the hope that unprecedented numbers of new believers will enter the Faith in time for the beginning of the Holy Year.

His five-city circuit included Boca Raton, Florida; Worcester, Massachusetts; Tolleson, Arizona; San Francisco, California; and Portland, Oregon. The areas were chosen by the National Spiritual Assembly as among the most prominent centers of teaching activity in the country.

In each of these areas the Hand of the Cause personally greeted the friends, stressed the urgent need for a more intense and sacrificial level of teaching, and inspired newly enrolled and veteran believers alike with a remarkable vision of Bahá’u’lláh’s glorious Faith.

The unifying theme of the tour was the spiritual assistance available to all those who arise to teach the Cause of God. Mr. Sears, surveying the century and a half of...

‘A time of challenge’

A message to the Bahá’ís of the world from the Universal House of Justice

To the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in every land

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

A time of challenge for the stalwart upholders of the Cause of God has now come upon us at the very moment when the world is grappling with tremendous problems, moral, social, economic and ecological. The Bahá’í community has grown in size and influence to the point where it is put to the test on all sides and at all levels. The opportunities are immense but we now face the question of whether to push forward with all speed, or to hold back because the resources available to us are inadequate for the purpose.

In lands where people have accepted the Faith in large numbers, the process of economic and social development, linked with the establishment, consolidation and strong functioning of local Spiritual Assemblies, is attaining ever greater importance and is placing upon the international resources of the Faith a heavy demand for manpower and finance. In the countries of the former Eastern Bloc the need for assistance in the form of Bahá’í literature, pioneers, traveling teachers, the establishment of local centers, is made the more urgent by the extraordinary receptivity to the Message of Bahá’u’lláh shown by the spiritually thirsty populations. The opportunities for the promotion of the Cause of God in these areas cannot be allowed to go unheeded.

At the national level, the structure of Bahá’í communities is growing in complexity as the number of believers rises, and National Spiritual Assemblies are being increasingly invited by national governments and non-governmental organizations to offer advice and assistance in upholding human rights, in safeguarding the environment, in promoting moral education, and in overcoming the ravages of prejudice and the rising tide of lawlessness which are undermining the social structure. Internationally a parallel process is taking place.

At the World Center itself, the construction work on the Mount Carmel Projects has begun, preparing facilities befitting the central institutions of the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh for that time when they will have to shoulder the tremendous responsibilities that will be thrust upon them as the Lesser Peace begins to be established in the world. [Page 2]

Targeting ‘groups’: an important aspect of the Six Year Plan

To the Editor: I regard the recent proposal to target certain "groups" in America for teaching purposes as unethical and unscientific. It may also imply that some seekers are stereotypically "less worthy" of our teaching efforts.

To assert that Bahá’ís should target certain groups to teach ignores sociological research on ethnic groups. For instance, such groups often perceive themselves as "enclaves" vis-a-vis the dominant society. Consequently, it is unscientific to assume that by teaching one ethnic group, Bahá’ís will open up opportunities for other groups to learn about the Faith.

I also think that if local Assemblies across the country adopt such a policy, they may help rationalize an unethical policy that ignores groups who are often regarded as less worthy, such as the homeless, pregnant women who abuse drugs, elderly men who are suicidal, and homosexuals.

During His journeys in North America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá often sought out the poor, both to console them and to give them money to help meet their needs. Once, in New England, He even gave one elderly homeless man the pants He was wearing beneath His ‘aba.

I would wager that few Bahá’ís today regard the homeless as lovingly as did ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1912. If not, they need to re-examine their teaching efforts to bring them in line with the Master's.

Bahá’ís have a moral obligation to teach any and all seekers, regardless of their social standing or background. To target only certain groups is a transgression of Bahá’í principle. I hope that Bahá’ís in this country will give serious consideration to this policy and consult on ways to avoid its obvious flaws.

Name withheld

In response to this letter, the National Teaching Committee wishes to point out that focusing on particular groups in our teaching efforts is a Six Year Plan goal of the Universal House of Justice to "carry the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh to the generality of mankind":

"Increase the number of believers from all strata of society, identifying as goals of the plan those specific sectors, minority groups, tribal peoples, etc. which are at present under-represented in the Bahá’í community and which will, therefore, be given special attention during the Plan."

We refer this reader and others who may be concerned about the implications of focusing on groups to the article entitled "Can We Reach all Strata of Society if We Focus on Groups?" The article is reprinted from the October/November 1991 issue of The DirectLine, the National Teaching Committee's bi-monthly newsletter.

National Assembly to discontinue Louhelen School Residental Program

On December 3 the National Spiritual Assembly announced that it would discontinue the Louhelen Bahá’í School Residential Program as of June 1992, the end of the current academic year.

The program was established in 1987 to help Bahá’í youth from Indian Reservations, inner cities and the Deep South reach spiritual and educational goals. The mandate of the program was to provide the youth with an environment that would encourage both spiritual growth and academic success at the college level.

The program was a success in many ways. It helped a number of youth from a wide variety of backgrounds begin their college studies. The Louhelen Residential Program also helped youth from the Bahá’í World Center and others from developing countries and pioneer families to undertake higher education in the U.S.

STUDENTS HONORED

As of December some 26 students, many of whom had completed associate degrees or the equivalent in college credit, were honored with graduation ceremonies at Louhelen.

In the course of the program's operation, however, the National Assembly found that the levels of staffing, facilities, medical assistance, transportation and financial aid required to meet the students' needs were significantly greater than originally anticipated, and well beyond the present capacity of the funds. For this reason the Assembly was compelled to discontinue the program for the present.

In its announcement, the National Assembly emphasized the seriousness and dedication of the students in the Residential Program. Careful plans are already under way to ensure that suitable alternative arrangements are made for all students to continue their higher education. The National Spiritual Assembly, working closely with the colleges attended by the students, will continue its support of them through the transition process.

Although the closing of the Residential Program represents a setback in achieving the goal of building a Bahá’í university, the National Assembly stressed that the Louhelen Bahá’í School will continue to pursue its other educational goals and to fulfill its "true function of deepening the knowledge, stimulating the zeal and fostering the spirit of fellowship among the believers."

The National Spiritual Assembly expressed its gratitude for the help of all of the friends who had contributed their time, expertise and financial assistance to the Louhelen Bahá’í School Residential Program, and its hopes that the time will soon come when the resources of the American community will once again allow an undertaking of that scope.

CAN WE REACH ALL STRATA OF SOCIETY IF WE FOCUS ON GROUPS?

At first glance, it may seem that we are presented with a dilemma. We know that the Message of Bahá’u’lláh is for everyone. We are also told that our teaching efforts will be more effective if we collect and unite our energies and focus on reaching a particular group of people.

The National Spiritual Assembly and its National Teaching Committee have repeatedly urged us to direct our teaching efforts to specific populations in carrying out our local teaching plans. But how can we concentrate our efforts on a single population and not exclude everyone else?

We can focus on a group in teaching and still reach people of various racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds who are from all levels of society. In fact, focusing on groups will actually help us to reach everyone with the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

There are several reasons for this. In the first place, any unified activity will attract Divine blessings and draw to us receptive individuals from all backgrounds.

For example, around the time of the International Chinese Symposium in 1990, the Assemblies in the San Francisco area directed their attention to reaching the Chinese population with the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. That year, there was an increase of concentrated teaching activity in the area and a resulting increase in enrollments.

RECEPTIVE SOULS RESPOND

While many of the new believers were of Chinese background, many of the people who became believers during that time were not Chinese! Other receptive souls responded to the stirrings of the holy fragrances as well. In such situations, some people are not excluded simply because others are receiving more focused attention.

Second, communities which have ample human resources available and ready to mobilize to support community teaching efforts can choose and effectively focus their efforts on more than one population. But the object for many communities is to first reach this level.

Unfortunately, in their loving concern that everyone is reached with the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh, some small communities scatter their efforts so randomly and spread their influence so thin that their teaching work is rendered ineffective and the community does not experience a significant increase in new believers at all.

Once a steady flow of fresh recruits is maintained through concentrated effort, communities can begin to focus on reaching several populations simultaneously. They will then have the human resources to accomplish this effectively.

Third, the group upon which we are focusing our efforts may characteristically cut across levels of society. Hispanics, for example, may be of the upper class, middle class, or lower class. Black people can be found occupying any social position from the most prominent to least prominent.

It is important to note, also, that our attention need not be concentrated on racial or ethnic minorities. While it is true that there are certain minority populations that have been found to be particularly receptive to the Faith and have been identified in the Six Year Plan as groups we should teach, the group on which we choose to focus may be any sort of aggregate.

For example, the group may consist of residents of a specific neighborhood, members of a like-minded organization, students at a certain school, or people of a particular age-group.

FocUSING ONE’S EFFORTS

Fourth, individuals within a community can, as a part of an individual teaching plan, choose a group on which to focus their efforts that is different from the population chosen by the local Spiritual Assembly.

This is not to say that any member of a community is free from the responsibility of helping the local Spiritual Assembly to fulfill its plan. Yet, in addition to whatever an individual might do to assist with community efforts, each believer still must fulfill certain responsibilities as an individual, such as holding a fireside in his or her home at least once in every 19 days, and may decide to try to reach other receptive souls than those the community in general is trying to reach.

Such believers may also join with others in the community to form a teaching institute aimed at another receptive group. Individuals may thereby contribute further to the ultimate goal of enlisting people from all walks of life under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh.

The object of directing our attention to a particular group is to be better able to reach humanity with the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh. When we do this, our energies are united in a collective force and our teaching efforts are more effective because our method of teaching and the presentation of the Faith can be tailored to the needs and capacities of a particular audience.

ONGOING TRAVELING TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Barbados; Bophuthatswana; Brazil; Burundi; Canada, Native and Chinese Teaching, and Yukon Baha'i Institute; Chad; Ciskei; Cook Islands; Costa Rica; Eastern Caroline Islands; East Leeward Islands; Fiji; Grenada; Guyana; Haiti; Hong Kong; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Kenya; Malaysia; Martinique; Mauritius; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Pakistan; Panama; Republic of Benin; Singapore; South Africa; Taiwan; Tonga; Uganda; United Kingdom; Venezuela; West Leeward Islands; Yucatan; Yugoslavia. For more information, contact: Office of Pioneering, Baha'i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, (708) 869-9039. [Page 3]

Message on the Funds from the Universal House of Justice

Over the past four years there was a steady increase in the contributions of the friends worldwide to the international funds of the Faith, and it had been our hope and expectation that this rise would continue and even be accelerated in the current year. But since last Riḍván, on the contrary, there has been a sudden drop in contributions both to the international funds as a whole and to the Arc Projects Fund, creating a crisis which must be promptly overcome. In response to the growing needs of the teaching work and the Arc Projects, we have for several years been drastically cutting the expenditure of the World Center, canceling or postponing many activities which, although valuable, cannot be pursued under the present condition of shortage of funds. This process cannot be taken much further without seriously hampering the ability of the World Center to function at the level which the interests of the Faith require.

If the financial needs of this year and those immediately ahead are to be met, the contributions to the international funds of the Cause must, far from decreasing, be substantially increased.

Such an effort will call for sacrifice on the part of the individual believers and also for the diversion of funds from those local and national projects which are not essential. We are confident that the friends will respond to this call, as they did to the crisis precipitated by the Iranian Revolution in 1979 when, at one moment 61 percent of the income of the international funds was cut off.

This is the immediate need. Beyond this there is, we believe, a worldwide need for appreciation of this basic principle of our Faith: that contributing to the Fund should constitute an integral part of the spiritual life of every Bahá’í and be regarded as the fulfillment of a fundamental spiritual obligation. In too many countries we have encountered a reluctance among the teachers of the Cause to include, in their presentation of the Teachings, support of the Funds as a natural part of Bahá’í life.

In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh more than once refers to the necessity for combining spiritual and material means in achieving the purposes of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi, for his part, referred to the Fund as the life-blood of the Cause.

We urge all the friends to give deep thought to the importance of supporting the Cause financially and to the effect that Bahá’í activities have on the condition of the entire human race.

It is our fervent prayer at the Sacred Threshold that Bahá’u’lláh will inspire His devoted followers in every land to arise unitedly in the service of His Cause and will reward their sacrifices with an outpouring of heavenly bounties.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice November 18, 1991

Mr. Sears

...almost uninterrupted divine guidance the Faith has enjoyed since its inception, recalled the promises of victory given by the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi, and by the Universal House of Justice.

"With all this guidance at our disposal, and with the sure promises of assistance from our Lord," he said, "we should be able to work miracles in the teaching field."

Mr. Sears suggested that the friends resolve to enroll at least 9,000 new believers by Riḍván 1992. As a slogan for the months leading up to the end of the Plan he proposed the spiritual equation "5 (the number of the Báb) plus 9 (the number of Bahá’u’lláh) equals 9,000."

The Hand of the Cause reminded the friends that it is they, not the institutions of the Faith, who bear the primary responsibility for teaching, and who alone have the power to achieve victory. The key is for the individual to forget his or her own shortcomings and to "rely upon Bahá’u’lláh’s unfailing assistance." In that way His healing message will be taken to a humanity that is "crying out for a remedy" for its suffering.

In characteristic style, Mr. Sears illustrated his points with stories of believers who had overcome great obstacles to perform marvelous services to the Faith. In Portland, he told the 2,000 believers present about a young man from India who was paralyzed from the neck down. Helped only by two young boys who carried his bed from village to village, he managed to diffuse the sweetness of the Ancient of Days so widely that not only the boys themselves but the entire populations of three villages enlisted under the banner of the Blessed Perfection.

EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICE

In all of the cities Mr. Sears visited, the friends were stirred by the urgency of his call for immediate action, were inspired by his enthusiasm and faith, and were deeply moved by the example of sacrifice he set by ignoring grave physical infirmities to be with them.

Responding immediately and wholeheartedly to his loving efforts, they demonstrated in many ways their determination to succeed in enrolling large numbers of new believers by Riḍván.

In Florida, well over 150 people embraced the Faith in the few weeks just prior to and immediately after Mr. Sears’ visit. The enrollments took place in a number of localities, indicating a new level of activity throughout the state.

While Mr. Sears was in Portland, which was his last stop, 26 new believers were enrolled in 24 hours. Shortly after his visit even more people embraced the Cause of God, including one woman who brought a friend into the Faith the day after her own declaration. Bahá’ís came to Portland from as far away as South Dakota and British Columbia, and went away eager to share Mr. Sears’ vision with the friends in their local communities.

Arizona has also seen the teaching work take on a new spirit since Mr. Sears’ tour. Auxiliary Board member Jose Martinez reported that the friends there are determined to do their part in winning the victory.

"The response in Arizona has been extraordinary," he said. "The believers want to have at least one declaration here per day until the end of the Plan. One local Assembly has even challenged the rest of the country to do likewise, so that the end result will be a record-breaking number of enrollments."

LARGEST WEEKEND GATHERING

The 2,500 people who came to see Mr. Sears in California made it the largest weekend gathering ever held in the San Francisco Bahá’í Center. Three people embraced the Cause before the end of his visit. Richard Groger, an Auxiliary Board member for that area, said the meetings with the Hand of the Cause were a "shot in the arm" for California, as teaching activity immediately rose to greater heights.

"What was especially moving about his visit," he said, "was the way in which the youth and children responded to his love and his message. Mr. Sears left an indelible impression on the young people when he took the time to greet each one personally. We will certainly see great things from them as a result.

In other areas of the country the Bahá’ís, aware of the importance of the few remaining months of the Six Year Plan, are forming full-time teaching teams of varying durations and areas of concentration. Many established teaching institutes are beginning to reap the rewards of their persistent efforts, and more institutes are being formed almost every day. These encouraging signs point to a time when every part of the nation will benefit from ongoing and sustained teaching, which will hasten the long-awaited "entry by troops" of new believers into the Faith.

At the forefront of these activities is our beloved Hand of the Cause. At a time in his life when so many would long since have retired from the field, he has, far from retreating or hesitating, chosen to hoist once again the standard of sacrifice, to spur the steed of service into the thick of the battle, to expend his energy to the last ounce, and to lead the hosts of Bahá’u’lláh in this country yet again to glorious victory.

Photo Captions

Left photo: In Portland, Oregon, the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears explains the concepts of the Bahá’í Administrative Order and the dependencies of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. Mr. Sears’ wife, Marguerite, is standing to his left. Portland was the last stop on Mr. Sears’ month-long five-city tour to inspire the friends to greater heights in teaching before the end of the Six Year Plan next Riḍván. Right photo: Mr. Sears encourages the believers in the San Francisco area where once again he raised the call to action and reiterated the promises of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice that victory is assured whenever the Bahá’ís arise in unity to serve the Cause of God.

New Bosch administrator to welcome participants to February 'retreat' session

Dr. Ronald S. Gilpatrick, the new administrator of the Bosch Bahá’í School, and assistant administrator Dr. Marsha Gilpatrick will welcome participants February 14-17 to a session entitled "With Inward and Outward Eye: A Winter Retreat in the Redwoods."

The program is to focus on personal transformation as the friends search the Writings for grounding and growth in all aspects of a balanced life: teaching, careers, relationships, marriage and family life, and Bahá’í community life.

