The American Bahá’í/Volume 19/Issue 3/Text (2024)

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The American Bahá’í
Volume 19, Issue 3

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‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge.

A Ye,

Above: Snow was an uninvitedguest for the conference February

12 at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. Right: The National Assembly meets with Dr.Peter Khan, a member of the Universal House of Justice; membersof the Board of Counselors and ofthe National Assembly of Canada.

During extraordinary meeting at Baha’i National Center

New ‘vision’ set forth to aid

In spite of a severe winter stormthat blanketed the Chicago areawith more than nine inches ofsnow, Baha’is from across thecouniry managed to gather February 12 at the Bahdé’{ House ofWorship for an extraordinaryconference called by the NationalSpiritual Assembly to fe ge acampaign of unified action amongthe institutions and agencies of theFaith in the U.S. and Canada designed to make a meaningful contribution to the completion of theArc on Mount Carmel and to bringabout entry by troops into theCause of God.

A special guest at the day-longevent was Dr. Peter Khan, a member of the Universal House of Justice.

Also present were five membersof the Continental Board ofCounselors in the Americas: Wilma Brady, Robert Harris, Lauretta King, Donald Rogers andFred Schechter.

Joining them were the membersof the U.S. National SpiritualAssembly; two members of theNational Spiritual Assembly ofCanada, David Hadden and AnneWilson; half a dozen AuxiliaryBoard members and a number of

For a ‘Spirit of the Roses’ teaching contest sponsored by the Western Washington District Teaching Committee, Linda Wilke (left)of the Bahá’í community of Puyallup created a leaded glass trophyand presented it to Sandy Brizuela(center) and Laurie Marsh of theDistrict Teaching Committee.Each year during the Six YearPlan, the trophy, which features aglass-encased rose, representing

the roses sent by the Iranian Bahá’ís to the U.S. National Convention two years ago, will be presented by the Teaching Committeeat the District Convention to thecommunity in the district with themost unique and successful teaching plan. It was awarded first tothe Puyallup community for its efforts in presenting a Bahá’í boothat the Puyallup Fair, the eighthlargest such event in the U.S.

their assistants; members of mostnational committees in the U.S.;the Green Lake (Wisconsin) Conference Planning Committee; andstaff from the Bahá’í NationalCenter in Wilmette and the Officeof External Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Khan, whose plane to Chicago was delayed for several hoursby the storm, spoke about the relationship between the completionof the Arc on Mount Carmel andthe establishment of the Kingdomof God on earth.

To ensure the triumph of theCause, he said, ‘two elementsmust go hand in hand: (1) thedevelopment of the Baha’ administrative order’ including theWorld Center of the Faith; and (2)“the enrollment of vast numbers

of new believers.”

We must take our cue, said Dr.Khan, from the Universal Houseof Justice’s letter of August 31,1987, and “‘stride forward resolutely on this path.’’

Also speaking at the morning

Volume 19, No. 3

erican Baha’i

’—Bahda’u'lláh

March 1988

triumph of Plan

session were Counselors Bradyand Schechter; Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary, and Dr. Dorothy Nelson, treasurer of the U.S.National Assembly; and Mr. Hadden, who is treasurer of the NaSee UNIFIED ACTION page 4

Peace statement widely distributed

As of February 9, the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office ofExternal Affairs had recorded presentations of ‘The Promise ofWorld Peace”’ to the following federal officials in the continental

ifty-three of 96 U.S. senators (55 percent); 267 of 432 U.S.representatives (62 percent); 27 of 48 U.S. governors (56 percent).

The Statistics Department at the Bahd’{ World Center reportsthat the governors of Alaska and Hawaii have also received copiesof the statement. Worldwide, between one and two million copieshave been disseminated, translated into 76 languages, and presented to 198 heads of state (75 directly).

‘Project Massachusetts’ aims to give

new meaning to term

‘Mass teaching’

On January 24, nearly 300 Bahá’ís from all over Massachusettsgathered in Worcester to take part

NOTICIAS EN ESPANOLPAGINA 20

in Project Massachusetts’ secondstatewide conference for the Campaign of Unified Action.

“T’ve been feeling the magneticforce of your efforts as more andmore projects get under way,’’said Jacqueline Delahunt, secretary of the National TeachingCommittee, who had come toMassachusetts to deliver the opening talk at the conference.

“Driving here this morning,”’she told the friends at the conference, ‘‘I saw the Mass, Turnpike and Mass this and Mass that,and I had this thought that I'd liketo share with you.

“T have a feeling that the folksin Massachusetts are going tochange the meaning of ‘Massteaching.’ ””

Ms. Delahunt praised the model

that Project Massachusetts is developing, a model, she said, that is“thoughtfully designed, andwholeheartedly supported by somany people. It is designed withevery evidence of trust in the Sacred Writings ... and trust in individual responsibility.””

That model, she said, is especially important because ‘‘it is onethat appreciates and supportsevery kind of teaching activity.

“However each individual’sheart leads him or her to teach,you are committed to support oneanother.”

That afternoon, the friendsheard from Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary of the National

See MASS TEACHING page 4

Taiwan enrolls 1,165new believers, opens59 localities to Faith

On February 3, the NationalSpiritual Assembly of Taiwancabled the Universal House ofJustice the joyous news that 1,165new believers had been enrolledduring its recent teaching campaign, representing a 74 percentincrease in the number of Baha’isin that country.

Fifty-nine new localities wereopened to the Faith (the NationalAssembly’s goal was 15) and fivenew Bahá’í Centers established,one in each teaching area.

By February 3, eight new localSpiritual Assemblies had beenformed in Taiwan, with a ninthsoon to be elected.

“‘Expansion/consolidation programs have picked up all acrossisland,”’ the National Assemblysaid in its cable to the WorldCenter. ‘Community united andjoyous (over) victories won; determined to win greater ones.””�[Page 2]2/ The American Bahá’í / March 1988

(MY DAD'S WHITE AND MY MOTHER'S

BUICK. THEY USED TO BECONFUSED ABOUT WHAT TO PUT FORRACE ON FORMS FOR SIS AND ME.

WELL - SOeS TIEeyUSED TO5E CONFUSEDNOW WHATDO THEYPUT FORRACE?

By Alyce J. Blue, Biloxi, Mississippi

Arts can have impact on goals of Six Year Plan

| VIEWPOINT

There is a meaningful relationship between the use and development of the arts within the Bahá’ícommunity and the threefoldgoals of the Six Year Plan in theU.S.—growth, development and

integration.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains in partthe effect that the arts can have onthe human spirit when He says,“Tt is natural for the heart andspirit to take pleasure in all thingsthat show forth symmetry, harmony, and perfection.

“For instance: a beautifulhouse, a well designed garden, asymmetrical line, a graceful motion, a well written book, pleasinggarments—in fact, all things thathave in themselves grace andbeauty are pleasing to the heartand spirit.” (Bahá’í Writings onMusic, p. 1)

Now, more than in past Plans,we are called upon to use the artsand incorporate them into the lifeof our communities.

Growth

. The arts can greatly increaseour capacity to attract others tothe Faith.

Shoghi Effendi predicted,“That day will the Cause spreadlike wildfire when its spirit andteachings are presented on thestage or in art and literature as awhole. Art can better awaken suchnoble sentiments than cold rationalizing, especially among the massof the people.” (Letter fromShoghi Effendi to an individualbeliever, quoted in U.S. Bahá’íNews, No. 73, May 1933, p. 7)

The Guardian also spoke of anew era that would dawn in artand literature as a result of the Baha’i Revelation, and he encouraged Bahd’{s to develop and cultivate their artistic gifts so as to beable to produce works that wouldreflect, ‘‘however inadequately,the Divine Spirit which Bahd’wll4h has into theworld.”” (From an unpublishedletter of April 7, 1935, to an individual Bahd’{, quoted in The Dy

namic Force of Example, p. 172)

‘Abdu’l-Bahá also linked thearts to teaching, saying that ‘‘extreme effort should be made in artand this will not prevent the teaching of the people in that region. ...Each should assist the other in artand guidance.

“When the studying of art iswith the intention of obeying thecommand of God this study willcertainly be done easily and greatprogress will be made therein; andwhen others discover this fragrance of spirituality in the actionitself, this same will cause theirawakening.

“‘Likewise, managing art withpropriety will become the meansof sociability and affinity; and sociability and affinity themselvestend to guide others to theTruth.” (Bahá’í World Faith, p.377)

The Master spoke of the educational power and importance ofarts such as drama: ‘‘The stagewill be the pulpit of the future,”He predicted. (‘‘The Magazine ofthe Children of the Kingdom,’’June 1923)

He also explained how a talkwill be more effective if it is preceded by music, which can inspireand uplift the heart. In our Baha’ievents there are many ways inwhich we can use the arts to enhance the quality of our programsand attract greater numbers.

On an internal level, spiritualgrowth can be enhanced throughour participation in the arts. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, writing to a Bahá’í artist, said, ‘I rejoice to hear thatthou takest pains with thine art,for in this wonderful new age, artis worship. The more thou strivestto perfect it, the closer wilt thoucome to God.

“‘What bestowal could be greater than this, that one’s art shouldbe even as the act of worshippingthe Lord? That is to say, when thyfingers grasp the paint brush, it 1sas if thou wert in prayer in theTemple.”’ (From a recently translated Tablet quoted in an unpublished compilation on the arts andarchitecture from the UniversalHouse of Justice)

When we learn about new rhythms, patterns, colors and otherforms of expression, our own

‘The American Bahá’í (USPS 042-430) is published monthiy by the National SpiritualAssembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 536 Sheridan60091. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Office of Membership and Records,Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Editor: Jack iLaura E. Hildreth. The American Bahá’í welcomes news, letters and other items of

Bowers. Associate editor:

interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should bewritten in a clear and concise manner; color or black-and-white glossy photographsshould be included whenever possible. Please address all materials to The Editor,The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright © 1988 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed inthe U.S.A.