Texts will be taken from The Advent of Divine Justice, Gleanings, "Individual Rights and Freedoms," and the compilation on Bahá’í marriage and family life. [Page 4]

Boltay From the National Youth Committee

A message to young people about the challenges that lie ahead

To the Bahá’í youth in the United States

Dear Bahá’í friends,

The major events of the last few years, involving previously undreamed of changes in the world scene, following each other in quick and turbulent succession, and adding to the chaos plaguing nations already incapable of coping with the many grave problems besetting them both from within and without, continue to derange the course of human affairs. The winds of change, affecting every corner of the planet, offer at once cause for dire concern and the hope for solutions that will usher in a new and greater era of history.

It is at such times of turmoil that people ask fundamental questions about the meaning of life and the destiny of mankind. We who have accepted the Manifestation of God for this day are unique in the understanding we have been given as to the source and the ultimate outcome of the tumult that now afflicts the world. The words of the Guardian of the Faith ring no less true today than when he wrote them 50 years ago:

"A tempest, unprecedented in its violence, unpredictable in its course, catastrophic in its immediate effects, unimaginably glorious in its ultimate consequences, is at present sweeping the face of the earth. Its driving power is remorselessly gaining in range and momentum. Its cleansing force, however much undetected, is increasing with every passing day. Humanity, gripped in the clutches of its devastating power, is smitten by the evidences of its resistless fury. It can neither perceive its origin, nor probe its significance, nor discern its outcome....

BAHÁ’ÍS ARE BLESSED

"The powerful operations of this titanic upheaval are comprehensible to none except such as have recognized the claims of both Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb. Their followers know full well whence it comes, and what it will ultimately lead to. Though ignorant of how far it will reach, they clearly recognize its genesis, are aware of its direction, acknowledge its necessity, observe confidently its mysterious processes...and anticipate, with undimmed vision, the consummation of the fears and the hopes which it must necessarily engender."

As Bahá’ís, we are blessed because we have the answers to today's urgent questions in the Sacred Writings, as well as the infallible guidance of the Universal House of Justice, ordained by Bahá’u’lláh Himself. We have the privilege of knowing how unique and wonderful is this time in history, and how we can make our lives meaningful through contributing to the work of the Cause.

With that privilege comes the responsibility to be obedient to the Supreme Institution of the Faith and to labor with all our hearts to establish God's Kingdom on earth. One of the most important aspects of our efforts is teaching.

During the Six Year Plan we have seen a remarkable growth in the participation of youth in the teaching work in this country. There is virtually no ongoing teaching effort presently under way in the United States that is not benefiting from the energy and enthusiasm of youth. And in the great majority of the most active centers of teaching it is the young people who are leading the way in service. This reflects a truth asserted by the Guardian, and which finds support in every epoch of the Faith's history—that it is the destiny of the youth to play a crucial role in the advancement of the Cause.

NEW LEVEL OF AWARENESS

Unprecedented numbers of youth are becoming involved in teaching in every area of the country. This indicates a new level of awareness of the station of Bahá’u’lláh and the glory of His Faith. This understanding is naturally coupled with a correspondingly greater level of sacrifice, as youth give of their time and forego their personal interests to pursue the teaching work.

Teaching is but one manifestation of the principles of sacrifice and obedience to Bahá’u’lláh that should be the motivating forces of our lives as Bahá’ís. Another kind of service, one that is also exclusively reserved for the followers of Bahá’u’lláh, is the privilege of contributing to the Bahá’í Fund. Contributing to the Fund is a sacred and integral aspect of our lives. The Guardian referred to the Fund as the "life-blood of the Cause," and the Universal House of Justice has stated that the Fund and the teaching work are "intimately related." Like teaching, contributing to the Fund is something each of us can do; and like teaching, the act is valued in terms of the spirit with which it is carried out, and not by numerical amounts.

On November 18, the Universal House of Justice sent a message to the entire Bahá’í world. In this message (the full text of which begins on page 1), the House of Justice shares with the friends the current state of the international fund and provides guidance about the manner in which the Bahá’í community should respond. The House of Justice clearly says that the degree to which we can meet the challenges of the coming years will be in direct proportion to our material sacrifices on behalf of the Faith.

The question we should ask ourselves is how we will respond, at such a critical point in history, to the call of the House of Justice. Let us consult with our families, our friends, at Feast and at any other place we may gather, and, in a spirit of prayer and loving sacrifice, determine what steps we will take to live up to our high calling.

No other generation will have the infinite bounty of helping to build God's Arc on Mount Carmel. None other will be given the chance to support the activities of the Bahá’í world as we move toward the Lesser Peace. And no one else has the inestimable privilege of responding with wholehearted obedience to the Trustees of the Blessed Beauty.

Shoghi Effendi wrote the following about the role of youth in the Faith:

"This Cause, though it embraces with equal esteem people of all ages, has a special message and mission for the youth of your generation. It is their charter for the future, their hope, their guarantee of better days to come."

How exciting it would be if the youth of this country were to arise as never before to contribute to the funds of the Faith. As we have led the way in teaching, let us also set the example for sacrificial giving to the Fund. We have been told that "youth can move the world." Let us put these words into action and arise with resolute conviction to serve our Lord.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The National Youth Committee

January 1992

Hotel price reductions for second Bahá’í World Congress are negotiated

Negotiations have been completed to reduce hotel package prices for the Bahá’í World Congress in November. An adjusted price list accompanies this article. These prices include room rates; state, city and occupancy taxes that amount to more than 20 percent; full American breakfast on each day of the Congress including tax and gratuities (except at Suite Hotels); and porterage.

A new category of hotels has been established, that of Headquarters Hotels. These are the hotels at which scheduled program activities will be held because they offer the largest public areas for our use free of charge if we meet the requirement of filling a certain number of rooms.

Participants who already requested a New York Hotel in Category B have been placed in the new Headquarters Hotel category since the prices are below those originally quoted for Hotel Category B. Anyone wishing to remain in Hotel Category B rather than be placed in a Headquarters Hotel should notify Bahá’í World Congress Registration and the adjustment will be made.

New Jersey Hotel Categories A, B and C are sold out, and the New York Suite Hotels are rapidly filling up.

Please refer to the World Congress Registration Guide for more detailed information about travel and hotel packages.

Air fare reductions are not being published at this time because we are continually negotiating and improving the airlines' commitment to us.

Historically, reduced or promotional fares are not offered during holiday weeks. In the U.S., November 26, 1992, is a holiday (Thanksgiving). Excellent reductions have, however, been obtained on the maximum air fares and we are guaranteed the lowest fares at the time of travel.

It is essential that the support and unified efforts of the attendees be secured so that the maximum advantage can be obtained for the Bahá’í world community. The higher the number of friends taking part in the air arrangements, the stronger will be our negotiating position.

Those planning to attend the Congress are encouraged to send in their registration and minimum payment as soon as possible, and those who have made hotel reservations only, and will need air transportation, are urged to make their reservations through the Bahá’í World Congress Registration as soon as possible.

All funds are collected and administered by the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly's Office of the Treasurer. The interest accrued benefits the Bahá’í World Congress.

TRAVELING TEACHERS

Area/Country	Goal	Filled
Ukraine	100	172
Kazakhstan	6	7
USSR (Other Republics)	150	237
Bulgaria	5	3
Czechoslovakia	30	29
DDR/East Germany	10	4
Hungary	35	15
Poland	15	14
Romania	10	10
Yugoslavia	40	9
Mongolia	4	2
China	35	79
Totals	440	581

Revised Hotel-Only Package Per Person Price Table

Oferta de Hotel Solamente - Modificación Tabla de Precios por Persona Forfait hôtelier simple par personne - Modification Barème des Prix

Room Description	NY Cat A	NY HH*	NY Cat B	NY Cat C	NY Suite A	NY Suite B
1 Person	$1,478 / $1,254	$1,328 / $1,126	$1,146 / $972	$845 / $717	$1,339 / $1,118	$1,113 / $930
2 Persons	$838 / $720	$741 / $637	$633 / $545	$494 / $425	$677 / $567	$573 / $480
3 Persons	$670 / $579	$582 / $504	$515 / $447	$388 / $336	$549 / $460	$489 / $410
4 Persons	$501 / $437	$419 / $365	$335 / $292	—	$450 / $377	$371 / $312

New Jersey Hotels	Cat A	Cat B	Cat C
1 Person	$713 / $607	$679 / $580	$543 / $461
2 Persons	$395 / $342	$381 / $329	$297 / $256
3 Persons	$332 / $291	$311 / $272	$216 / $189
4 Persons	$307 / $270	$292 / $261	$175 / $155

HH-Headquarters Hotel Category is a new hotel category. Congress activities such as evening programs and related events will take place in the public meeting spaces of these hotels. [Page 5]

‘Town meetings’ encourage dialogue, enhance cooperation

In the nine months since Ridván more than 95 Bahá’í communities in 41 states have had an opportunity to meet with representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly to discuss issues of local and national concern.

The ongoing series of “town meetings” has been sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly as part of its effort to encourage dialogue between local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í groups and the national agencies of the Faith.

William Allmart, assistant to the Treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly, coordinates the town meetings. He describes the meetings as important forums for the exchange of information and ideas.

“The town meetings,” he says, “were begun to increase the level of unity and cooperation among the friends, as we share with each other our thoughts and our vision for the future development of the Faith.”

Members of the Treasurer’s Office who have taken part feel that this indicates not only a readiness on the part of the friends everywhere to grapple with a complex array of issues, but also their ability to make substantive contributions as the community faces the great challenges that lie ahead.

Contribution Comparison - Totals at November 30

(000's)	Nov ’89	Nov ’90	Nov ’91(est.)	Pct Change ’89 to ’91	Pct Change ’90 to ’91
National Bahá’í Fund	$4,188	$5,001	$5,317	27%	6%
Bahá’í International Fund	$304	$312	$557	83%	79%
Arc Projects Fund	$590	$2,193	$459	-22%	-79%
Continental Bahá’í Fund	$178	$160	$108	-39%	-33%
Estate Bequests	$0	$388	$462	N/A	19%
Total Contributions	$5,260	$8,054	$6,903	31%	-14%

SHARING NEWS

“This broad purpose is accomplished in three ways. First is the sharing of news. The representatives of the National Assembly report to friends in the localities they visit about significant events on the national scene and abroad, which enhances their feeling of connection with the larger community.

“In turn, the friends share news of important happenings in their part of the country. This is one of the most valuable ways the National Assembly has of finding out what initiatives are working on the local level, in teaching and in other areas.

“Next, the Treasurer’s Office representative and the local friends consult on strategies for community development for the ‎fyears years‎ leading up to the establishment of the Lesser Peace. It is especially important for everyone to be aware of the latest thinking of the National Assembly on teaching, fund development, education and other subjects—and it is just as critical that the National Assembly and its agencies be familiar with the challenges facing the believers at the grassroots level. This is one of the ways in which the local and national institutions can support each other effectively.

“The final, and perhaps most vital, aspect of the town meetings,” says Mr. Allmart, “is a discussion about ways of providing the human and material resources that will be needed in the coming years to implement emerging strategies based on our vision of the community.”

The town meetings, he says, have been well attended in every state, and are characterized by frank, enthusiastic and productive consultation.

“There is one issue that has arisen independently in virtually every community we’ve visited since September,” says Mr. Allmart. “Across the country the friends are undertaking serious research of the Writings regarding the nature of the Bahá’í community of the future—what issues we will face, how our administration will operate, and so on. They are examining their own communities, and asking themselves what they are doing that is leading them constructively toward that future, and what they are doing that is not.

“It is tremendously encouraging to see this long-range thinking coming about. And interestingly, these are among the very same questions the National Assembly is asking itself.”

Another topic of deep concern to the believers everywhere is the recent sharp decline in contributions to the National and International Funds. A great deal of time has been devoted to consultation on the reasons for the slowdown and on possible remedies.

“In our discussions,” says Mr. Allmart, “we have come up with two likely explanations for the decline in contributions to the Funds. Both probably are true to a certain degree.

“In the last few years we made great progress in the Funds. As a result, the National Assembly instituted a number of activities based on the new level of sacrifice shown by the friends, and enhanced many projects already in place.

“None of the initiatives were superfluous or extravagant, however—the need for them in most cases was urgent and long-standing, but the resources weren’t available until recently. Great demands were also made of us by the House of Justice, especially with the $50 million reserve fund for the building of the Arc. But we achieved that goal quickly, and for that and other reasons we have been warmly congratulated by the House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly.

“The problem now is that many of the friends have concluded that the pressure is off, that we have ample funds with which to carry out the work of the Cause. Nothing could be further from the truth.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

“The Fund goals outlined by the National Assembly,” Mr. Allmart points out, “are the bare minimum requirements for meeting national and international obligations. Excess funds are not piling up. Success depends on a ‘steady and unabated outpouring of funds,’ as the House of Justice put it.

“Indeed, with more opportunities for teaching opening up every day, we can hardly afford not to have an increase in contributions in the coming years. The House of Justice made that clear in its message of November 18. The point is that we deserve to be proud of our past accomplishments, but we can’t afford to ‘rest on our laurels.’

“Other believers have expressed worries about the state of the economy. A few of the friends have lost their jobs recently, and there are those who are suffering from the business slowdown and pay decreases. They understandably feel the need to hedge against a possibly long period of financial difficulty.

“This issue,” he says, “brings us back to a fundamental principle of our Faith, which is self-sacrifice. Certainly Bahá’u’lláh knows that many of us cannot give as we once did, but the idea is to give what we can. We can sacrifice less important desires and give, not imprudently, but on a level that shows our sincere belief that He will somehow provide for those who remember Him.

“Our Faith has always operated on a cycle of crisis and victory, with sacrifice as the moving force. When we make the necessary sacrifices, we will have the victory.

“New and greater demands will inevitably be made on our resources, which will precipitate a new crisis, from which we will emerge victorious yet again, God willing. We know that this will go on until the Kingdom of God on earth is established. We see the same pattern in our personal lives.

UNBELIEVABLE SACRIFICE

“It is interesting to remember that some of our greatest victories have been won in times of great economic troubles,” says Mr. Allmart. “The best example of that in this country is the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, the money for which was raised during two world wars and a great Depression. It involved unbelievable sacrifice on the part of the friends.

“More recently, the wonderful increase in contributions over the last three years has taken place in spite of the worst national recession in decades. Examples show that it is our spiritual resources that win the victories, and that no matter how difficult the challenge, we always have the power to come through.

“The House of Justice has told us, in its letter of November 18, that the opportunities now available, coming at this critical juncture in history, are of such magnitude that we must ‘give deep thought to the importance of supporting the Cause financially and to the effect that Bahá’í activities have on the condition of the entire human race.’ We should all pray that Bahá’u’lláh will aid us to serve Him as best we possibly can.”

Second ‘Building Bridges’ race unity forum draws more than 200 in White Plains, New York

The second annual “Building Bridges” race unity forum was held November 9 in White Plains, New York, with the five members of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Race Unity Committee among the more than 200 people taking part.

Joy Cross, a member of that committee, was the keynote speaker, pointing out that it is “the heartfelt responsibility of every Bahá’í...to create a world at one.”

The forum was sponsored by the Bahá’í’s of White Plains in cooperation with the Bahá’ís of Greenburgh and Scarsdale. Others attending included the executive director of the White Plains Human Rights Commission, the president of the local Rotary Club, a member of the White Plains African-American Men, and a former city councilman.

During the event, copies of the National Spiritual Assembly’s statement, “The Vision of Race Unity,” were given to each of those in the audience.

“Our greatest minds have sought only material solutions (to racial disunity),” said panelist Sylvester Scott, a Bahá’í from California. “If we acknowledge that it is a spiritual problem, then we can understand the need for religion, because spiritual values originate with religion.”

After the event, about 80 of those in the audience—including a number of non-Bahá’ís—attended a reception and buffet at the home of local Bahá’ís.

The forum received front-page coverage in The Reporter Dispatch, Westchester County’s largest daily newspaper.

TWO-YEAR PLAN U.S. GOALS

SHORT-TERM PIONEERS	Open Goals	Goal Goals	LONG-TERM PIONEERS	Open Goals	Goal Goals
Bulgaria	2	1	Bulgaria	1	1
Czechoslovakia	4	2	Czechoslovakia	4	0
DDR/East Germany	2	2	DDR/East Germany	2	0
Hungary	2	2	Hungary	2	0
Poland	2	0	Poland	1	0
Romania	1	0	Romania	1	0
USSR			USSR
Ukraine	4	0	Ukraine	2	0
Kazakhstan	2	1	Kazakhstan	2	2
Other Republics	4	3	Other Republics	2	0
Yugoslavia	4	4	Yugoslavia	2	1
Mongolia	1	1	China	2	0
China	4	2	Totals	21	4
Totals	32	18

Pioneers Sent ............................................................................................ 70 [Page 6]

Understanding Christian Beliefs

by Michael Sours SC $13.95

The second volume in the series "Preparing for a Bahá’í/Christian Dialogue," Understanding Christian Beliefs, is intended to help Bahá’ís learn more about the Bible and to present Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings to Christians. This volume examines the relationship between some central Christian doctrines and Bahá’í teachings. It is intended to help Bahá’ís present Bahá’u’lláh’s message to Christians in a friendly and convincing way. Its approach can be summerized as follows:

Emphasizing areas of agreement;

• Listening to other points of view and learning about the scriptures, beliefs and terminology of those with whom we converse;

• Adapting our presentation to the particular terminology and temperament of the people to whom we speak;

• Affirming the reliability of the Bible;

• Selecting appropriate criteria and evidence from the Bible;

• Using the biblical criteria and evidence to demonstrate the truth of Bahá’u’lláh’s claims and teachings.