This month’s column, ‘TheArts Can Help Us Achieve theThreefold Goals of Growth, Development and Integration,”’ waswritten by Anne Atkinson of Wilmette, Illinois.

growth is enhanced immensely.Development

In terms of development, everyculture, particularly after thecoming of a Manifestation ofGod, produces unique artistic expressions.

The Guardian explained that although now we see only the verybeginning of Bahá’í art, ‘‘we haveonly to wait a few years to see howthe spirit breathed by Baha’u’ll4hwill find expression in the work ofthe artists.”

He spoke of the architecture ofthe Temple as “‘the first ray of anearly dawn; even more wondrousthings are to be achieved in the future.” (Letters on behalf ofShoghi Effendi to individual Baha’is, quoted in U.S. Bahá’íNews, No. 73, May 1933, p. 7)

It is our actions, the Master explains, that ‘“‘will spread civilization, will help the progress of science, and cause the arts to develop.”’ (Paris Talks, pp. 80-81)

Certainly the development ofstories, fables, plays, dance,music and literature which hasbeen inspired by Bahd’{ themesand history will add richness andlife to our communities as we mature.

On a personal level, our participation in the arts (whether we pursue them as amateurs or as professionals) can aid our own development. When we strive to attain adegree of artistic perfection and touse the arts for their greatest purpose—to reflect the praise ofGod—our mind and spirit expandand our character is strengthenedand refined.

Integration

In terms of integration, the artscan play a great part in our realization of Baha’ ideals.

Racism, sexism, nationalismand other forms of prejudice canbe transcended through the language of art, which offers an arrayof diverse forms of expression and

‘a universal forum for participation.

Including black-oriented music,Persian dance and other vitalforms of art in our gatherings willhave a great benefit. Not only willthose who are invited to give ofthemselves feel more a part of thecommunity, but those who learnfrom their artistic expressions willbe able to integrate the culturerepresented in themselves, thushelping to erase prejudice and

communicate more fully on manylevels.

Baha’u’ll4h Himself has linkedart to “‘the well-being and harmony of all the kindreds of theearth’? and to the elevation ofman’s rank, the dispelling of lawlessness, and the security of thenations. (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh,pp. 72, 168-69)

And the Universal House ofJustice has encouraged Bahá’í artists and musicians ‘‘to contribute,and invite their non-Bahá’í colleagues to contribute, to ... givingexpression through the variousacts to important themes relatingto world peace.” (Letter of January 23, 1985, to all National Spiritual Assemblies)

On a personal level, our participation in artistic activities promotes wholeness, left/right braincoordination, and personality integration.

The arts have proven to be oftherapeutic value for people of allages, and recent studies haveshown that tension and violenceare reduced when those with suchproblems are exposed to the finearts.

Conclusion

How can we best incorporatethe arts in our lives and in the lifeof our Bahá’í community?

First by respecting the creative

capacities within ourselves andwithin others, then by maintainingthe courage and vision to channelthose capacities into the flow ofthe growth, development and integration of our communities.

Baha’u’llah tells us that ‘‘thepeople of Bahá should not denyany soul the reward due him,should treat craftsmen with deference, and unlike the peopleaforetime, should not defile theirtongues with abuse.’’ (Tablets ofBahá’u’lláh, pp. 38-39) i

Geoffrey Nash, in the introduction to the Bahá’í Studies Notebook entitled ‘‘Response to theRevelation: Poetry by Bahá’ís,’’has this to say:

“To the communities of Baha’fs we say: be kind to all with artistic gifts—to those who invariably are introverted and ineloquent in all but their art. To thelonely Bahá’í poet ... we say: persevere in what you have beengiven, in what you have to do; donot hide your light under abushel.”

When we can celebrate themany talents and gifts that exist inour community, when we can attract others through the manyforms of expression that we haveto offer, surely we will hasten theinevitable spiritual transformationof our planet.

House of Justice receivesVol. Ill of ‘Roses’ Journal

To the National Spiritual Assemblyof the Bahá’ís of the United StatesDear Bahá’í Friends,

The Universal House of Justice received, with a coveringmemorandum from your Office of the Treasurer dated December16, 1987, Volume III of the ‘‘Spirit of the Roses’’ Journal, Volumes I and II having been previously delivered at the World Center by Mr. Yvor Stoakley last November with your letter of October 21, 1987.

We have been asked to express the deep appreciation of theHouse of Justice for the gift, which reflects in tangible terms profound responses in love and deeds of the American Bahá’í community to the sacrifices of the persecuted friends in Iran. It is remarkable that the gesture of loving fraternity conveyed by the giftof 189 roses from the Iranian friends to your 1986 National Convention aroused such a wide range of activities among the friendsin the United States. The details recorded in the Journal are amoving testimony to the solidarity of the Bahá’í world community.

The House of Justice feels it is fitting that the Journal and theaccompanying items should, in view of the special circ*mstancesattending their creation, ultimately become the property of theIranian Bahá’í community. Therefore, they are being held in trustat the World Center until, in God’s good time, they can be turnedover to that blessed community for its archives, there to remain as

tokens of its spiritual triumph.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Universal House of JusticeOffice of the SecretariatJanuary 19, 1988

�[Page 3]

LETTERS

“The shining spark of truth comethSorth only after the clash of differingopinions.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

The American Bahá’í welcomes letters to the editor on any topic of general interest. The purpose of the “letters”” column is to allow a free andopen exchange of ideas and opinions,never to denigrate another’s views orto attack anyone on a personal level.Opinions expressed in these columns.are not necessarily those of the National Spiritual Assembly or the editors.

Letters should be as brief as possible(a 250-word maximum is suggested)and are subject to editing for lengthand style. Please address all letters tothe tr, The American Bahá’í, Ba‘ha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL60091.

Fostering ‘spiritual growth’

To the Editor:

Prompted by the recent letterfrom the Universal House of Justice to the Baha’is of the world, Iwould like to express some opinions that I have been holding for along time.

The letter asked for funds tohelp complete the remainingbuildings in Haifa, and remindedus to expect a series of possiblycatastrophic events that will causeunprecedented numbers of peopleto enter the Faith.

During the five years that I havebeen a Baha’i, I have noticed thatthe dominant mandate from theNational Spiritual Assembly hasbeen to teach the Cause and tocontribute to the Fund. Rarelyhave I noted national directivesaimed toward fostering the community’s spiritual growth.

What does it take for a community to unite spiritually? How doesa community deal with the diversity of spiritual, cultural and economic values brought to it by itsmembers? How does a communityattain unity in the face of the status quo, which resists this?

1 think there are scientific andpractical solutions to these questions, and that it will take the intellectual and material resourcesof communities and Assemblies toanswer them.

I think it is important, at thistime, that Assemblies and communities around the country prioritize consolidation and unifiction instead of teaching.

I say this because I think it iscrucial, if we are to accept manynew members on account of disaster, that we stand very strong inour beliefs. It would not be possible for us to serve as leaders andexamples of unity if we were notfirst united in purpose and inspirit.

Margaret CrowtherWoodville, Rhode Island

More opinions on ‘image’

To the Editor:

In response to Guy Shannon’swelcome points on our ‘‘image’’as Bahá’ís (Letters, September),may I share another perspective?

It seems to me that our imageshould conform to a desire toplease ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In that way,we care about how we present ourselves, not only to others but toour own families and our ownselves.

Many of those around us haveno expectations about Baha’ is because they know little about the

Faith. If each of us dresses to meet

‘Abdu’l-Bahá each day, interactswith family, business associatesand friends as if in the presence of‘Abdu’l-Bahá, people’s hearts

would be warmed by our love andinspired by our integrity.Shoghi Effendi refers to “...an

efficiency in our character andwork that distinguishes us ...(Living the Life)

So perhaps we could turn ourhearts toward pleasing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá while turning our thoughtsabout others toward ‘“‘bringingjoy to the hearts,”’ as He instructsus.

In the future, many will lieabout us and try “‘to discredit its(the Faith’s) name.’’ The generalpublic may become very confused.

If we try to live up to or livedown some ‘‘image’’ other peoplemay have of us, we take our sightfrom our tender desire to please“Abdu’l-Bahá.

Shoghi Effendi focused on theimportance of this relationshipwhen he wrote, ‘‘Dearly belovedfriends, upon us devolves the supreme obligation to stand by Hisside, to fight His battles, to winHis victory. May we prove ourselves worthy of this trust.”” (Bahá’í Administration, p. 123)

Diana CarsonLivingston, Guatemala

To the Editor:

During 20-odd years in thiswonderful Faith I have composedcountless mental replies to variousimportant issues raised in your“letters” column.

I am sure you understand whatI mean when I say that the best ofthese occur to me when in theshower or stuck in traffic. I see abit of irony in the fact that I havechosen to break my silence afterall these years to respond to aseemingly innocuous letter in theSeptember issue of The AmericanBahá’í under the headline ‘Ourimage is important.””

I don’t mean to question thevalidity of the point of view expressed in that letter. But I do intend to throw a little ballast intothe other side of the scales so thata more balanced understandingmight be reached. This is not adiatribe against cleanliness.

The Writings state (wonderfully), ‘‘Wings besmirched with miremay never soar.’’ As the motherof two small boys, I get a lot ofmileage out of that quote.

But even as I am quoting, Ican’t afford to fail to recognizethe fact that hearts of gold arehearts of gold, even if they beatwithin a breast grubby with someof the daily dross picked up in theback yard.

~ Having felt at home in the arts,in business, and at home, I havefound the concept of ‘‘image’”’ tobe a fluid and subjective abstraction.

Understanding what is “‘appropriate”’ to a given situation canrequire some thought, and isworth some consideration.

Here are a few points worthpondering before we leap onto thealready crowded bandwagon ofconformity:

short skirts. Clothing is a relatively safe arena in which we can express our unique style and makeof our utilitarian garments a workof art that is a celebration of whowe are.

It is wise to reflect on the past

and remember orderly armies ofpeewyiciean peazons in nest and tidy,

brown shirts.