This approach embodies important Bahá’í beliefs concerning the recognition of other religions and qualities such as courtesy and goodwill. Putting these ideals into practice will help us to present our beliefs in accordance with Bahá’u’lláh’s injunction to, "Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship."

6-1/4" x 9-1/4", 191 pp., foreword, introduction, bibliograpy, index Oneworld Publications

Studying the Writings of Shoghi Effendi

edited by Morten Bergsmo SC $13.95

A study guide to twenty-one of the books and compiled letters of the Guardian beginning with a compilation from the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice and chapters on the life of Shoghi Effendi and his station as the Expounder of the Word of God. Each study guide consists of a brief description of the work, its significance, and the circumstances surrounding its genesis, followed by a list of thought-provoking questions. Accompanying each question is a page reference. References are to both the book being studied and to other books that elaborate the theme. The book is an important aid to understanding the writings of Shoghi Effendi. In the words of the editors, "It is... clear that a prolonged and systematic study of these (Shoghi Effendi's) writings is an indispensable component of, and an adjunct to, the study of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh as a whole. It unfolds to every believer a true understanding of the nature of the remedy the Divine Physician has prescribed for the ills of mankind, for it lays bare the innumerable gems that lie in the ocean of the revealed Word of God."

6-1/8" x 9-1/4", 202 pp., foreword, introduction, bibliography, references, notes George Ronald, Publisher

The Bahá’í Faith

by the Bahá’í Office of Public Information, Dallas/Fort Worth PA/10pk $3.50, 50pk $14.00, 100pk $25.00

An eight panel presentation of basic principles and information: "What is the Bahá’í Faith?", the "Unity of Religion," the "Harmony of Science and Religion," and "Differences of nation, race, social class and religion are removed by the uniting power of the Bahá’í Faith." The pamphlet is illustrated with symbols of various religions, a world map of locations of Bahá’í communities, and several color photographs, including one of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. The cover design is a color photograph of the earth taken from a NASA Lunar Mission.

5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States

BAHÁ’U’LLÁH: THE PRINCE OF PEACE A PORTRAIT

by David Hofman HC $21.95 SC $9.95

An absorbing account of the dramatic life of Bahá’u’lláh, set against the vast changes that have overtaken the world in the last century-and-a-half and the great opportunity for world peace now, at long last, opening before the nations. The two steps of Bahá’u’lláh’s peace program--the Lesser Peace and the Most Great Peace--are clearly explained and the vision of this new world order is shown as a practical reality. The majesty and grandeur of Bahá’u’lláh pervade the whole book, making it, as one review states, "an enthralling portrait" which "one can enjoy and become absorbed in .... a book of immeasurable value." There are copious quotations from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings and many of His well-known aphorisms: The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.... Soon will the present-day order be rolled up and a new one spread out in its stead.... The time foreordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the earth is now come.

5-1/2"x8-3/4", 200pp, preface, introduction, bibliography, references, index George Ronald, Publisher

The Day of God

compilation from the Bahá’í Writings SC $.75

These short quotations from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb focus on various aspects of the meaning of the "Day of God." Each quotation is one page or less to present the central idea in an easy to read format. This title is one in a series from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom that began with the popular booklets, Love of God and Glory of God. An example of the quotations is:

THE PROMISED DAY The potentialities inherent in the station of man, the full measure of his destiny on earth, the innate excellence of his reality, must all be manifested in this promised Day of God.

3" x 4", 24 pp. Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom

Faith in God

compilation from the Bahá’í Writings SC $.75

These short quotations from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá focus on various aspects of the meaning of faith. Each quotation is one page or less to present the central idea in an easy to read format. This title is one in a series from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom that began with the popular booklets, Love of God and Glory of God. An example of the quotations is:

THE FOUNDATION-STONE Sincerity is the foundation-stone of faith. That is, a religious individual must disregard his personal desires and seek in whatever way he can wholeheartedly to serve the public interest; and it is impossible for a human being to turn aside from his own selfish advantages and sacrifice his own good for the good of the community except through true religious faith.

3" x 4", 24 pp. Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom

Call to the Nations

by Shoghi Effendi SC $2.50

Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, in exercising his function of interpreting the Bahá’í Revelation, dwelt at great length and with considerable emphasis on the world order enshrined within that Revelation. Early in his ministry he alluded to "those priceless elements of that Divine Civilization, the establishment of which is the primary mission of the Bahá’í Faith," and over the years he penned a series of letters, generally referred to as his World Order letters, unfolding this theme. The vital necessity of world order is largely acknowledged today, but the means to achieve it baffle even its most passionate advocates. The Universal House of Justice has selected passages from Shoghi Effendi's World Order letters, and offers them under the title Call to the Nations as a light and a guidance to all humanity in this dark period of our history. With the increased useage of the term "World Order" comes the complaint from many quarters that no one is defining what such an order implies. The value of Call to the Nations as a source of such a definition is unequaled for both Baháís and others.

5" x 7-3/4", 69 pp., foreword, introduction, references Bahá’í World Centre

Persian: Jamál-i-Abhá Diwan

(The Life History of His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh) by Riyád Ghadímí HC $25.00

This short history of Bahá’u’lláh’s life is a synopsis of information gathered from several sources, including the Bahá’í Writings. Clearly written and well organized, it is intended for the general Bahá’í audience-for the individual who has a general knowledge of the Bahá’í teachings, but who does not know much of the history of Bahá’u’lláh’s life. Chapters include information on Bahá’u’lláh’s lineage, His parents and siblings, and stories from His childhood. The appearance of the Báb and the nine years of His Dispensation also provide a backdrop for stories of Bahá’u’lláh. His three month ordeal in the Siyah Chal is recounted, as are stories from His time in Baghdad, the Garden of Ridván, Istanbul (Constantinople), and Edirne (Adrianople). Stories from the last sixteen years of His life are set in Akká and the surrounding area.

6-1/8" x 9-1/4", 199 pp., bibliography, index University of Toranto Press [Page 7]

Days of Certainty

by Martin Newman CS $9.95

An album expressing Bahá’í values in a "world" musical style similar to recent albums by Paul Simon. Side one begins with Dancing round the Life Tree, a calypso beat with lyrics that speak of breaking lose from the chains that bind us and soaring to become the beings that we potentially are. The Kingdom features an acoustic guitar and maracas in an upbeat tune about a conversation between two people, one of whom sees "the kingdom rising slowly" and the other who can deal only with day-to-day living. Side Two includes Mr. Dream, a song with vocal qualities and rhythmic interpretations of a strong European influence, similar to groups like Berlin or Elvis Costello. Its lyrical theme is the apparent merry-go-round and paralysis of life in wanting more out of ourselves yet not believing that we can improve. Tell it to the World is another song of European pop style whose lyrics tell the story of someone who must find the faith to believe in another. approximately 30 minutes Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom

Tear down those borders

by Peace Moves CS $9.95

A sophisticated, well-performed and produced cassette tape of Bahá’í orders themes in a pop music style. Side One includes a mixture of themes, including the political transition that is occurring in Eastern Europe Peace Moves, "the majesty and power (that) illuminates the skies" surrounding the Bahá’í House of Worship in India Under Eastern Skies, a very touching tribute to the love and suffering of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and a mournful "new age" music instrumental dedicated to the exile of Bahá’u’lláh from Persia during the dead of a very severe winter. Side Two opens with the idea that "we cannot rest till we can give it Peace on Earth as a gift to our children." "If I should live or I should die it's neither in your hands nor mine but God alone will show the way," the reputed last words of Shirin Dalvand forms part of the lyrics of Sweet Shirin of Shiraz. Shirin was one of ten women including Mona Mahmudnizhad, Mona Music Video and Mona with the Children who was executed on June 18, 1983 for being a Bahá’í.. approximately 30 minutes Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom

Journal of Bahá’í Studies

Volume 3, Number 2 SC $6.00

This issue presents five major articles: The first is Selflessness: Congruences between the cognitive-development research program and the Bahá’í Writings, by Rhett Diessner. This article aims to illustrate four major concepts shared by cognitive-developmentalism psychology and the Sacred Writings of the Bahá’í Faith. The second article, A Bahá’í Approach to the Claim of Exclusivity and Uniqueness in Christianity, by Seena Fazel and Khazeh Fananapazir, examines the nature of these claims that have led to conflicts within Christianity and alieniation from other faiths, and offers an approach to reconcile these divisions. The third article, From Copper to Gold: Finding Form, by Dorothy Freeman Gilstrap looks at the biography of the Hand of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker and explores the four major areas of the book From Copper to Gold. Next, Racial Identity and the Patterns of Consolation in the Poetry of Robert Hayden, by John S. Hatcher, suggests that an accurate and careful reading of Hayden's works reveal a clear pattern of consolation between his ethnic identity and his beliefs as a Bahá’í. The last article, Exploring Male Oppression from a Family-Systems Perspective, by Janet Huggins, explores sexual inequality and male oppression from a perspective adopted to encourage a more balanced and less prejudiced examination of these issues. The journal also includes research notes, commentaries, and reviews. 6" x 9", 76 pp. Association for Bahá’í Studies

Enlighten Curriculum

Volume 5-Third Grade & Volume 6-Fourth Grade by Lea Iverson SC $19.95 per volume

This easy-to-use, comprehensive curriculum for the teachers of Bahá’í Children's classes was developed between 1988 and 1990 for the Glad Tidings Bahá’í School located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Each lesson has a variety of activities to be performed both in the classroom and at home. We are happy to announce the addition of these two grade levels to our booklist. With these additions we are now distributing the Pre-Kindergarten through Fourth grade levels of this program. 8-1/2" x 11", approximately 94 pp. Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Golden Valley, Minnesota

Accents of God

edited by M. K. Rohani SC $12.95

What do the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh or Buddha have in common with those of Krishna, Christ, or Muhammad? For some people they speak with different voices, but an increasing number of people are concluding that we are simply hearing one voice spoken in different accents. Accents of God presents important selections from the scriptures of six world religions, explains their common spiritual foundation, and examines how each religion has provided answers to satisfy the human longing for the eternal. 7-1/4" x 8-5/8", 94 pp., introduction, photography, photo glossary Oneworld Publications

Ageing: Challenges and Opportunities

by A-M. Ghadirian SC $9.95

What does the future hold for me? Some of us worry about what old age will bring; others look forward to the new opportunities that will arise as we grow older. In Ageing: Challenges and Opportunities, Dr. A-M. Ghadirian considers the process of ageing and how it affects different individuals. He also explores some of the myths about the ageing process and about being old. In the introduction Dr. Ghadirian writes, "This book intends to address the process of ageing and coping in the light of the Bahá’í Writings and current professional knowledge. Old age is a neglected period of human life which needs to be closely examined, understood and prepared for." Dr. Ghadirian is a professor of psychiatry at McGill University, Faculty of Medicine, and a senior psychiatrist at the Royal Victoria Hospital and Douglas Hospital in Montreal. 5-1/2" x 8-1/4", 132 pp., preface, introduction, references George Ronald, Publisher

ageing CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES A-M. GHADIRIAN

Bahá’í History Calendar 148-149 B.E.

CA $6.95

This year's calendar is titled "Bahá’u’lláh: The King of Glory." It commemorates the centenary of Bahá’u’lláh's ascension, and focuses on His station and mission. The cover photograph is of His Táj (hat) positioned by Shoghi Effendi in one of Bahá’u’lláh's rooms at the Mansion of Bahjí. The inside cover features references to Him by the Báb, Siyyid Kazim, and others as chronicled in the Guardian's book, God Passes By. Included again this year is a map. A map entitled the "Travels of Bahá’u’lláh" records His Pilgrimages to the holy shrines of Islám, a trip made in 1849, and His exiles from place to place. 11" x 17" National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands

Discontinued Title

The Bahá’í Faith: An Introduction

VT $19.95

The Bahá’í Distribution Service regrets that we will no longer be able to carry this videotape once our supply is exhausted. The Bahá’í Faith: An Introduction may be ordered, instead, from Global Arts, 218 South Lake Street, Suite 10, Aurora, IL 60506, telephone (708) 897- 8144. We regret any inconvenience that may result. Unlimited Visions Productions

Recent New Titles

The Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh

A Compilation HC $11.95

The Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

A Compilation HC $14.95

Persian: Nafahat-i-Fadl & Cassette

A Compilation SC $9.95

German: Bahá’í Prayers

HC (Leather) $19.95

Tokoloshe! I married eleven DACHSHUNDS!

by William and Marguerite Sears SC $12.95

Bahá’í Datebook

CA $3.50

Bahá’í Pocket Calendar

CA $2.50, 10/pk.

Bahá’í Wall Calendar

CA $2.75

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David Hofman

A candid talk by retired member of Universal House of Justice

David Hofman, retired member of the Universal House of Justice, began an extended visit to North America in December. While at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois, Mr. Hofman spoke twice to staff members, and to members of the National Spiritual Assembly and national committees meeting in Wilmette that weekend, about matters of concern to the American Bahá’í community. The following are remarks made by Mr. Hofman December 13 in Foundation Hall at the Bahá’í House of Worship.

Friends, I feel like that little old lady who, two years ago, I think, when we had a wonderful phone-in program in Atlanta, Georgia, phoned in from Florida. She said, "I'm so excited, I'm so excited—I've been looking for a good religion for 73 years! What do I do to become a Bahá’í?" Well, I feel a bit like that myself. I'm so excited at being back, not only in America, where I hope to serve the American Bahá’í community, but here, as was stated so wisely yesterday, at the heart and nerve center of that American Bahá’í community.

Friends, the well-being, the history, the life of the American Bahá’í community is of the utmost vital importance to mankind today. After I'd been traveling a bit last year—no, earlier this year—I was up in Alaska, and I went to Bosch School and to Canada, and then I went to Haifa and asked them, "What shall I do next?" And they gave me a task which I hadn't mentioned to them and I'd hoped they'd forget, but they said, "We'll consult and let you know," and they did. They said, "You must finish your book on Bahá’u’lláh." And I've done that, and it's the hardest job of my life. But then I wrote to them later and said that while I was in North America this August they twisted my arm considerably to come back and stay a bit, whereas I had plans to go to Eastern Europe and China and exotic places like that. So I said, "I'm on one of those uncomfortable horns and don't know how to get off, will you please advise me?" They sent me back a fax message: "Advise proceed North America." So here I am....

DOUBLE CHALLENGE

I think the challenge facing the whole Bahá’í world today, but particularly the American Bahá’í community, which has two great tasks to accomplish now—you've not only got the long-delayed, and long anticipated, and long-hoped-for goal of entry by troops still to accomplish, but now you've received this new missive from Haifa about the Bahá’í Fund (the Universal House of Justice's letter of November 18.—ed.), so you have a double challenge. Now friends, I was scooped a little this morning in the prayer readings. The passage from Bahá’u’lláh which Dr. Kazemzadeh read, I think, I had already scheduled to read to you this morning on this matter of meeting the challenge to the Fund. However, I had one other in reserve. That shows the advantage of long experience. And this is the one which I had chosen for you before: "Know ye from what heights your Lord, the All-Glorious, is calling? Think ye that ye have recognized the Pen wherewith your Lord, the Lord of all names, commandeth you? Nay, by My life! Did ye but know it, ye would renounce the world and would hasten with your whole hearts to the presence of the Well-Beloved. Your spirits would be so transported by His Word as to throw into commotion the greater world; how much more this small and petty one. Thus have the showers of My bounty been poured down from the heaven of My loving-kindness as a token of My grace, that ye may be of the thankful."

At the very lovely Feast we held the other evening, dear friends, we talked about this matter of the Fund, and I very tentatively made the point that we've always talked about it as a matter of sacrifice and such, whereas I think we could look at it in a totally different manner. It is an honor. It is the greatest honor that we can have because Bahá’u’lláh, who owns this world, owns everything, who we are, owns us, owns everything we have—He will not accept anything back from anyone who does not accept Him as the Lord of Hosts. Think of that. And again, what is the worst sanction that any Bahá’í authority can impose upon a believer? It is to remove his administrative rights. That is the top sanction, and that involves forbidding him to subscribe to the Fund. This is a very great honor, my friends. Nothing can surpass that honor.

When a call comes from the World Center of the Faith for money, they're not asking you to wear hair shirts, and things like this, but they are trying to point out to you that Bahá’u’lláh does not ask mankind for anything at all. He does ask us, the Bahá’ís, to support His Cause in this world. We're the only ones that he gives this privilege to. One thought that goes along with this: You know, I think that possibly the worst human experience of the mind and the soul is the bitterness of remorse. Now, I don't think there's anybody here who would remember Europe just after the first World War. I do. And I remember when Germany completely collapsed. "We papered our walls with million-mark notes." That's what happened to that great, powerful, wonderful country. They told one story to illustrate the condition—a very good German citizen had paid life insurance on an endowment policy for 35 years. And when this crash came he went to collect it, and he did. And he bought himself a pair of socks.