As Bahda’is, we have a loftyagenda encompassing issues of international scope. To fully exercise our rightful influence in thecouncils of the world, we must betruly united and mutually supportive of the brilliant rainbowpalette of individuals coloring our

mt we can glory in our beautifuldifferences, and act as irersrather than critics, perhaps we willbe granted an extra measure ofstrength, credibility, and thebounty of recognition in thosecouncils.

People have been predicting thecollapse of civilization due to thenewest hair styles since the time ofSocrates. After shining ourselvesup like the bright apples we are,let us let the locks and the dust fallas they may, and, rememberingwith compassion the unwashedand unfashionable condition ofsome of our greatest heroes andpioneers, get on with looking intothe heart of things rather than thesurface.

April A. QuickSacramento, California

Artist’s work ‘scapegoat’?To the Editor:

LaJuana Williams’ letter (December) expressed her reaction tothe art work on the cover of theSeptember/October issue of Brilliant Star magazine.

She said she was offended bywhat she perceived as racialstereotyping, licentious suggestionand artistic ineptitude.

Although I can see what Ms.Williams is referring to, I personally find the picture innocuousbecause it’s so easy to see whatwas intended by the artist whocreated it.

It simply represents innocentchildhood feelings as depicted innaive art form and remains legitimate in its own right—in spite ofany misunderstandings on the partof cynical adults.

The artist had only love and respect for the subject matter, and itwould be quite unfair to seriouslyinterpret more beyond this.

It is truly ironic and sad that anillustration such as this—createdby an artist who takes pride in heruniversal love for mankind—canbecome a scapegoat for the overThe American Baha’i / March 1988 / 3

whelming emotions that comefrom racial crimes and injustice.In most cases, it’s probablywiser to judge an effort by what isintended instead of by the actualresult. In our desire to criticize, wemust not forget to encourage also.Fritz MannColorado Springs, Colorado

All politics not forbidden

To the Editor:

One of the “‘Bahá’í myths”’ debunked by Ben Norris (Letters,August), that the Faith is not political, is believed by a good manysincere but _ misguided people.

Politics is a necessity, not anevil; a country could not operateotherwise.

If the Faith were not political, itwould not be able to work withgovernments in other countries tocarry out relief projects or withthe UN in the area of human

rights.

In Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era(p.259), what is forbidden is meddling in political affairs withoutpermission of the ruler. What isforbidden by the Faith is partisanpolitics, not ail politics.

Non-partisan groups that aimfor government reform in theareas of spending, taxes, ecology,civil rights, etc., should be supported by Baha’is provided theyare not oriented toward a particular political party, do not embrace a particular ideology, orsupport a particular candidate.

An informed and active citizenty working legally and peacefullyis essential to a democratic andresponsive government, and is ourbest defense against the AdolphHitlers, Pol Pots, and others oftheir kind.

Kenneth EngelhardtN. Kingstown, Rhode Island

Warm memories of camp

To the Editor:

As the winter season settles in,my heart is warmed by memoriesof the 1987 Wisconsin Baha’iSummer School at Camp Byron.

As an isolated believer, the opportunities for Baha’i fellowshipare infrequent and too short.Summer school provided the experience of living for five full dayssurrounded by the love, unity,rea and happiness of Baha’i

fe.

1 was inspired by the study sessions and devotional programs,and felt joy during the social andrecreational events—especiallywhen hearing the laughter and excitement of the children.

I am looking forward to another wonderful week at SummerSchool in 1988, and would encourage other isolated believers toplan to attend and serve a SummerSchool program near them.“Such gatherings will give achance to friends from differentlocalities to come together and exchange views on the differentproblems of the Cause and also attract new souls to the spirit andteachings of the Faith. Not onlywill their knowledge of the Writings deepen but also the unity ofthe Cause will be strengthened and& work of teaching be enhanced. ...”” (Letter written on behalfof Shoghi Effendi to an individualbeliever, quoted in Bahd’/ NewsNo. 63, June 1932, p. 4).Kila HauBaraboo, WisconsinOne place to start teaching

To the Editor:

How many times have you, orperhaps your community, felt theneed to teach. You’ve thoughtabout or discussed the importanceof teaching, both for the Faithand for the spiritual bounties itbrings to individual Baha’is.

But then someone says,“‘Where do we start?’”’ And someone else says, “People aroundhere aren’t interested in spiritualthings.”

The will is there but the opportunities seem to be lacking: “‘Ifonly we could find people who areopen-minded and willing to investigate new ideas, who are searching for meaning in their lives.”

Suddenly a member of the community stands, saying, ‘‘What ifwe could put up posters and flyersthat could be seen by thousands,even tens of thousands of peopleevery day?

“What if we put advertisem*ntsand announcements about eventsin a newspaper or on a radio station that has hundreds of openminded, inquiring readers and listeners?

“Perhaps we could sponsortalks, even seminars on the Faithand related topics like the elimination of prejudice, equality, andworld peace that would be attended by 20, 50 or maybe even morethan a hundred people.’’

“*Wow,”’ another community» “that would be

“‘No,”’ the first speaker replies,“that would be the college campusright in our community! All wehave to do is offer our help to theBaha’i Club.