Now friends, that can happen to you—very likely will happen to you. This crash can come. I was reading in the Bible this morning at the point where Jesus said, "Do not lay up treasures for yourself on earth, where moth and rust corrode. Lay up treasures for yourself in heaven." I'll come to that later.

PURSUING A SPIRITUAL EDUCATION

We're getting on very near to the final rolling-up of this old order which has gone on throughout this 20th century. When the roof does fall in, as it is about to do any minute, how bitterly regretful any of us will be if we lose our little nest egg when we could have given it to Bahá’u’lláh before we lost it. In that passage which was read in the Temple this morning, "the things of this world are of no use to man"—except, friends, we have to deal with the physical aspect of our life. Through this dealing with the material world, this is how we pursue our courses in spiritual education. But if we don't make use of this whole set-up that God has ordained for us to deal with the physical world and discover its secrets and laws and so forth, and how to manage it and how to use its powers for our own benefit and progress if we don't do that then we might as well not have gone to school at all. It doesn't matter. We have completely missed the object of our earthly life.

Again, I refer to one of those wonderful teachings of Jesus: "If you have two cloaks, give one to the other"—to the other man. Well, you know what happens today. If you have two, you try and get four, and then eight. The whole of the human race, you see, has turned against its natural instincts, which are to worship God and to please Him. I've made that point rather strongly in this book on Bahá’u’lláh. It will be opposed by a great many people today that it's instinctive and natural for man to worship God. But consider the story of mankind. If he doesn't know about God, taught to us first by Abraham as the monotheistic God, then he worships a mountain or a river or a tree, or he builds a totem pole and worships that, and he dreams of happy hunting grounds or Valhalla or some physical heaven where he's going to sit and enjoy himself forever and ever in a physical way. But it's still instinctive for man, because he knows there is something greater than himself. And God's bounty to us is first, of having created us, and now, as this chief distinguishing feature of the Bahá’í Revelation is that God, having brought us up through these few millions of years on this planet, is now ready to bestow upon us our inheritance which He saved up for us at our coming of age. This is the maturity of the human race which is facing us, and in which we have to be the leaders.

But my friends, we shall not achieve that destiny—the American Bahá’í community will not achieve its spiritual destiny, its primacy—you won't achieve that if you follow the customs and conventions and general methods of human activity rife in your country today. I think the big problem, certainly in the American Bahá’í community, is to penetrate more deeply into the reasons for our existence. This life is a battle, dear friends—it's a battle. And here I'm going to quote Rudyard Kipling. He was writing about the South African war, and he said, "There is no discharge in the war." Now that is the battle of life. That's for Bahá’ís particularly: "There is no discharge in the war." He said, "Boots, boots, boots, boots, marching over Africa. There is no discharge in the war." That war has been with man from the beginning of his appearance on this earth and will go on as long as he is here because, although the Kingdom of heaven is within each one of us, so is the great satan. And that is the battle of life, dear friends, that is the battle which each one of us has to fight, and that is mankind's battle. The group soul of humanity has to fight this group satan, the egoistic, arrogant will of man who is the only creature able to defy God.

This is a very great concept we've forgotten. Everything in creation—mineral, vegetable, animal kingdom, the great sun, the stars in their courses obey the rules of their nature willy-nilly; they cannot do anything else. The tiger can't do anything but be a tiger, and the cat be a cat, and the tree be a tree—but a man can defy the laws of his nature and he does so. A man doesn't know the laws of his own nature. Men do not know it until they are taught it. This is the great education of the Prophets of God. They teach us who we are, what are the rules of our life, and how we shall achieve success. In olden times, of course, they used different phrases. They talked about salvation and so forth—it's all the same thing. This is the eternal purpose of religion: to acquaint man, first of all, with who he is and what is his reality, and then to teach him how to live according to the laws of his nature. But man is the only creature who can say no. Nothing else in creation can say no to God. Man can, and does, and gets in this terrible mess he's in now.

WE MUST LOVE GOD FREELY

Why should God have done this extraordinary thing? Here again, the Prophets of God teach us. God does not want to compel us to love Him. He wishes us to love Him freely, of our own judgment and our own wonder. When we begin to realize the slightest intimation of His loving-kindness, His glory, His majesty, His exaltation, grandeur—this is the mystery of man's existence, that he has this free will, and God wants him to exercise it. But if he doesn't exercise it in the right way, he'll obviously get what's happening today.

Now this applies not only to the whole of our lives, it applies specifically to this matter of the Fund. You think of Huqúqu’lláh; it cannot be compelled. It's a free gift of our own choice. Bahá’u’lláh has told us what it is; it's the Right of God and it belongs to Him—but so does everything else we have belong to Him. But He allows us to keep four-fifths, you see.

Anyway, the answer entirely to all these things is love—Divine love. And I am perfectly certain that this is the solution to these two great challenges facing the American Bahá’í community today: first, to penetrate more deeply into the reasons not only for your individual lives but for the life of America in the history of this planet. You think, dear friends—it's an astounding fact that only a couple of minutes ago in historical time—what is it, four or five hundred years ago—these two halves of the world came to know that each other existed. They had no suspicion of that beforehand. I know that some of these clever historians and anthropologists say there were a few raiders who came from Norway and what-not and landed here—well, that was nothing. There was no general concept in that part of the world that there was another part of the world over there. In fact, for all those millions of years, and even through the great ages of the rise and fall of historic civilizations, the coast of Ireland was the edge of the world. If you went any further, you fell off. This is an astounding fact; you see, it's only yesterday that these two [Page 9]halves of the world not only came to know of each other's existence but very rapidly became interdependent, intermarried, inter-everything else.

It's extraordinary too how man, when he devises his own plans for his life, he goes absolutely contrary to the purpose of God. I think it was Monroe, wasn't it, your great President, who talked about America for Americans and don't have anything to do with the rest of the world and that sort of thing. Well, other nations have done the same thing, but this is not the purpose of God, as those wonderful and beautiful texts around this hall indicate. The purpose of God is to bring about the unity of the human race.

Here again, I am trying to get to the point I want to make, which is that we Bahá’ís have to set ourselves against the current trends, the current conventions—local stand out like a sore thumb in the general philosophy of mankind today. There's a line from another great English poet, Tennyson, which states exactly what I'm trying to say to you now. He says, "Break, break, break on thy cold grey cliffs, O sea, and I would that my tongue could utter the thoughts that arise in me." Friends, I have a vision of this purpose of God in creating this planet to start with, and all that long period of what we call evolution which was bringing mankind into being with all the wonderful gifts and donations and characterizations and qualities and powers which he has in his own soul and educating him. And then the astonishing effect of human history on this planet—all coming to their crisis today.

THE FINAL VICTORY OF GOD

This is not just the coming of age of the human race and we're going to be better than we were before and we're going to have peace on earth and all these other things. This is Armageddon, my friends; this is the final victory of God over this great satan who is the egoistic soul of man which wants to defy God and go his own way. You think of how the beloved Guardian had to struggle and struggle and struggle to make us accept this wonderful Bahá’í Administrative Order which God has given us. We devise all kinds of political, economic, social philosophies for the ordering of the world, and none of them have ever worked very well, and they all come to grief in the end. But here, the Kingdom of God is not the vision of any single human being; it is the statement of God's purpose for mankind.

This is the deeper penetration into an understanding of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh that I'm trying to utter, and I believe that all of us who want to survive this great crisis now coming upon the world—make no bones about this at all, friends, this is the end of the Century of Light. The Lesser Peace and the processes within the Cause of God, as you know, are running along parallel—not parallel lines, they're synchronizing—they're going to meet with a bang. And don't think that when the Lesser Peace comes anytime tomorrow or next week or in five years' time that it's going to solve the problems of the world. It's not. It will give mankind the gift which it needs today, and that is an international authority. But the conditions in the world may be even more confused than they are now.

You think of it; when the Lesser Peace comes, the armies, navies and air forces of the world will be out of work. The armaments manufacturers will go broke. Well, there's not much left to do that humanity does, is there, apart from those two things. So it's going to be a terribly confused time, and that may be the moment when the sovereign states, claiming their unfettered national sovereignty that nobody can tell us what to do, we'll do our own thing in defiance of the rest of humanity, when they find themselves up against it they may, out of expediency, turn to the Universal House of Justice, turn to the Cause of God and say, "All right, let's have a look at this model community you've offered us. Let's have a look at it." Well, friends, that's our challenge. We've got to be ready.

Now are we, just because we've got a few dollars in the bank, or a few stocks and shares, or three or four more motorcars, or we've got a nice big house or whatever it happens to be, are we going to hold up this process—the establishment of God's capital on His holy Mountain, for which His supreme Manifestation, as well as the beloved Master and our Guardian, have offered their lives? Are we going to let that process have a hiatus and be held up so that mankind will go floundering on toward his Lesser Peace without any guidance? That's the challenge facing the American Bahá’í community, my friends, because you are the ones who have got to do this; there is no other community in the world today that has the resources which you have and I mean physical money resources, mental resources too, resources of capacity, technical ability, all these things—which is undoubtedly one of the reasons why you have been honored with this spiritual primacy.

THE BAHÁ’Í WAY OF LIFE

But never forget, friends, it is a spiritual primacy which you are to achieve. I was talking to a very old Bahá’í friend today on the telephone. They were bemoaning the fact that our Spiritual Assemblies are so inefficient, and that some of these highly qualified people—they've got doctorates and master's and then they have to listen to some half-illiterate (Assembly member) and they can't get anything done. Well, friends, this is not the Bahá’í way of life at all.

David Hofman (left), retired member of the Universal House of Justice, addresses staff members at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois. With Mr. Hofman is Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly.

The Master Himself told us that it is better to be wrong and be in unity than to be right and be in disunity. Now, put that to any social scientist today. We have to stand out against these things, friends.

The American Bahá’í community has met many challenges in its life. I think one of the greatest occurred in 1957—November the 4th, 1957—when our beloved Guardian suddenly passed away, as you know. The Hands of the Cause took over their stewardship, and that's another story. But when they called upon the friends to resume the Ten Year Crusade and bring it to victory, it was the American reaction which was superb. You sent out an army, a spate of pioneers all 'round the world; you found money somehow to devote to new temples and buildings and teaching projects; you responded, dear friends, because your hearts had been touched. You'd lost your beloved brother, your true brother—and so all the whole Bahá’í world did too—but none of them had the capacity and the ability which the American Bahá’í community had then and has now.

But, my friends, a lot of that ability you're going to lose within the next few years. The whole American nation is going to lose its leading capacity. I pointed out to you, you may remember, I think it was your National Convention in 1990—I pointed out to you that it was spiritual leadership which is required of you. And although you have already established leadership in everything else in human affairs, in war, in technology, in organization, in science, in trade, in retail sales, in the permissive age and doing everything that the human race wants to do, that's not what you were given this spiritual primacy for. It was to resist all those things, and to turn that trend of degradation and deprivation and perversion and animalistic tendencies which the whole human race is now embracing under the leadership of the permissive age in America.

The honor of your nation is in your hands, friends. You have to redeem America; you have to be the leaven in this magnificently huge, great, powerful society which, again, I remember 60 years ago in America, you felt it was one powerful leviathan, the coming great power in the world. You don't get that feeling today so much more, dear friends; it's fragmented. You have lost the unity which you once had in your nation. Thank God you still have this unity in the Bahá’í community.

So when it comes to this matter of a few million dollars, I cannot believe that the American Bahá’í community is to allow the work on God's holy Mountain, that magnificent project now under way, to let that be held up because you want an extra holiday or...you know what I'm talking about.

These thoughts I've been voicing have the same application to the problem of entry by troops. You have all the techniques and the capacities and the ability to organize teaching projects, full-time teaching projects, all kinds of teaching projects. Why aren't you getting the results of thousands of new Bahá’ís coming in every week, every month? Somehow you're not making the Cause of God sufficiently attractive to humanity. And I'm going to suggest to you, friends, that I think you are doing what all of us do when we come into the Cause—we bring into it our own background, and we think this is the way to do things. I was taught eat my breakfast this way, and you think that's the only way to do it. But it's not.

TOTALLY DIFFERENT LIVES

Bahá’u’lláh's method of life is utterly and completely at variance with all the practices of humanity today. We have to lead totally different lives. I wonder how many of you will react when you read the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and you find you've got to first thing in the morning say the "Alláh-u-Abhá" 95 times. That's just one of the little bounties of God in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas that's going to trouble us. But this is the point: until we show mankind that we are a different sort of community—you've already done that in the Bahá’í community in America; I believe you've overcome the most challenging issue—I said that at your Convention three years ago, and although it is always a problem, I think the American Bahá’í community now doesn't make a big deal of it anymore; it's endemic, it's within your bones and your spirits that we are one human race. But you haven't been able to put that across to the rest of your nation.

For instance, I know for sure there are a number of Bahá’í families who still celebrate Christmas. I've even heard Bahá’ís state that we are going to preserve all the cultures of the world. I remember that when I heard that I sort of did a double-take. What do you mean? Are you going to let people go on practicing polygamy, human sacrifices, religious prejudices, which is what most of the cultures of the world do? There's a great deal more to that problem, friends; I don't want to deal with it this morning. But my point is that we have to show that there is an order, a community existent in the world today which has clout. It is heard by the greatest tribunal, the highest tribunal mankind has ever devised, yet we are welcomed at the United Nations, respected, and throughout the rest of the world, governments have sought the spiritual advice of the Bahá’í communities.

Now I can't categorize this for you and tell you specifically who they are, but I know of my own experience of at least a dozen, now more. Now I don't know whether the American government has yet approached your National Spiritual Assembly to ask its advice on spiritual matters, but in some countries they have done this, and that was because those Bahá’í communities stood out against the trends in their country and proclaimed what they were for, and they lived by it.

I think perhaps I've said enough, friends, to convince you that there are huge challenges facing you now, greater than you've faced before and have successfully overcome. I'm sure you will do these, but you won't do it by going along the old path you're still going on. I'm sure you have to draw nearer to Bahá’u’lláh, you have to be motivated not by demands of efficiency or order, but purely by the demands of love. And if you will take these ideas into your hearts and minds, I'm sure you will succeed.

I am here for a short few months, and I'm here to serve you. I hope Bahá’u’lláh will enable me to do so. Thank you. [Page 10]

CLASSIFIEDS

Classified notices in The American Bahá’í are published free of charge as a service to the Bahá’í community. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial ads can be accepted for publication. The opportunities referred to have not been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly; the friends should exercise their own judgment and care in responding to them.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

THE BOSCH Bahá’í School is accepting applications for summer 1992 employment. Positions available include children’s teachers (3), recreation director, lifeguard, music director, kitchen assistants (2) and maintenance assistants (3). All positions require a willingness to serve and interact with children, youth and adults. Those chosen will serve from July through August (9-10 weeks) and receive a small stipend plus room and board. To apply, send a brief résumé of your experience or ask for an application for employment from the Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone 408-423-3387).

THE BANANI International Secondary School, in a lovely rural area near Lusaka, Zambia, is opening its doors in March 1992. This residential girls’ school, built by the Bahá’í community, is interested in receiving applications from teachers and youth volunteers who are interested in serving the Faith overseas. Those who can offer assistance in science, math, or agriculture are especially needed. Please send résumés to the Principal, Banani International Secondary School, Private Bag RW 199X, Ridgeway 1510Z, Lusaka, Zambia.

MATURE Bahá’í couple or individual needed as live-in caretaker(s) for the Dillingham, Alaska, Bahá’í Center. Opportunities for service include preparation of the facility for activities, cleaning and maintenance of property, and serving as hosts. A separate 1,200-square-foot apartment with plush carpeting, three bedrooms, partial furnishings and a great view is available for $300 a month plus utilities. Dillingham is a friendly fishing and service community with about 2,000-4,000 residents depending on the season. Plenty of economic and employment opportunities, especially for white collar workers (secretarial, finance, education, managerial and medical). For an application, please phone 907-842-1055 or 907-842-5543, or write to the Spiritual Assembly of Dillingham, P.O. Box 255, Dillingham, AK 99576. Applicants must be Bahá’ís and obtain a recommendation from a local or National Assembly.

THE MAXWELL Bahá’í School is looking for a mature or retired person for night security and light custodial work on a volunteer basis. Alternately, we may be able to consider the possibility of a minimum-wage position. Applications are again being accepted for development officer. The primary functions of this position are fund-raising and grant writing aimed at financial and corporate sources. For information, write to the Maxwell International Bahá’í School, Bag 1000, Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada V0R 2W0, or phone 604-743-7144 (fax 604-743-3522).

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

AFRICA: Angola: health care personnel. Benin: primary school teachers. Cape Verde: educator/administrator/rural agricultural expert/instructor. Equatorial Guinea: UN volunteer to work in national AIDS control project. Ethiopia: volunteer physicians. Tanzania: elementary and secondary teachers. Zambia: teaching and administrative staff for Banani Girls’ School. AMERICAS: Brazil: primary school teachers. Cayman Islands: applications programmer. Costa Rica: Urgent need for special education teacher specializing in dyslexia. ASIA: India: university lecturers. Macau: ESL teacher. Malaysia: physical science teacher. AUSTRALASIA: Marshall Islands: primary school teachers, physicians, clinical nurse specialist, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse. Pohnpei: business instructors. Solomon Islands: architect. Tinian: teachers, doctors, nurses. EUROPE: Lithuania: English language teacher. USSR: nanny. URGENT NEED FOR TEACHERS at the Banani International School in Zambia. This is a newly founded senior secondary school for girls. Agriculture will be offered as its technical subject in addition to general sciences. GREAT NEED for Bahá’í physicians to volunteer for various periods of time in Ethiopia. For more information on any of the above, please contact the Office of Pioneering at the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 708-869-9039.