“Colleges and universities areamazing, underdeveloped resources for teaching the Faith.Thousands of students a day walk

See LETTERS page 30

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�[Page 4]4/ The American Baha’i / March 1988

STORIES OFTHE MARTYRS

DR. DIYA’U’LLAH AHRARI

Dr. Dfya’u’ll4h Ahrari wasborn in Sirmagq, a village in theProvince of Fars, Iran, in 1933.He finished his primary educationin that same village, and thenmoved to Abddan, in southwestern Iran, where he completed highschool.

After graduating, Dr. Ahrariwas hired by a private companywhere he worked for five years.As a devoted Baha’i, he decidedto pioneer overseas, and to thisend he chose Italy.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Italy suggested that he reside in Mantua, a city favored andcherished by the beloved Guardian and in need of pioneers tohelp form an Assembly.

Dr. Ahréri moved to Mantua,formed the Assembly, and afterrendering that valuable service tothe Cause, returned to Iran.

After three years in Iran, andhis marriage in 1966, he returnedto Italy—this time to Trieste, another city where there was a needfor an Assembly to be formed.

While pioneering in Italy, Dr.Ahréri managed to pursue hisstudies and obtained a degree inpharmacology.

After returning again to Iran afew years later, he experiencedsome difficulty in finding a jobbecause he had to state in his applications that he was a Baha’i.Eventually, he was hired as apharmacist at a hospital in Shiraz.

In Shiraz, Dr. Ahrari was quiteactive, serving on the Teachingand Pioneering Committees aswell as on the Spiritual Assembly,and during the last year of his lifewas secretary of that Assembly.

In December 1978, at a timewhen the homes of many Baha’iswere set on fire, Dr. Ahrari untiringly helped the afflictedfriends; he attended to their needsand was a source of comfort tothem.

When the Iran-Iraq war brokeout in 1980, and many of thefriends lost their homes and belongings as a result, he did everything he could to find housing forthe homeless Bahá’ís.

One night, during an Assemblymeeting, Dr. Ahrari heard that awoman and her two children hadleft war-torn Abdd4n and wereliving in an unfurnished: apartment in Shiraz.

He immediately asked permission to leave the meeting, andwent in the middle of the night to

See MARTYR page 31

Unified action

from page 1

tional Assembly ofCanada.

Dr. Henderson presented thedraft of a “‘statement of vision”addressed to the Bahda’is residentin North America by the Counselors and the two National SpiritualAssemblies, the complete text ofwhich is soon to be made public.

After a buffet lunch, Dr. Khanand the Counselors joined themembers of the National Assemblies for a meeting at the NationalḤaẓíratu’l-Quds while the Auxiliary Board members, membersof committees and National Center staff consulted in small groupsin Foundation Hall at the Houseof Worship.

The focal point of their deliberations was the letter of August 31in which the Universal House ofJustice detailed plans for construction of the remaining buildings comprising the Arc on MountCarmel in Haifa, Israel.

Spiritual

Reports summarizing the consultation among committees are

The National Spiritual Assembly and national committees continued their meetings through the

given during the extraordinarymeeting held February 12 at the

weekend, with most committeesmeeting also with the NationalTeaching Committee.

WilBahá’í National Center inmette, Illinois.

The Teaching Committee alsomet Friday evening with Dr.Khan.

Mass teaching

from page 1

Spiritual Assembly, who praisedthe spirit of unified action that exists among the Bahda’i in Massachusetts.

“Project Massachusetts,” saidDr. Henderson, “‘is an appropriate response to the spiritual challenges presented by the UniversalHouse of Justice in its letter of lastAugust 31, in which it says thatnow is the time to complete the architecture of the spiritual and divinely appointed World Order ofBaha’u’l4h.””

In illustrating the importance ofthat letter, Dr. Henderson movedbackward in time to a point 10years ago at which ‘‘none of usforesaw the revolution in Iran,none of us foresaw the persecutions that would again befall the

Singer/composerRed Grammer onDisney TV channel

Bahá’í entertainer Red Grammer has appeared three times oncable television’s Disney Channel—on February 26, March 3 andMarch 12.

As one of the stars of the Kaleidoscope Concert series, Mr.Grammer performed songs fromthe album “‘Teaching Peace” andfrom his first children’s album,“Can You Sound Just Like Me?”

“Teaching Peace’”’ can be purchased from the Baha’i PublishingTrust. Baha’is all over the worldhave used this tape, which was inspired by “The Promise of WorldPeace,”” to teach the Faith indirectly, since it does not mentionBaha’u’ll4h or the Baha’i Faith.

In addition, an independentcompany, Light Art, is distributing Mr. Grammer’s tapes to thepublic through retail stores andorganizations.

Please refer any inquiries aboutthe purchase of ‘“‘Can You SoundJust Like Me?” or the distributionof Mr. Grammer’s tapes outsideof the Baha’i community to LightArt, P.O. Box 456, Georgetown,CT 08929, or phone Terry Powers, 203-438-7155.

Iranian Baha’i community, andnone of us could have anticipatedwhat would result from theirsteadfastness, from their firmnessin the Covenant. ...”’