IMMEDIATE! URGENT! Lecturers for university and scholarly audiences in India, especially for the Bahá’í Chair at Indore University. Contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039).

URGENT NEED exists for traveling teachers for stay for periods of time and help with consolidation in the Soviet Union. Further information is available from the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039).

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

BECOME a homefront pioneer by renting the childhood home of the Hand of the Cause of God Martha Root in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. Peaceful living in idyllic surroundings within easy reach of such urban centers as Erie, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo. Three Bahá’í families with a total of seven children ages 2-14 live within a 12-minute drive. Easy commute to well-known universities, access to lovely countryside with some of the country’s last pure water lakes, clean air towns and pristine black bear territory. More important, because of Miss Root’s fame, this is a high-profile Bahá’í property with every visit to the local grocer a teaching trip. If interested, please write to Teresa or Arild Pettersen, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403, or phone 814-398-8118.

HOMEFRONT pioneers: position available for family practitioner or doctor of osteopathy in American Falls or Soda Springs, Idaho. One Bahá’í living in Power County needs another to keep the Group registered. Family practitioner needed for rural health clinics; must be board certified. Knowledge of Spanish a plus. Low-pressure, low-volume practice for the medically underserved. Salary $60,000/year plus $20,000-$30,000 for call at local hospital; excellent compensation package including malpractice/health insurance. All relocation expenses paid to live in rural area near university town, three hours from Sun Valley, Yellowstone Park, and the Grand Teton mountains. Excellent outdoor recreation area; low cost of living; excellent place to raise a family. Please contact Harvey Mullinix, 208-232-7862, or write to Health West Inc., P.O. Box 2377, Pocatello, ID 83206.

THE SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY of Sierra Madre, California, is in jeopardy with only six adults in the community. Bahá’ís who are looking for a community near Los Angeles with a strong identity of its own, a wonderful community spirit and civic consciousness, should consider moving here. Sierra Madre, directly below the San Gabriel mountains and adjacent to Pasadena, is a pretty, friendly and safe place to live. The Bahá’ís here need you and will help you find a place to live. Please write to P.O. Box 563, Sierra Madre, CA 91025, or phone 818-355-8095 or 818-355-6683.

THE BAHÁ’ÍS of Sarasota, Florida, need a few energetic, dedicated Bahá’ís to help maintain their 31-year-old Assembly. Would like to have a more diversified community to reflect the city’s diverse population. Despite the popular notion that residents of Florida’s Gulf Coast are all retired or elderly, most of those in Sarasota are much younger. There are several colleges including New College, the Ringling School of Art and Design, and the FSU/Asolo Film Conservatory, which trains students for careers in film and television production. Sarasota also has great weather, excellent health-care facilities, and a friendly atmosphere in which to live and work. If you are interested, please contact the Assembly secretary, Patricia (Trish) Wicker, Sarasota, FL 34236, or phone 813-955-5353.

THE BAHÁ’ÍS of Palo Alto, California, a city of about 55,000 near San Francisco which borders Stanford University and its Medical Center, invite homefront pioneers to settle there to help sustain its Assembly. In 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited Palo Alto and spoke at the university. The city is known for its excellent public schools and the beauty of its tree-lined streets and parks. For more information, please write to the ‎Bahá’í’s Baháís‎ of Palo Alto, P.O. Box 60418, Palo Alto, CA 94306, or phone 415-321-0939.

THE BAHÁ’ÍS of Troy, Michigan, would welcome homefront pioneers to help save their jeopardized incorporated local Assembly. Troy is a northern suburb of Detroit, a fast-growing area with many world headquarters for various businesses (K-Mart, Kelly Services, Ziebart, Saturn cars, etc.). Write to the Spiritual Assembly of Troy, P.O. Box 851, Troy, MI 48099.

WANTED: Homefront pioneer family for the small town of Quincy in northern Florida, 25 minutes from the capital city, Tallahassee, and two strong local Assemblies. Mass-taught Bahá’ís in Quincy need committed resident(s) to teach and consolidate. Lovely countryside with low cost of living within easy commute of two major universities, a community college and state government offices. For information, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Tallahassee, P.O. Box 20114, Tallahassee, FL 32316, or phone 904-656-6381, 904-878-3937, or 904-575-4097.

ARCHIVES

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following persons: Florence Keemer (died Sacramento, CA, 1965), Mrs. A. E. Keller, Clara Keller, Marie Keller, Patricia Kellogg, Bess Louise Kendall, Lillie Kendall (died Aptos, CA, 1936), John F. Kendrick, Sara Kenny (died Los Angeles, CA, 1968), and E.P. Kenworthy. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these letters from the Guardian is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or to phone 708-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is maintaining a mailing list of those who would like to receive copies of its duplicate book mail auction catalogs. The Archives has been having 2-3 mail auctions of duplicate books each year. If you would like to be on the mailing list, please send your name, address and Bahá’í I.D. number to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

WANTED

THE BAHÁ’Í Center of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is being remodeled, and the Albuquerque Properties Committee would dearly love to obtain a print of Harlan Scheffler’s portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to be given a place of prominence in the building. The committee is willing to purchase this rare print (thought to be available only through individual owners) or would accept a donation if possible with tax credit given to the donor. Please contact Bonnie Wilder, Albuquerque, NM 87122, or phone (collect) 505-293-1845.

BOOKS, educational materials, video tapes, pamphlets, posters, old magazines and catalogs, office machines, etc. are badly needed by our Bahá’í brothers and sisters in other countries. If you would like to help support teaching and development abroad, please write and let me know specifically what you are willing to donate. I will send you the names and addresses of those who need such materials. Both Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í materials are needed. Please do not send materials to me. Write to Vonnie Lincoln, Lyons, OR 97358.

NEEDED: College-age Bahá’ís to attend Texas Tech University and take part in teaching projects with the university Bahá’í Club. Texas Tech, in Lubbock, has a medical school, law school, an excellent undergraduate curriculum, other graduate programs, and is relatively inexpensive. The diversity of the student body is ideal for teaching the Faith. For more information, contact Philip Kirk, Lubbock, TX 79423 (phone 806-792-7440).

WANTED by Bahá’ís in Florida: Information on Knights of Bahá’u’lláh Ethel and Arthur Crane who pioneered to Key West in 1953 and later returned to Broward County where they died in the late 1960s. The Florida Bahá’ís want to find people who knew them so that their story can be told. If you have any information about the Cranes, or know someone who does, please write to Larry Schwandes, Gainesville, FL 32606.

COMPILING daily meditations for Bahá’ís in recovery from addictions, dysfunctions and the old world order. Please send your favorite quotation from the Writings (including source and page number) and a short paragraph telling how it has helped in your recovery and transformation to Marcia T. Brehmer, Chino Valley, AZ 86323 (phone 602-636-5160). Please send by February 28.

PLEASE HELP me find copies of “I, Mary Magdalene” by Juliet Thompson and “Unrestrained as the Wind” (and study guide, if possible). Can reimburse in U.S. dollars. Peggy True, Canary Islands, Spain 38870.

BAHÁ’U’LLÁH compared tests and difficulties to “healing medicine” and “light and mercy.” We’ve all been through them, and we’ve all learned from them. Your tests and difficulties can help inspire others who may be undergoing similar trials. Write your story (anonymously if you wish; you may need to change other details as well). What bad things happened? What good came as a result? Let’s put together a book that we can all turn to for comfort during the bad times to remind ourselves that “nothing can befall the loved ones of God save that which profiteth them.” Write to John Bower, San Pedro, Honduras.

MISCELLANEOUS

THE 1992 EDITION of “The Directory of Bahá’í Book Collectors, Bibliophiles and Researchers” is now being compiled. If you would like to be included, please write to Payam Afsharian, Santa Monica, CA 90402. The directory is distributed free of charge.

ISOLATED Bahá’í, housebound by Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), would like to start an ongoing discussion with others like herself by way of the mail box. For those who can’t read or write, this could be done on cassette tapes (which can be used over and over again). Those who are interested in becoming “pen pals” for isolated and/or housebound believers are invited to write to Patti McDowell, CA 95240, or to phone 209-333-9267.

ATTENTION: all mental health (and related) professionals/workers. We feel strongly that it is time for us to come together. We are calling for a conference of Bahá’í mental health professionals to be held around August 1992 and need to form a steering committee now. If you have a commitment to “strive to translate that which hath been written into reality and action,” please contact Joy Cross, Wasco, Portland, OR 97232, or Francis Hayden, Mt. Vernon, NY 10552 (phone 914-664-6568). [Page 11]

World News

More than 1,500 people embraced the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in September in the southern state of Kerala, India, during a three-week campaign in which the Bahá’ís noted a favorable response from all strata of society. All localities in the district of Wynad were opened, and the formation of local Spiritual Assemblies in some of these localities is under way....

In July and August, four teaching campaigns were carried out in the states of Durango, Guanajuato, Sonora and Veracruz, Mexico. In Jalapa, Veracruz, about 120 people were enrolled in the Faith, almost tripling the number of Bahá’ís there. The Spiritual Assembly of Jalapa reported that the majority of enrollees are youth between 15-25 years old. In Durango, about 20 people embraced the Faith, while in Sonora and Guanajuato public meetings were held, and five people were enrolled in the city of Guanajuato, the state capital, allowing the formation of a local Spiritual Assembly....

Last April, a believer reported to the National Spiritual Assembly of Ghana that 16 people had embraced the Faith at Navrongo, in the northern area of the country. In response, Counselor Beatrice Asare organized a mobile teaching van and some teachers to travel to the area. After the Faith was proclaimed, 92 people embraced the Cause. Six weeks later, 456 people had become Bahá’ís and eight local Spiritual Assemblies were formed. In the village of Chania, 130 people embraced the Cause, with proclamation continuing on at least one occasion until 3 a.m....

Thirty-four people took part in a teaching institute in Haiti held to prepare the believers for entry by troops. As a result, two teaching teams were formed, visiting the areas of Bainet, Blockhaus, Lavalée and Musac, enrolling some 3,300 people in the Faith and opening 135 new localities....

The third local Spiritual Assembly to be formed in Poland was established September 30 in Poznán. The others are in Warsaw and Wroclaw....

Auxiliary Board member Nosrat Ardekani traveled twice recently to the Fatick and Thies areas of Senegal, witnessing the enrollment of 245 people in the Faith and the formation of seven new local Spiritual Assemblies. ...

The second phase of a teaching campaign in the Cape Verde Islands has resulted in the enrollment of 85 residents of Fogo Island. The effort was carried out by Cape Verdean Bahá’ís helped by three international traveling teachers....

In Brazil, a musical group calling itself Planeta Paz (Planet Peace) has been formed with five members from Argentina, one from Uruguay, and eight from Brazil. Already the group has presented more than a dozen shows in the Brazilian states of Sao Paulo, Parana and Santa Catarina, drawing to each performance an audience of more than 100. As of September, 150 people had embraced the Faith as a result of the group's presentations....

In August, 15 Bahá’ís and friends of the Faith took part in the first Bahá’í International Work Camp in Czechoslovakia. Participants carried out service work in Jindrichuv Hradec, a small town in the southwestern area of the country, clearing the town park and parkland surrounding the local hospital....

On August 9, a delegation representing the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahamas visited the Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Clement Maynard, to express the Bahá’í community's appreciation for his efforts in presenting to Parliament a bill that allowed the National Spiritual Assembly to be incorporated and recognized as a legal body. The incorporation bill was passed by an act of Parliament last May....

The University of Sindh, Pakistan, has become the first such institution in that country to accept the offer of a Bahá’í-sponsored scholarship. The Spiritual Assembly of Hyderabad approached the university with the offer of a scholarship for a student in the Department of Comparative Religion and Islamic Culture. In August, the university responded by accepting the offer....

Men and women of villages in Burkina gained a greater understanding of sanitation and nutrition during a recent project organized by a committee of the National Spiritual Assembly. Trained educators later returned to villages to continue the program.

Sixty-one young Bahá’ís, 13 older youth who acted as "helpers," and 33 adults took part in August in a third Bahá’í Pre-Youth Ecological Camp in Cajibio, Colombia. The number of pre-youth attending the camps since the first one in December 1990 has grown steadily, with 30 taking part in that first camp and 40 in the second camp, held last March. The Ruhi Institute, in association with an informal group of interested people, is developing the content and approach to the camps. The goals include fostering spiritual values to create a sense of social responsibility, developing an ecological consciousness based on spiritual and scientific concepts, and stimulating and training participants to carry out ecological services within their own communities. ...

The preparatory meeting for the "Ocean of Light" Teaching Project, which aims to emblazon the Faith across the Pacific, motivated a group of four women, headed by Her Highness Tosi Malietoa, to pay a week-long visit to the Cook Islands in September. These Bahá’ís make up one of the first groups of women from Samoa to travel overseas to teach the Faith. Following consultation with the National Spiritual Assembly, it was decided that the women would visit the island of Mangaia, whose people have shown great receptivity toward the Faith....

Seventy Bahá’ís from 22 countries gathered in September at the Landegg Academy in Switzerland for the third course in Arts and Letters, which was dedicated to the study of Táhirih and her works....

On September 14, Bahá’ís and government officials gathered for the official opening of a Bahá’í Center in Portici, Italy, a town targeted for entry by troops. A representative of the National Spiritual Assembly spoke, and information packets were presented to each of the civil dignitaries. A plate presented to the Bahá’ís of Portici by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum has been placed in the Bahá’í Center....

About 300 Bahá’ís from Africa, the Americas, Arabia, Europe, Iceland, Israel and New Zealand attended an international summer school hosted in August by the Táhirih Institute at De Poort, the Netherlands. The theme of the school was "The Tablet of Carmel."...

Twenty-eight people took part in a Bahá’í Radio Seminar held August 17-22 at the National Bahá’í Center in Manila, the Philippines. Facilitator of the 45-hour course was K. Dean Stephens, senior broadcast engineer and chairman of the International Bahá’í Audio-Visual Center (IBAVC)....

The President of Tanzania, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, visited the Bahá’í booth at a recent book fair in the capital city, Dar es Salaam, and was given a copy of "The Promise of World Peace" and other Bahá’í literature....

The National Spiritual Assembly of Sweden and the local Spiritual Assembly of Stockholm are cooperating in a series of advertisements in the national press. Those interested in the Faith are asked to call a number to hear a recorded message giving details about the teachings....

American Academy of Religion's Bahá’í Studies program unit meets

The Bahá’í Studies program unit of the American Academy of Religion held its eighth annual meeting November 25 in Kansas City, Missouri.

This year's theme was the role of women in the Bahá’í Faith. Four papers were presented, followed by a panel discussion.

Paula Drewek's "Divine Spirit and Form in Bahá’í Scriptures: Where Does Gender Fit In?" examined feminine images for the divine in the Bahá’í writings, focusing specifically on the Mother Word, The Maid of Heaven, and the Queen of Carmel.

Robert Stockman presented "Sisters in the Spirit: American and Iranian Bahá’í Women," about the progressive expansion of the role of women in the Iranian Bahá’í community and the roles of western culture in general, and American Bahá’í women in particular, in fostering that development.

Diane Taherzadeh offered a valuable and insightful biography of Bahíyyih Khánum, the Greatest Holy Leaf, and briefly discussed her significance to the Bahá’í community.

Susan Stiles Maneck presented a paper on "American Women and the Bahá’í Administrative Order" which looked at the statements of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the American Bahá’í community about the role of women in the Bahá’í administrative order, and the ways that role consequently changed.

Finally, Paul Numrich, a doctoral candidate in Buddhist Studies at Northwestern University, served as a respondent and discussed all four papers in the context of the Bahá’í understanding of the role of women.

Although the audience for the panel was small, the stimulating papers and lively discussion more than made up for the small number present.

India's Ambassador to U.S., Consul-General visit House of Worship

Mr. Lalit Mansingh, India's Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission to the U.S., was greeted December 1 at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, by the Secretary-General of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, the director of its Office of Public Information, and a representative of the House of Worship Committee. Accompanying the Ambassador were the Indian Consuls-General from New York and San Francisco and an entourage of approximately 20 Indian officials and their spouses.

Dr. Abid Hossain, Ambassador to the U.S. and a Cabinet member, also intended to visit the House of Worship, but was unable to make the trip to Chicago.

The visitors watched a slide program about the construction of the Bahá’í House of Worship in India and discussed how the Bahá’í Faith is able to unite people of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.

As a remembrance of his visit, Mr. Mansingh was given a copy of The Dawning Place and the video tape, "The Jewel in the Lotus." [Page 12]

پیام لجنهٔ ملی جوانان

NATIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEE MESSAGE

لجنهٔ ملی جوانان پیامی خطاب به جوانان بهائی در ‎ایالت ایالات‎ متحده مورخ ژانویه سال ۱۹۹۲ صادر نموده که خلاصه‌ای از آن در زیر درج می‌گردد:

حوادثی که در چند سال گذشته در پهنه گیتی روی داده امور اجتماعی را به ورطه آشوب کشانده است. تغییراتی بی‌سابقه و پیوسته در جهان رخ داده که به بی‌نظمی و نابسامانی موجود در بسیاری از کشورها افزوده است. این دگرگونی‌ها که سراسر عالم را فرا گرفته از يك سو باعث نگرانی شدید و از سوی دیگر بارآور امیدواری برای حل مشکلاتی است که عصر جدیدی از تاریخ بشری را تشکیل می‌دهد.