The area planning meetings inMassachusetts will continue; sowill the progress of each of thegrassroots projects and of themany more yet to be planned atthe community meetings.

Among the projects alreadyunder way:

The Cape Cod IntercommunityGroup, formed by the SpiritualAssembly of Barnstable, has received a mandate from that Assembly to undertake five impressive projects including:

(1) a Cape-wide proclamationcampaign this summer; (2) regularworkshops on homefront pioneering for Bahá’ís throughout thearea; (3) a systematic approach toproviding regular Cape-wide firesides; (4) social and economicdevelopment activities; and (5)participating in and supportingthe Shelter Support Project orstarting a similar effort on CapeCod.

Meanwhile, the Library Projecthas close to 15 believers across thestate checking on books at the libraries and borrowing the booksif necessary to prevent their beingtaken off the shelves.

The Footsteps Committee,which is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Westboroughand picked up five new membersat the conference in Worcester,has plans for an InternationalFestival, a proclamation to honorthose who arose to serve Bahá’u’lláh at the request of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His visit to Massachusetts in 1912.

The ‘‘Press for Peace’? MediaProject has received the sponsorship of the Spiritual Assembly ofBrookline and is forging ahead

50 attend UN Daymeeting in Colorado

About 50 people, only 15 ofwhom were Bahá’ís, attended aUN Human Rights Day observance last December 10 sponsoredby the Bahá’í Club at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Dr. Gwendolyn Thomas, a non-Bahá’í, spoke on ‘‘Prejudice andIts Effect on Us.”” The moderators were Baha’is Robin Heaneyand Dale Marxen.

with plans for a reception formedia representatives to which aState representative may be invited to receive a copy of the peacestatement.

And finally, the WidespreadDistribution of the Peace Statement Project announced that individuals and communities hadsigned up for the purchase of5,000 copies of the statement inthe two weeks since the Worcesterconference on January 24.

“Now we look with the perspective of 10 years,”’ he said,“‘and we trace the dramatic developments that have characterizedthe march of the Faith in that spanof time, and we see that the shedding of the blood of the martyrswas the agency for the emergenceof the Faith from obscurity. ...

“We went from a_ religionwhich talked about global spiritual revolution, which talkedabout a time of great change atevery level of life, to a religionwhich is in the forefront of making that change. ...

“‘We confront our daily struggles and the world is very small—the world of the commonplace, ofpersonal strife and difficulty. Inthe midst of this, He has nourished us with His spirit—what wedo will have significant effectswithin and without and will causethe transformation of the world.

“During this time we will have

many things to do, things that alsocost money. But building the Arcis a spiritual process.

“From top to bottom we mustbe strong, solid, disciplined,unified, exhibiting evidences ofspiritual health.””

The conference included announcements by representatives of35 grassroots projects who, oneafter another, reported the purpose and status of those effortsand sought support from those atthe conference.

The majority of these projectswere either formed or reactivatedwithin the last few months. Sincethe first statewide conference inNovember 1987, the believersthroughout Massachusetts havetaken part in conferences in 19designated planning areas.

The results of these meetingshave been staggering; there hasbeen a great surge of activity andexcitement as a consequence ofworking together in a spirit ofUnified Action.

Early in the afternoon, threeworkshops were conducted withproject representatives present ateach, prepared to network and toconsult with those who were interested in joining or supporting aparticular plan or project or whowere inspired and wanted to learnmore so that they might start asimilar grassroots effort in theirown community.

linois.

away beds are $10/night extra.

each additional passenger.

IL 60091.

National Convention details

The 79th Baha’i National Convention will be held May 19-22 inFoundation Hall at the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, IIHotel accommodations: Special arrangements have been madewith the Orrington Hotel, 1710 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, IL60201. The toll-free phone number is 1-800-323-5998 (in Illinois,1-800-942-2569). To obtain special rates when making reservations, indicate that you will be attending the Bahá’í Convention.Rates are $54/night (plus tax) for single or double rooms. RollGround transportation: Shuttle buses to and from the House ofWorship and the Orrington Hotel will be available. Transportation from O’Hare Airport is provided by Continental Air Transport to the Orrington for $10/person. For other North Shorehotels, rates are $18 for the first person, $4 for each additionalperson. Taxis (AAA 303 Cab, phone: 312-256-0303) charge $16for each trip (O’Hare to/from Evanston/Wilmette) plus $1 for

Seating: All seats for this year’s National Convention havebeen reserved, and no more are available. Those who have received confirmations but cannot come should notify the NationalSpiritual Assembly so that others can be accommodated. Write tothe Bahá’í National Center, Attn: Convention Seating, Wilmette,

�[Page 5]The American Baha’i / March 1988 / 5

9 Fund

Advancing the Faith around the World

Treasurer’s advisory committees gather

in Wilmette to consult on status of Fund

“‘Canada’s problems are verysimilar to those of the UnitedStates,’’ said David Hadden,treasurer of the National SpiritualAssembly of Canada, during ameeting February 13 in Wilmetteof members of the Financial,Business Planning, and EstatePlanning/Fund Development Advisory Committees.