معمولاً در چنین شرایط بحرانی مردمان پرسش‌هائی درباره معنی و مفهوم حیات و هدف زندگی بشری طرح می‌کنند. ما بهائیان که برکت قبول مظهر امر الهی در عصر جدید را داشته‌ایم، در موقعیت خاصی قرار داریم زیرا می‌دانیم که منشاء تحولات کنونی چیست و سرانجام آن کدام است.

بعنوان يك فرد بهائی از برکت نصیبی برده‌ایم زیرا جواب پرسش‌های ضروری جهان را آنچنان که در آثار مبارك نازل شده است در دست داریم. این امتیاز را داریم که بدانیم زمان کنونی چه اهمیتی دارد و چگونه می‌توانیم با خدمت به امر مبارك معنائی به زندگی خود ببخشیم.

اما به همراه این برکت و امتیاز مسؤولیتی نیز داریم و آن اطاعت از معبد اعلی و کوشش برای تأسیس مدنیت الهی در گسترهٔ زمین است. یکی از مهم‌ترین جوانب کوشش‌های ما تبلیغ امرالله است.

در طی نقشه شش‌ساله شاهد رشد چشمگیر خدمات جوانان در میدان تبلیغ بوده‌ایم. در ایالات متحده عملاً هیچ برنامه و فعالیت تبلیغی بدون همکاری و خدمات جوانان وجود ندارد. در اکثر نقاطی که فعالیت‌های تبلیغی صورت می‌گیرد، جوانانند که علمدار این خدماتند.

تعداد بسیاری از جوانان به نحو بی‌سابقه‌ای دست اندر کار امور تبلیغی شده‌اند و این خود حاکی از آگاهی بیشتر آنان از مقام حضرت بهاءالله و شکوه امر مبارك اوست. این آگاهی با میزان بیشتری از فداکاری همراه است زیرا بسیاری از جوانان از خواست‌هایشان چشم می‌پوشند و به تبلیغ می‌پردازند.

اما تبلیغ امر مبارك تنها یکی از جوانب فداکاری به امرالله و اطاعت از آن است که می‌باید عامل و محرک اصلی جوانان در زندگیشان باشد. یکی دیگر از لوازم خدمت به امر مبارك که فقط و فقط در انحصار مؤمنان امر اعظم است، تقدیم تبرعات به صندوق‌های امری است و مانند تبلیغ امری است که از دست همه افراد بهائی ساخته است و اهمیت آن نیز در نفس تقدیم و فداکاری همراه با آن است نه مقدار و کمیت آن.

معبد اعلی در دستخط مورخ ۱۸ نوامبر سال ۱۹۹۱ وضعیت صندوق‌های مالی امری را با یاران در میان نهادند و راجع به نحوه‌ای که یاران باید به صلای اخیر پاسخ گویند عنایاتی به یاران ارزانی داشتند. بیت‌العدل اعظم صریحاً اظهار فرموده‌اند که کیفیت حل مشکلات مالی امر مبارك در سالی که در پیش است مستقیم با فداکاری‌های مالی دارد که یاران در قبال امرالله به منصه ظهور خواهند رساند.

بنابراین پرسشی که باید طرح کرد این است که در این مقطع مهم تاریخی به چه نحوی صلای معبد اعلی را لبیك خواهیم گفت. بیائید با اعضای خانواده و دوستانمان در ضیافت یا هر محل دیگری به مشورت بپردازیم و طریق پاسخگوئی به امر بیت‌العدل اعظم را بیابیم.

هيچيك از نسل‌های آینده احباء فضل اتمام بناهای قوس حول مراقد مطهره را در کوه کرمل بر عهده نخواهند داشت. همچنین هيچيك از آنان امکان كمك به فعالیت‌های امری مربوط به صلح اصغر را نخواهند یافت. پس چه نیکو خواهد بود اگر جوانان این دیار به نحوی بی‌سابقه به پا خیزند و به صندوق‌های امری تبرع نمایند. همانگونه که جوانان علمدار تبلیغ بوده‌اند چه نیکوست اگر علمدار تبرعات نیز باشند.

گفته شده است که جوانان می‌توانند جهان را به حرکت آورند. پس بیائید این کلام را در عمل ظاهر کنیم و با عزمی جزم به خدمت امر مبارك قيام نمائیم.

به تبلیغ امر مبارك قیام نمایند. ایادی عزیز امرالله پس از بررسی الطاف و راهنمائی‌های الهی در طی صد و پنجاه سال تاریخ امر مبارك وعده‌های حضرت بهاءالله و حضرت عبدالبهاء و حضرت ولی امرالله و بیت‌العدل اعظم را در مورد کسانی که برای تبلیغ امرالله به پا خیزند، به یاران گوشزد نمودند.

جناب سیرز اظهار داشتند: "با اینهمه منابع هدایت که در دست داریم و با وعده‌هائی که طلعات مقدسه امرالله به احباء داده‌اند، باید بتوانیم در میدان تبلیغ امر الهی معجزه کنیم." ایشان پیشنهاد کردند که تا رضوان سال ۱۹۹۲ بکوشیم و ۹ هزار نفر را تبلیغ و تسجیل کنیم.

همچنین جناب سیرز به یاران یادآوری کردند که وظیفه اصلی تبلیغ امرالله در وهله اول به دوش احباست نه مؤسسات و تشکیلات امری و این یارانند که به تنهائی قابلیت آن را دارند که به پیروزی در میدان تبلیغ نایل شوند. احباء باید ناتوانی و کوتاهی‌های خود را فراموش کنند و تماماً به فضل پایان‌ناپذیر حضرت بهاءالله توکل کنند. تنها در این صورت است که پیام شفابخش الهی در میان مردمان انتشار می‌یابد.

احبائی که به دیدار جناب سیرز توفیق یافته بودند، همگی تحت تأثیر صمیمیت کلام و صداقت لهجهٔ آن ایادی خستگی‌ناپذیر و فداکار امر مبارك قرار گرفتند و بدین ترتیب شور و حرکتی در آنان حادث شد که به پا خیزند و قیامی عاشقانه نمایند. بدینسان از هر راهی که می‌توانستند عزم خود را جهت تحقق هدف تبلیغی مبنی بر تسجیل عدهٔ بسیاری از مردم کشور تا رضوان سال ۱۹۹۲ اظهار داشتند.

در فلوریدا در چند نقطه گوناگون بیش از ۱۵۰ نفر در حوالی زمان دیدار جناب سیرز به امر مبارك اقبال کردند و این حاکی از افزایش میزان خدمات تبلیغی در آن ایالت بود.

زمانی که جناب سیرز در پورتلند به سر می‌بردند، در ظرف ۲۴ ساعت ۲۶ نفر تصدیق کردند. پس از اینکه جناب سیرز پورتلند را ترك کردند، تعداد بیشتری نیز اقبال کردند که یکی از آنها خانمی بود که ۴ روز بعد باعث تبلیغ یکی از دوستانش شد.

در کالیفرنیا حدود ۲۵۰۰ نفر به دیدار جناب سیرز شتافتند. پس از اینکه جناب سیرز سان فرانسیسکو را ترك کنند، ۳ نفر اقبال کردند. در این سفر جناب سیرز همه یاران به ویژه جوانان و نوجوانان را تحت تأثیر کلام و صمیمیت خود قرار دادند.

احباء در سایر نقاط ایالات متحده نیز از اهمیت تبلیغ امر مبارك در ماه‌های باقیمانده نقشه شش‌ساله آگاه‌تر شده و فعالیت‌های تبلیغی خود را مضاعف نموده و گروه‌های تبلیغی تشکیل داده‌اند. همچنین بسیاری از "مؤسسات تبلیغی" نیز کار خود را با موفقیت انجام داده‌اند و عدهٔ این مؤسسات رو به افزایش است. همه این امور حکایت از این دارد که فعالیت‌های تبلیغی موجود سرانجام ثمر خود را که اقبال گروه گروه مردمان به امر الهی است، خواهد داد.

جناب سیرز در صف اول دست‌اندرکاران این فعالیت‌ها قرار دارد. ایشان در سنی که بیشتر مردم به فکر استراحت و آرامش می‌افتند، بار دیگر عاشقانه و فداکارانه به پا خاسته است تا لشکر نجات را با خدمات خود رهبری نماید. و ایکاش که این روش و رویه را همه یاران به کار گیرند.

دائرةالمعارف بهائی

BAHÁ’Í ENCYCLOPEDIA

محفل روحانی ملی جناب دکتر موژان مؤمن را برای تدوین دائرةالمعارف بهائی تعیین فرموده است.

دکتر مؤمن که از دانشمندان نامدار بهائی است و در انگلستان به سر می‌برد به دنبال استعفای دکتر جان والبریج (Walbridge) برای این کار انتخاب شد.

کار دائرةالمعارف بهائی از سال ۱۹۸۴ آغاز شد. در سال مذکور محفل روحانی ملی از بیت‌العدل اعظم در مورد فرهنگ جامعی راجع به آثار بهائی و تاریخ امر مبارك استفسار نمود. مراد این بود که معانی اصطلاحات امری و سابقه تاریخی آنها و همچنین تاریخ امر مبارك تا زمان حاضر در مجموعه‌ای فراهم شود.

در این مجموعه مقالاتی دربارهٔ الهیات و مبانی و اصول اعتقادی امر بهائی و نظامات امری و تعالیم اجتماعی و آمار کنونی درج خواهد شد.

محفل روحانی ملی از این نکته آگاه بود که تدوین چنین مجموعه‌ای مستلزم شش تا هفت مجلد خواهد بود. بیت‌العدل اعظم نیز اظهار داشتند که تدوین چنین دائرةالمعارفی بسیار سودمند خواهد بود. اما با ادامه کار این مجموعه و خروج امر مبارك از مرحله مجهولیت محفل روحانی ملی نگران بود که ممکن است دیگران — شاید بدون بذل دقت لازم — به شرح و تعریف درباره امر مبارك بپردازند. بدین جهت قرار بر آن شد که نخست مجموعه‌ای در يك جلد بعنوان دائرةالمعارف جامع و كوچك امری تهیه شود و مقدمه مجلدات آتی باشد.

دیگر کسانی که در شورای دائرةالمعارف عضویت دارند عبارتند از: دکتر بتی فیشر سردبیر مؤسسهٔ مطبوعات امری ایالات متحده؛ تریل هیز مدیر اجرائی مؤسسهٔ مذکور؛ دکتر ویل وندن هونارد استاد جامعه‌شناسی در دانشگاه نیو برانزويك در کانادا؛ دکتر فیروز کاظم‌زاده استاد تاریخ دانشگاه ‎پیل Yale‎ و عضو محفل روحانی ملی؛ دکتر تاد لاسن دانشیار مطالعات اسلامی و خاورمیانه در دانشگاه تورانتو؛ دکتر حشمت مؤيد استاد ادبیات فارسی در دانشگاه شیكاگو.

انتشار دائرةالمعارف كوچك امری یکی از اهداف نقشه شش‌ساله محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده است. در حال حاضر تقریباً تمام مقالات لازم تهیه شده است. پیش‌بینی می‌شود که تا آخر نقشه همه مقالات به شکل نهائی حاضر شود و قرار است این مجلد در سال مقدس منتشر گردد.

کنگره جهانی

همانگونه که انتظار می‌رفت نرخهای کنگره جهانی کاهش یافته است. از دوستان عزیز تقاضا می‌شود برای شرح آن به صفحات انگلیسی رجوع فرمایند.

حقوق الله

HUQUQU’LLAH

از دوستان عزیز مستدعی است تقدیمی‌های حقوق‌الله را در وجه Bahá’í Huququ’llah Trust به نشانی یکی از امنای حقوق‌الله ارسال فرمایند.

Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA. 90402

Dr. Daryush Haghighi Rocky River, OH. 44116

Dr. Elsie Austin Silver Spring, MD. 20910

[Page 13]

ترجمه پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی خطاب به پیروان جمال قدم در سراسر جهان مورخ ۲۶ نوامبر ۱۹۹۱

یاران عزیز بهائی

به مناسبت یوم میثاق و در بحبوحه وقایع شگفت‌آوری که در داخل و خارج امر الهی روی می‌دهد با کمال سرور و ابتهاج سه بشارت ذیل را به عالم بهائی ابلاغ می‌نمائیم. چنین وقایع شگفت‌آوری حاکی از افزایش مداوم نیروی تحرک و تحول در ماه‌های اخیر نقشه شش ساله و چند ماه باقیمانده به آغاز سنهٔ مقدسی است که مدت‌ها در انتظارش بوده‌ایم.

هفت محفل روحانی ملی جدید در رضوان ۱۹۹۲ تشکیل خواهد شد: آنگولا در افریقا، گرینلند در قارات آمریکا، آلبانی، کشورهای بالتیک، بلغارستان، مجارستان و لهستان در اروپا. تأسیس پنج محفل اخیر حسن ختام نقشه موفقیت‌آمیز دوساله‌ای خواهد بود که در رضوان ۱۹۹۰ آغاز گردید. بعلاوه محفل روحانی ملی جمهوری کنگو پس از آنکه متجاوز از دهسال در اثر شرائط سیاسی در محاق تعطیل بود مجدداً تشکیل خواهد شد.

نظر به تعمیم اجرای حکم حقوق‌الله در سراسر جهان از رضوان سال آینده، دفتر حقوق‌الله تحت نظارت و اداره امین حقوق‌الله، ایادی امرالله جناب علی‌محمد ورقا در ارض اقدس تأسیس شده است. مقارن با این اقدام جناب دکتر ورقا ترتیباتی اتخاذ نموده‌اند تا هیئت‌های منطقه‌ای و ملی امناء حقوق‌الله مشابه با هیئت امنائی که در ایالات متحده آمریکا فعالیت دارد تشکیل گردد.

بلافاصله بعد از پایان سال مقدس در رضوان ۱۹۹۳ و در خلال اوقاتی که هفتمین انجمن بین‌المللی شور روحانی منعقد خواهد بود نقشه‌ای سه ساله آغاز خواهد شد. اهداف ملی این نقشهٔ جهانی با مشورت هیئت‌های مشاورین قاره‌ای و محافل روحانی ملی تعیین خواهد گشت. تحولات سریع و بی‌سابقه‌ای که در داخل و خارج از امرالله دیده می‌شود ضرورت نقشه‌ای کوتاه و تغییرپذیر را ایجاب می‌کند که با شرائط پر تحول و تحرک این زمان منطبق باشد.

اعلام این بشارات بسیار مهم که بنحوی قابل توجه با شروع دورهٔ جدید عشرت اعضاء هیئت‌های معاونت مقارن است حاکی از نزول تأییدات جدیده الهیّه بر اقدامات جاری جامعه ستایشندگان اسم اعظم در سراسر عالم است. این تقارن بار دیگر امکان مجاهدات و فرصت‌هائی را که در پیش است آشکار می‌سازد و توجه را به نقش حیاتی و مهمی جلب می‌نماید که این خادمان برجسته امرالله باید برای کمک و مساعدت به یاران در جمیع نقاط جهان ایفاء نمایند تا یاران الهی جلوه و شکوه اسم‌عظیم الهی را در مراتبی بالاتر متجلی سازند.

از پیروان جمال قدس جل ذکره الاعظم در سراسر عالم تقاضا می‌شود در چنین اوقاتی که سرنوشت امرالله و مقدرات جامعه بشری در لحظاتی بسیار حساس قرار دارد سعی بلیغ مبذول دارند تا در روزهای زودگذری که از نقشه شش ساله باقی مانده به فتوحاتی ‎مکمن‌الحصول ممکن‌الحصول‎ دست یابند. بکمک چنین اقداماتی است که می‌توان با احساس فتح و ظفری شایسته به سنهٔ مقدسی که بزودی فرا می‌رسد قدم گذاشت، یعنی دوره‌ای که اسرار و اهمیتش هنوز فاش نشده و حامل امکانات بسیار برای حصول موفقیت‌های عمده جهت امر حضرت بهاءالله است، امکاناتی که حال با نزدیکتر شدن قرن صعود جمال اقدس ابهی بنحوی کلی و اجمالی قابل تصور و تخطّر است.

آرزوی صمیمانه این مشتاقان برای جمیع یاران الهی همراه با التجاء به آستان مقدس است که جمال اقدس ابهی به میزانی بی‌سابقه و نظیر تأییدات جانفزا و پیروزی‌بخش خود را شامل حال حبیبانش فرماید.

با تحیات ابدع ابهی بیت العدل اعظم

ترجمه پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم خطاب به پیروان جمال قدم در سراسر عالم مورخ ۱۸ نوامبر ۱۹۹۱

یاران عزیز الهی

در احیانی که جهان درگیر مسائل سهمگین اخلاقی، اجتماعی، اقتصادی و مشکلات محیط زیست است، زمان مواجهه و مقابلهٔ حامیان دلیر امر یزدان با مسئله‌ای بس خطیر نیز فرا رسیده است. رشد و پیشرفت جامعه بهائی از نظر توسعه و نفوذ به مرحله‌ای رسیده که از جمیع جوانب و در همه مراتب در بوته امتحان قرار گرفته است. گرچه اکنون فرصت‌ها بسیار و بیشمارند ولکن مسئله این است که آیا در مسیر توسعه نطاق امرالله باید با سرعت تمام کوشید یا به سبب نارسائی منابعی که برای این منظور در اختیار است توسعه و پیشرفت امر را آهسته‌تر ساخت.

در سرزمین‌هائی که نفوسی کثیر به امر بهائی اقبال نموده‌اند توسعه اقتصادی و اجتماعی وابسته به تأسیس و استحکام بنیان محافلی که با کمال قوت و اتقان قائم به خدمت باشند روز بروز اهمیت بیشتری می‌یابد و در نتیجه منابع بین‌المللی جامعه بهائی تحت فشار نیاز شدید مالی و نیروی انسانی قرار گرفته است. در کشورهایی که سابقاً در بلوک شرق قرار داشتند احتیاج به مساعدت در زمینه دریافت کتب و نشریات امری و مبلغین سیّار و تأسیس حظائر قدس محلی فوریت بیشتری یافته است، زیرا نفوسی که تشنه روحانیت هستند آمادگی خارق‌العاده‌ای برای پذیرفتن پیام حضرت بهاءالله ابراز می‌دارند و امکانات ترویج و توسعه امرالله را در این بلاد نمیتوان نادیده گرفت.

در سطح ملی در اثر ازدیاد عدد مؤمنین در نقاط مختلف تشکیلات جوامع بهائی پیوسته وسیعتر و پیچیده‌تر می‌گردد و محافل روحانی ملی روز بروز بیشتر از طرف دول و سازمان‌های غیر دولتی دعوت می‌شوند تا در زمینه حمایت از حقوق بشر و حفظ محیط زیست و ترویج تربیت اخلاقی و غلبه بر زبان‌های ناشی از تعصبات و ازدیاد روزافزون تمرد از قوانین که سبب تحلیل و تضعیف مبانی اجتماعی می‌گردد، ارائه طریق و بذل کمک و مساعدت نمایند. در سطح بین‌المللی نیز نظیر همین وضع ادامه دارد.

در مرکز جهانی بهائی امور ساختمانی مشروعات جبل کرمل آغاز گردیده تا تأسیسات و تسهیلات شایسته‌ای برای مؤسسات مرکزی نظم اداری امر حضرت بهاءالله فراهم گردد و مؤسسات مزبور برای تعهد مسئولیت‌های سنگینی که با شروع تأسیس صلح اصغر در جهان بر عهده آنان قرار خواهد گرفت آماده شوند.

در طی چهار سال گذشته تبرّعات یاران به صندوق‌های بین‌المللی امر از سراسر جهان بطور منظم و مستمر رو به افزایش بود و این امید و انتظار را بوجود آورد که چنین افزایشی نه تنها ادامه خواهد یافت بلکه در سال جاری سرعت بیشتری خواهد داشت، ولیکن بالعکس از رضوان گذشته میزان تبرّعات به صندوق‌های بین‌المللی هم بطور کلی و هم برای مشروعات ساختمانی قوس کرمل ناگهان کاهش یافته و بحرانی را سبب شده است که باید بدون فوت وقت برطرف گردد. چند سالی است که در قبال نیازمندی‌های روزافزون مجهودات تبلیغی و مشروعات ساختمانی جبل کرمل ناچار مصارف مرکز جهانی به میزانی شدید تقلیل داده شده و بعضی از اقدامات به تعویق افتاده و یا تعطیل شده که گرچه حائز ارزش و اهمیت هستند اما به سبب وضع موجود یعنی کمبود تبرّعات تعقیب و ادامهٔ آنها میسر نشده است. ادامه چنین وضعی بیش از این امکان پذیر نیست زیرا مانع حسن انجام وظائفی خواهد بود که برای حفظ منافع ضروری امرالله باید در مرکز جهانی بهائی به موقع اجراء در آید.

تأمین نیازهای مالی در سال جاری و رفع احتیاجاتی که بلافاصله در پیش است ممکن و میسر نخواهد شد مگر آنکه میزان تبرّعات یاران به صندوق‌های بین‌المللی در سال جاری نه فقط کاهش نیابد بلکه به میزان معتنابهی افزایش حاصل کند.

چنین اقدامی مستلزم فداکاری فرد فرد یاران حضرت یزدان و انتقال وجوه غیر ضروری از مشروعات محلی و ملی به صندوق‌های بین‌المللی است. اطمینان واثق داریم که احبای الهی دعوت این مشتاقان را اجابت خواهند نمود و نظیر دورهٔ بحرانی پس از انقلاب ایران در سال ۱۹۷۹، یعنی زمانی که ناگهان شصت و یک درصد از درآمد صندوق‌های بین‌المللی قطع گردید، قیامی مجددانه خواهند فرمود.

نیازمندی‌های فوری این است، اما علاوه بر آن لازم است که یاران الهی در سراسر جهان به این اصل اساسی امر الهی واقف شوند که تبرّع به صندوق‌های امری از عناصر و اجزاء لا ينفك حیات روحانی هر فرد بهائی است و تقدیم تبرّعات را باید به منزله اجرای یکی از واجبات و تکالیف زندگانی روحانی محسوب داشت. در بسیاری از ممالك ملاحظه می‌شود که مبلغین امرالله در هنگام شرح و بیان تعالیم الهیّه مایل نیستند از لزوم تقویت صندوق‌های امری بعنوان جزئی طبیعی و عادی در زندگانی بهائی افرادی سخنی به میان آورند. حضرت بهاءالله جل اسمه الاعلی در کتاب مستطاب اقدس اهمیت و ضرورت تلفیق وسائط مادی و معنوی را در تحقق اهداف امر الهی مکرر بیان فرموده‌اند. حضرت ولی امرالله نیز منابع مادی را به مثابه خونی که باید در عروق و شریان امر الهی جاری باشد توصیف نموده‌اند.

اينك از یاران حضرت رحمن رجا و دعوت می‌شود که درباره اهمیت تقویت مالی امر الهی و تأثیری که خدمات امری در احوال و شرائط جامعه بشری دارد به تأمل و تفکر عمیق پردازند.

در اعتاب مقدسه علیا صمیمانه دعا میکنیم که جمال قدم یاران مخلص و با وفایش را در هر مرز و بوم ملهم سازد تا کل متحداً متفقاً به خدمت امر مبارکش قیام نمایند و با نزول الطاف و عنایات سماویه فداکاری آن عزیزان را پاداش عطا فرماید.

با تحیات ابدع ابهی بیت العدل اعظم

سفرهای تشویقی جناب ‎سپرز سیرز‎

VISITS OF THE HAND OF THE CAUSE OF GOD WILLIAM SEARS

سفرهای تشویقی ایادی عزیز امرالله جناب ویلیام ‎سپرز سیرز‎ به پنج شهر از شهرهای ایالات متحده در اواسط ماه نوامبر سال ۱۹۹۱ با موفقیت پایان پذیرفت. جناب ‎سپرز سیرز‎ در طی این سفرها یاران را فرا خواندند که به پا خیزند و اهداف نقشهٔ شش‌ساله مبنی بر گسترش دامنهٔ امر مبارك از طریق تبلیغ و تسجیل عدهٔ بسیاری از مردم این دیار را تا رضوان سال ۱۹۹۲ متحقق نمایند.

جناب ‎سپرز سیرز‎ علیرغم بیماری و کهولت سن قیام به خدمتی دلیرانه فرموده‌اند تا از این طریق یاران بر اثر اقدام ایشان مشی نمایند و بدین ترتیب فعالیت‌های تبلیغی خود را به نحوی بی‌سابقه افزایش دهند.

پنج شهری که جناب ‎سپرز سیرز‎ از آن دیدار نمودند عبارت بود از بوکا رتن Boca Raton در ایالت فلوریدا و ورستر Worcester در ایالت ماساچوست و تالیسن Tolleson در ایالت آریزونا و سان فرانسیسکو در ایالت کالیفرنیا و پورتلند Portland در ایالت اورگان. جناب ‎سپرز سیرز‎ پس از مشورت با محافل روحانی ملی و لجنه ملی نشر نفحات این شهرها را بعنوان نقاطی که فعالیت‌های تبلیغی رونق خاصی دارد، برگزیده بودند.

جناب ‎سپرز سیرز‎ با احبای هر يك از شهرهای مذکور شخصاً دیدار کردند و اهمیت و لزوم کوشش‌های فداکارانه را بدانان یادآور شدند و آنان را خاطرنشان ساختند که باید فعالیت‌های تبلیغی به میزانی بیشتر محور خدماتشان قرار گیرد. بدین ترتیب جنبش و شوری در میان یاران ایجاد نمودند.

درونمایه سخنان جناب ‎سپرز سیرز‎ در طی این سفرها تأییدات الهی بود که شامل حال همه کسانی خواهد شد که [Page 14]

Casa Universal de Justicia da triple anuncio al mundo Bahá’í

A los seguidores de Bahá’u’lláh en el mundo entero Queridos amigos bahá’ís,

Con motivo del Día del Convenio, en medio de eventos dramáticos dentro y fuera de la Fe que dan muestras de un impulso acelerado en los últimos meses del Plan de Seis Años, y a menos de medio año del comienzo del largamente anhelado Año Santo, nos complace comunicar este triple anuncio a todo el mundo Bahá’í.

Se formarán siete Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales nuevas en Ridván de 1992: Angola en África; Groenlandia en las Américas; y Albania, los Estados Bálticos, Bulgaria, Hungría y Polonia en Europa. El surgimiento de las últimas cinco será el sello digno del victorioso Plan de Dos Años suplementario lanzado en Ridván de 1990. Además, la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de la República del Congo, después de un lapso de más de una década debido a las condiciones políticas, será restablecida.

La Oficina del Huqúqu’lláh ha sido establecida en la Tierra Santa bajo la dirección del principal Fideicomisario del Huqúqu’lláh, la Mano de la Causa de Dios Áli-Muhammad Varqá, en anticipación a la aplicación mundial de la Ley del Huqúqu’lláh el próximo Ridván. Coincidiendo con este acontecimiento, están los pasos tomados por el Dr. Varqá para organizar Juntas Directivas de Fideicomisarios del Huqúqu’lláh, regionales y nacionales, siguiendo el ejemplo de la Junta Directiva que ya está funcionando en los Estados Unidos.

En Ridván de 1993, inmediatamente después del Año Santo y durante un período que será testigo de la realización de la Séptima Convención Internacional en el Centro Mundial, se lanzará un plan de Tres Años. Las metas nacionales de este Plan global serán fijadas por medio de consultas entre los Consejeros Continentales y las ‎Asamblea Asambleas‎ Espirituales Nacionales. El carácter poco común y la rapidez de los acontecimientos tanto dentro como fuera de la Fe significan la necesidad de un plan corto y flexible adaptable a la naturaleza dinámica de la época.

Este anuncio trascendental, que coincide significativamente con la iniciación de un nuevo término de los miembros de los Cuerpos Auxiliares en todos los continentes, es indicativo del nuevo flujo de confirmaciones divinas vertidas sobre los esfuerzos actuales de la Comunidad del Más Grande Nombre en todas partes del planeta. La coincidencia demuestra nuevamente la existencia de tremendos desafíos y oportunidades que deben ser cumplidos, y llama la atención a la función vital que deben desempeñar los distinguidos siervos de la Fe en ayudar a los creyentes en todas partes a alcanzar mayores alturas en el despliegue de la gloria de nuestra gran Causa.

Nos sentimos forzados a solicitar a los seguidores de Bahá’u’lláh en todos los países, en este momento crítico del destino de la Causa y de la humanidad, a que hagan un esfuerzo supremo para recoger las victorias aún no cosechadas en los fugaces días restantes del Plan de Seis Años. Que les sea permitido hacer esto para que puedan entrar con el debido sentimiento de triunfo, al inminente Año Santo -- un período saturado de significado incalculable y lleno de posibilidades de mayores adelantos para la Fe de Bahá’u’lláh, posibilidades que tan solo se pueden imaginar vagamente a medida que se acerca el Centenario de Su Ascensión.

Nuestros ardientes deseos para todos ustedes están entremezclados con nuestras súplicas en el Sagrado Umbral para que la Bendita Belleza haga llover sobre Sus amados, en un grado sin precedente, sus vigorizantes confirmaciones que les conducirán a la victoria.

Con amorosos saludos bahá’ís,

(Firma) La Casa Universal de Justicia 18 de noviembre de 1991

Por la Casa Universal de Justicia: Crecientes actividades de la Fe crean nueva demanda de fondos

A los seguidores de Bahá’u’lláh en todos los países Queridos amigos bahá’ís,

Ha llegado una época de desafío para los leales defensores de la Causa de Dios en el momento preciso en que todo el mundo está intentando resolver tremendos problemas, morales, sociales, económicos y ecológicos. La comunidad bahá’í ha crecido en tamaño e influencia a tal punto que está siendo puesta a prueba por todos lados y a todos los niveles. Las oportunidades son inmensas pero ahora nos enfrentamos con la cuestión de si marchamos adelante con mucha velocidad, o si nos retrasamos porque nuestros recursos disponibles son inadecuados para el propósito.

Los países donde la gente ha aceptado la Fe en grandes números, el proceso de desarrollo social y económico, unido al establecimiento, consolidación y sólidas Asambleas Espirituales Locales en funcionamiento, está obteniendo aún mucho más importancia y está haciendo una tremenda demanda de los recursos internacionales humanos y financieros de la Fe. En los países del antiguo Bloque Oriental la necesidad de ayuda en forma de literatura bahá’í, pioneros, maestros viajeros, establecimiento de centros locales, se ha hecho aún más urgente por la extraordinaria receptividad al Mensaje de Bahá’u’lláh que se demuestra en la espiritualidad de esas poblaciones sedientas. Las oportunidades para promover la Causa de Dios en estas áreas no pueden ser ignoradas.

En el nivel nacional, la estatura de las comunidades bahá’ís está creciendo en complejidad a medida que el número de creyentes aumenta, y las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales están siendo invitadas constantemente por gobiernos nacionales y por organizaciones no-gubernamentales para que ofrezcan sus consejos y ayuda en defensa de los derechos humanos, en salvaguardar el medio ambiente, en promover la educación moral, y en superar los estragos del prejuicio y de la marea creciente del desorden que están socavando la estatura social. Internacionalmente está ocurriendo un proceso similar.

En el Centro Mundial mismo, el trabajo de construcción en los Proyectos del Monte Carmelo ha comenzado, para preparar instalaciones dignas para las instituciones del Orden Administrativo de Bahá’u’lláh, para la época cuando ellas tengan que cargar con las tremendas responsabilidades que se les impongan a medida que la Paz Menor comienza a ser establecida en el mundo.

Durante los cuatro años pasados hubo un aumento constante en las contribuciones de los amigos en todo el mundo a los fondos internacionales de la Fe y había sido nuestra esperanza y deseo que esto continuaría e incluso aumentaría en el año en curso. Pero desde el pasado Ridván, por el contrario, ha habido una disminución repentina de contribuciones tanto a los fondos internacionales en general como al Fondo de los Proyectos del Arco, creando una crisis que debe ser superada de inmediato. Para responder a las necesidades crecientes del trabajo de enseñanza y los Proyectos del Arco, hemos reducido drásticamente los gastos del Centro Mundial por varios años, cancelando o posponiendo muchas actividades que, aunque muy valiosas, no pueden ser continuadas bajo la presente condición de falta de fondos. Este proceso no se puede prolongar más sin dañar seriamente la habilidad del Centro Mundial para funcionar al nivel que los intereses de la Fe lo requieren.

Si es que tenemos que cumplir con las necesidades financieras de este año y los que se avecinan en el futuro próximo, las contribuciones a los fondos internacionales de la Causa deben aumentar substancialmente en vez de disminuir.

Tal esfuerzo requerirá sacrificio de parte de todos los creyentes y también la desviación de fondos de aquellos proyectos locales y nacionales que no sean imprescindibles. Tenemos la confianza de que los amigos responderán a este pedido, igual como lo hicieron durante la crisis causada por la revolución iraní en 1979 cuando, en un momento, se cortaron un 61% de los ingresos a los fondos internacionales.

Ésta es la primera necesidad. Fuera de esto, creemos que existe una necesidad mundial de apreciar este principio básico de nuestra Fe: Que contribuir al Fondo debería constituir una parte integral de la vida espiritual de cada bahá’í y debe ser considerado como el cumplimiento de una obligación espiritual fundamental. En muchos países hemos encontrado una resistencia entre los maestros de la Causa de incluir, entre la presentación de las enseñanzas de la Fe, el apoyo al Fondo como una parte muy natural de la vida bahá’í. En el Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh más de una vez se refiere a la necesidad de combinar los medios espirituales y materiales para lograr los propósitos de la Fe. Shoghi Effendi, por su parte, se refirió al Fondo como la sangre vital de la Causa.

Exhortamos a todos los amigos a reflexionar profundamente sobre la importancia de apoyar a la Causa económicamente, y sobre el efecto que las actividades bahá’ís ejercen sobre la condición de toda la raza humana.

Oramos ‎ferviente fervientemente‎ en el Umbral Sagrado para que Bahá’u’lláh inspire a Sus fieles creyentes en todo el mundo a levantarse unidos en el servicio a la Causa y para que recompense sus sacrificios con una lluvia de bendiciones.

Con amorosos saludos bahá’ís,

(firma) La Casa Universal de Justicia 26 de noviembre de 1991

National Assembly names Dr. Moojan Momen editor of proposed ‘Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith’

The National Spiritual Assembly has appointed Dr. Moojan Momen, an internationally known Bahá’í scholar and author, as general editor of A Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith.

Dr. Momen, a resident of the United Kingdom, replaces Dr. John Walbridge, who resigned to take a full-time position as an editor of the Encyclopedia Iranica. Dr. Walbridge will continue to serve as a member of the Bahá’í Encyclopedia editorial board.

The project was begun in 1984 when the National Spiritual Assembly sought the advice of the Universal House of Justice about a comprehensive dictionary/encyclopedia of Bahá’í history and writings. The idea was to offer definitions and backgrounds of Bahá’í terminology and concepts, and to provide a comprehensive history of the Faith to the present day.

WIDE VARIETY OF ARTICLES

Also included would be articles on various theological topics, Bahá’í administration, Bahá’í tenets and principles, and information about the demographics and distribution of the Bahá’í world community.

The National Assembly felt that such a work, which might extend to six or seven volumes, would be of great value to anyone interested in learning about the Faith. The House of Justice agreed, writing in October 1984 that “it feels there is a great value in the Bahá’í Dictionary/Encyclopedia Project. ... This will undoubtedly be of benefit to both Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í scholars, as well as to the rank and file of the believers. Over the years, it can be expanded and/or amended as the subjects treated in the work are more thoroughly studied and researched.”

As the project evolved and the Faith emerged from obscurity, the National Assembly became concerned that the Bahá’ís define the Faith before someone else does it for them, perhaps inaccurately. With this in mind the Assembly decided to publish a fairly comprehensive but much shorter encyclopedia. The one-volume work, which will contain complementary photographs and maps, is to lay the groundwork for future volumes.

Other members of the Bahá’í Encyclopedia Editorial Board are Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of the U.S. Bahá’í Publishing Trust; Terrill Hayes, general

See ENCYCLOPEDIA page 15 [Page 15]

Six long-time pioneers pass away, two at posts

Alice Hendershot (pictured at left with her friend Lidia Zamenhof at the Bahá’í National Convention in 1938), a Bahá’í since 1933 who helped establish the local Spiritual Assemblies of Miami, Florida, and San Diego, National City and Palm Springs, California, died September 25 in Big Bend, California. Mrs. Hendershot traveled and taught with her sister, Selma Witherill, in Norway, their parents' homeland, and inspired each of her three sons to serve the Cause overseas: Jan was in Venezuela for 12 years, Jon in Venezuela for five, and Gene pioneered for many years in Switzerland and is now in the Central African Republic.

ERNEST GLAUDER, a pioneer for 30 years to Zimbabwe, died August 24, 1991, at his post. He and his wife, Esther, first settled in Zimbabwe (then known as Rhodesia) in 1961 during the Ten Year Crusade. Esther preceded him in death in 1985.

HORACE BROWN served 10 years as a pioneer in Sierra Leone (1970-1980) and was a member of that country's National Spiritual Assembly. He then returned to South Carolina where he died in August 1991.

ALICIA CARDELL and her husband, Ted, and their children were early pioneers to Southern Africa during the Ten Year Crusade. After serving this part of the world for 11 years, they settled in the States. They continued to look for another pioneering post and traveled to many parts of the world as traveling teachers. Alicia and Ted planned to settle in Peru with their daughter in 1985, but ill health forced an early return to the States. Alicia Cardell died in August 1991.

SHIRLEY WARDE, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh to Belize (then known as British Honduras), dedicated 38 years of her life to the growth of that community. In addition to years of service on the National Spiritual Assembly, Mrs. Warde was actively involved in Bahá’í radio and theatre productions as writer and producer. On her death in October, the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. received the following message from the National Spiritual Assembly of Belize:

"With heavy hearts we wish to inform you of the passing of our beloved Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Mrs. Shirley Warde to the Abhá Kingdom which occured on 10 October, 1991. We beg your prayers for the progress of her soul in the Abhá Kingdom."

LOTUS NIELSEN left Duluth, Minnesota, as a youth to pioneer to Saskatchewan with her Bahá’í mother. At age 21 she set out for Venezuela, but found it impossible to stay on there. Lotus then found her services needed at the National Center in Wilmette as an assistant to the Treasurer. Still longing to pioneer, she set out again for Finland during the Ten Year Crusade. There she married and had three children, then went to help the pioneering work in Sweden and became a member of the first National Spiritual Assembly of that country.

From there she pioneered again in 1966, this time to Greenland to fill a goal for Denmark. It was Greenland that became her home. Raising her daughters, serving as an Auxiliary Board member, moving from one remote village to another, Mrs. Nielsen continued to serve this struggling community until her death in October 1991. How it would have thrilled her to witness the election of Greenland's first National Spiritual Assembly in 1992. As was stated in the letter to Greenland from the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, "Her example of service to her Lord will be everlasting, remaining an inspiration to present and future generations."

Encyclopedia

manager of the Publishing Trust; Dr. Will C. van den Hoonaard, professor of sociology at the University of New Brunswick; Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, professor of Russian history at Yale University and member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly; Dr. Todd Lawson, assistant professor of Middle East and Islamic studies at the University of Toronto; and Dr. Heshmat Moayyad, professor of Persian literature at the University of Chicago.

The publication of the encyclopedia is one of the National Spiritual Assembly's goals for the Six Year Plan. At this point, nearly all of the articles have been commissioned, and more than half have been written. The finished articles should be edited by the end of the Plan, with publication to follow some time during the Holy Year.

Dr. Momen is a graduate of Cambridge University and a general practitioner in Bedfordshire, England. He collaborated closely with the Hand of the Cause of God Hasan Balyúzí on such works as The Báb; Bahá’u’lláh: the King of Glory, and Eminent Bahá’ís in the Time of Bahá’u’lláh, which was published after Mr. Balyúzí's death.

He is the author of Hinduism and the Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’í Focus on Development, and An Introduction to Shi’ih Islam, considered by many to be the best work available on the subject.

Dr. Momen also edited volumes 1 and 2 of Studies in Bábí and Bahá’í History, and The Bábí and Bahá’í Religions 1844-1944: Some Contemporary Western Accounts. His articles have appeared in such well-respected publications as the International Journal of Middle East Studies; Past and Present; and Iran. He is also a contributor to the Encyclopedia Iranica.

TRAVELING TEACHING CALENDAR: January 1992

BULGARIA: January 1992-Ridván 1992, Permanent Traveling Teaching Team; December 20, 1991-January 5, 1992, George Adam Benke Teaching Project III; January 12-26, 1992, George Adam Benke Consolidation Project; December-April 21, 1992, Dr. Magdalene Carney Project; February 1992, Bahá’í Winter School, "Bahá’í Fundamentals."

Clifton, York, UNITED KINGDOM: August 10-15, 1992, Music and Arts Festival to celebrate the Centenary of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.

Canadian TV airs ‘Bahá’í Perspective’

For three years the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada has produced a television program, "Bahá’í Perspective," broadcast on a Canadian Television network, Vision TV.

The interfaith network is available to subscribers to the basic cable service, reaching well over half of all Canadian homes. The program is also available to those with satellite dishes who live in a region that covers more than half of the continental United States.

"Bahá’í Perspective" has broadcast several programs produced by the Media Services Office of the U.S. Bahá’í National Center. "From Haitian Roots," "Seat of God's Throne" and "Jewel in the Lotus" were shown during the past year, with the latter program generating a high number of telephone inquiries. Canadian-produced programs, usually in interview format, have also been well received.

Over the coming months several programs on Bahá’u’lláh will be aired, based on talks and interviews recorded at the Association for Bahá’í Studies Conference last August in Victoria, British Columbia.

Some Americans have inquired about the Faith after seeing the program, which is broadcast on the first Wednesday and Thursday of each month. "Bahá’í Perspective" airs at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, and at 12:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. As of the end of this year, the network will use Canadian satellite Anik E.1.

All inquiries about the Faith originating in the U.S. are forwarded to the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois.

IN MEMORIAM

Mohamad Aghdasi, Scituate, MA, 1986 Inez Andrews, Washington, IL, November 1, 1991 Nosratullah Baher, San Diego, CA, November 26, 1991 Robert Beaty, Richburg, SC, Date Unkown Wayne Between Lodges, Wanblee, SD, Date Unknown Robert Blaker, Richland Hills, TX, October 8, 1991 Alvin Bordeaux, Pine Ridge, SD, November 3, 1991 Ella Breedy, The Bronx, NY, October 1991 Eva A. Bright, Battle Creek, MI, September 17, 1991 Alicia Candell, Red Bluff, CA, June 29, 1991 Janice Carter, Jackson, MS, November 15, 1991 Ellis Chipps, Wanblee, SD, Date Unknown Ruth Dukes, Hartsville, SC, October 1991 Clara Embree, Martin, SD, March 1, 1991 Lynn Farrisey, Copake, NY, October 2, 1991 Jack M. Flynn, Idaho Falls, ID, October 28, 1991 Mercedes Flores, Oklahoma City, OK, July 27, 1990 Frank Fools Crow, Kyle, SD, November 27, 1989 Ernest Glauder, Zimbabwe, August 24, 1991 George Grimmett, O'Fallon, IL, Date Unknown Jean Habhegger, Redmond, WA, October 23, 1991 Charlotte Hailey, Cheraw, SC, August 1991 Caroline Hawkwing, Wanblee, SD, Date Unknown Earl C. Henry, Bothell, WA, October 14, 1991 Alfred High Horse, Wanblee, SD, Date Unknown Minnie High Horse, Wanblee, SD, Date Unknown Lawrence Hurley, Rochester Hills, MI, August 4, 1991 Margaret Jensen, Wayzata, MN, Date Unknown Lionel Johnson, Milwaukee, WI, September 1991 Rohanieh Kazemi, Riverside, CA, January 7, 1990 Dorothy Klepps, Menasha, WI, October 15, 1991 Evan K. Lakota, Wanblee, SD, Date Unknown Manuel Levario, Anthony, TX, 1988 Arlene Lawrence, Bellevue, WA, July 28, 1990 Lee A. McGee, Springfield, MO, August 10, 1991 Pete Medicine Bear, White River, SD, April 2, 1991 Samuel R. Milk, Wanblee, SD, Date Unknown Rouhollah Mowzoon, Chandler, AZ, November 18, 1990 Steve Murray, Middletown, CT, November 19, 1991 Paul A. No Heart, Okreek, SD, Date Unknown Alden Nott, San Jose, CA, November 10, 1991 James Pruner, Albuquerque, NM, January 31, 1991 Albert Reed, Raymond, CA, November 4, 1990 Sylvia Risen, Wallingford, CT, November 27, 1991 Dolores Rosenberger, Culver City, CA, November 7, 1991 Luella Sabourin, Ryderwood, WA, January 30, 1991 Julius Shannon, Newport Beach, CA, November 11, 1991 Michael D. Sipes, Duluth, MN, Date Unknown Chris Swalley, Rosebud, SD, 1991 Francis Thunder Hawk, Wanblee, SD, Date Unknown Sarah Two Lance, Wakpamni Lake, SD, October 31, 1991 Maxine Viereck, Castro Valley, CA, October 30, 1991 Jamileh Vodjdani, Marietta, GA, Date Unknown [Page 16]Pictured are the 25 youth and six adults who attended a Labor Day weekend Bahá’í youth retreat sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Joliet, Illinois. The youth took part in deepening classes, visited the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, and appeared in a local Labor Day parade, in which they won first prize in the category of walking units. The combination of fellowship, deepening and teaching was a memorable experience for all.

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS. To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copy of The American Bahá’í, send your new address and your mailing label to MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL. 60091, as soon as you know what your new address will be

A. NAME(S): 1. LD. Title Full name-No nicknames please! 2. LD. # Title Full name 3. LD. # Title Full name 4. LD. # This form may be used for one person or your entire family. Please be sure to list FULL NAMES AND L.D. NUMBERS for all individuals, ages 15 years or older, who will be affected by this change. Title Full name

C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS: B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS: Street address Apartment # (If applicable) City State Zip code

D. NEW COMMUNITY: Name of new Bahá’í Community

F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S): Area code Phone number Name PO. Box or Other mailing address Apartment (If applicable) City State Zip code

E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER: Moving date Area code Phone number Name

G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE: we do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and L.D. number(s) listed above.

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091 Arca cock Name Phone number

H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY: the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of all family mem bers as they should appear on the national records, their ID. mmmbers, and the correc tions so that we will receive only one copy. Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy. I have listed my name, LD. mumber and address above.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JANUARY

17-19: Pioneering Institute, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. For information, phone 708-869-9039.

17-19: Second Eastern Bahá’í Music and Arts Conference, Old Colony Inn, Alexandria, Virginia. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Alexandria. Workshops, seminars, exhibits, jam sessions, variety shows, and a Race Unity banquet/proclamation event. Musicians and artists sought to perform for chil- dren and adults. For information, write to Bonnie Cote, coordinator, Music and Art Task Force, Springfield, VA 22150 (phone 703- 569-2371), or Lucinda Huttlinger, 1017 S. 18th St., Arlington, VA 22202 (phone 202-687-6433).

17-19: Women's/Men's Conference, "Women's Journeys/Men's Journeys and Journeying Together in the Path of Bahá’u’lláh," Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

17-19: Wisconsin Bahá’í School, Brownsville. Registrar: Lisa Reimer, West Bend, WI 73095; phone 414-338-3023.

FEBRUARY

6-9: Second Global Structures Convocation: Environment and Development, Marriott Hotel, Washington, D.C. Co-sponsored by the National Spiritual As- sembly. A representative of the Bahá’í International Community, Office of the Environment, will take part in a workshop entitled "Earth Charter: Establishing the Values and Principles for International Laws and Global Community." Bahá’ís are welcome to attend the convocation; those who wish to do so are asked to notify the National Spiritual Assembly office at 1606 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20009 (phone 202-265-8830). For information about the conference, contact Second Global Structures Convocation: Environment and Development, 1000 16th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20036 (phone 202-833- 9585; fax 202-785-3942).

14-16: North Dakota Bahá’í School, Mayville State University campus. Theme: "The Significance of Bahá’u’lláh's Revelation." Registrar: Marian Kadrie, Fargo, ND 58103; phone 701-235-3725.

14-17: Singles: A Winter Retreat in the Redwoods, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. Theme: "With Inward and Outward Eye." Topics and texts: Participants can select from several choices of subjects and study groups, including The Advent of Divine Justice; Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh; "Individual Rights and Freedoms in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh" (letter of Universal House of Justice to Bahá’ís of U.S., December 28, 1988); Bahá’í Marriage and Family Life, A Compilation. For information, phone 408- 423-3387.

15-16: Louisiana Bahá’í School, Baton Rouge. Theme: "Teaching the Faith to Christians." Registrar: Monya Sturdivant, Gretna, LA 70056 (phone 504-393-6675).

15-17: Washington (West) Bahá’í School, Brighton Creek Conference Grounds, McKenna. Theme: "Preparation for the Holy Year." Registrar: Harry Taylor, Arlington, WA 98223. Or phone Sandy Brizuela, 206-588-8419.

APRIL

4-5: Third Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies Mid-Atlantic Region, Western Maryland College, Westminster. Theme: "Global Renaissance: The Significance of Bahá’u’lláh's Revelation." For information, write to the Association for Bahá’í Studies Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee, Levittown, PA 19057, or phone 215-949-1157 or 215-949-0699.

16-22: Youth Symposium '92, Landegg Academy, Switzerland. Theme: "Re- generating the Arts." For a program brochure, write to: Landegg Academy, CH- 9405 Wienacht, Switzerland, or phone René Steiner, 41-71-91 91 31, or fax 41- 71-91 43 01.

MAY

22-25: A Spiritual Renewal Retreat For Couples, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. Theme: "Love, Marriage, Parenting." This weekend is for couples committed to working on their relationship. It is not designed to meet the needs of those in a Year of Patience. This a session for adults, but very young infants in arms can be accommodated. Group I, Newer Married. Group leaders: Terry and Carrie Kneisler will lead the newer married or younger couples as they build strong relationships inthe marriage and with their children. Group II, Seasoned Couples. Group leaders: Jack and Farzaneh Guillebeaux will guide seasoned couples to focus on obstacles, issues, and joys of relating as a couple and as parents to older children. For information, phone 408-423-3387.

SPRING

Pioneering Institute, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, Illinois. For informa- tion, phone 708-869-9039.

Bahá’ís take part in NJEA Convention

The Bahá’í Group of Ventnor, New Jer- sey, distributed well over 5,000 pieces of literature on the Faith at the 1991 New Jersey Education Association Convention last November.

Included in the items given out at the Bahá’í booth were 1,500 copies of "The Vision of Race Unity" and 3,000 poster pamphlets on race unity.

Twenty people filled out interest cards requesting more information about the Faith, and five more asked for informa- tion on how to join.

It was the 17th consecutive year in which Bahá’ís have taken part in the Conven- tion.