Two members of Mr. Hadden’sstaff, Jennifer DeWars and William Sims; Dorothy Nelson, treasurer of the U.S. National SpiritualAssembly; and members of theTreasurer’s Office staff at the NaKansas Baha’is giveunity Feast at schoolfor Methodist youth

Several Baha’is in Hutchinson,Kansas, were invited last December to make a presentation at awinter school for young people ingrades 9-12 sponsored by the Western Kansas Conference of theMethodist Church.

Three Baha’is, William andMarcia Gitchell and GeoffreyWarren, spoke about the Faith ata morning session and presentedthe video tape ‘‘The Bahá’í FaithThrough the Eyes of Youth.”’

This was followed by a lively40-minute question-and-answersession.

Asked to conduct a worship service in the afternoon, the Baha’ispresented a unity Feast, giving abrief description of the Bahá’í calendar and discussing briefly thethree aspects of a Bahá’í Feast.

As an example of the sort ofmessages read at Feast from theNational Spiritual Assembly orthe Universal House of Justice,they read parts of ‘‘The Promiseof World Peace.”

The Baha’is were warmlythanked by the organizers of theschool, and several of the youngpeople expressed their appreciation and asked for copies of thepeace statement.

tional Center in Wilmette joinedthe Baha’ business, financial andlegal professionals on the committees for their day-long consultation and recommendations to theNational Assembly.

It was the second joint meetingof the committees since their appointment last fall. The participation of the Canadian Baha'ismarked a further evolution in thecollaboration between these co-inheritors of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets of the Divine Plan.

Projects discussed ranged froma proposed business planningnewsletter and a borrowing policyfor the National Assembly to aseries of estate planning seminars.

Dr. Amy Seidel Marks, a Baha’imarketing consultant hired lastyear by the National Spiritual Assembly and Baha’i PublishingTrust to conduct a survey of theAmerican Bahá’í community, presented some of the demographicand financial results gleaned fromthat survey.

“Compared to the general population,’’ she said, ‘‘our respondents were significantly better educated (i.e., 50 percent had collegedegrees compared to 20 percent inthe U.S. as a whole), yet the income levels of the Bahá’í respondents were about the same as thegeneral population.””

Dr. Marks also noted from herresearch a high correlation amongthe respondents between readingthe Creative Word and teaching.

Financial Advisory Committeemembers Michael Hampton (Indiana) and Michael Furst (Minnesota), Business Planning Committee members Donald Decker(Oklahoma) and Anthony Reid(California), and Estate Planning/Fund Development Committee members Bonnie Barnes(Georgia), Steven Gonzales (Michigan), Ronald Carrigan (California), Rick Miller (Florida) andDeanna Recker (Arizona) reported on the progress of their respective committees.

“T give praise to Thee, O my God, that the fragrance of Thy loving-kindnesshath enraptured me, and the gentle winds of Thy mercy have inclined me inthe direction of Thy bountiful favors.’’ (Prayers and Meditations, p. 240)

Universal House of Justice offers guidelinesconcerning community’s fund-raising activities

One issue challenging the American Bahá’í community is that of“fund-raising.” The Office of theTreasurer receives many lettersand telephone calls about the appropriateness of such familiarpractices as pledges, auctions, raffles, lotteries, and raising fundsfor charity.

The worldwide Baha’i community is called upon to raise up a“new race of men” infused withnew attitudes and new definitionsfor time-worn words, and chargedwith forging new patterns of behavior.

What have we inherited fromthe ‘‘old world’”’ that should befostered? What new definitionsand practices are prescribed by theDivine Educator, Baha’u’llah?

The following statements by theUniversal House of Justice mayserve to clarify various aspects offund-raising for you and yourcommunity and provide usefulreferences in your consultation:

Use of pledge forms

“Concerning the use of pledgeforms to encourage contributionsto the National Fund, this may bedone provided no pressure is usedeither with regard to having thebelievers sign such a form or forthe collection of pledges whichhave been made. ...”” (From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Ecuador, November 1,1964, published in Lights of Guidance, p. 205)

Auctions, games of chance andraffles

“Your letter of 18 March 1987concerning the ... Conference in

. with its auction of items contributed by friends in order toraise funds for the Faith, has beenreceived by the Universal Houseof Justice, and we are asked toconvey its advice.

“It is assumed that the auctionis one which involved Baha’is only, the Persian pioneers appearingto be the primary participants.There is no objection to Baha’isgiving contributions in kind to anauctioneer to sell for the benefit ofthe fund. However, pressureshould not be brought to bearupon those participating in theauction, and a properly dignifiedatmosphere should be maintained.

“Contributing to the Bahá’íFund is a very important aspect ofBaha’i life, and care must betaken to avoid trivializing thisspecial obligation. If your auctionis not restricted to Baha’is, then itmust not be announced that theevent is one designed to raisefunds for the Faith; non-Baha’isshould assume that they are participating in a normal auction inwhich articles are sold for theirfair market value.

“While, in general, auctions arenot encouraged because of the difficulty in maintaining the recognition that giving to the Fund,however indirectly, is a spiritualresponsibility and privilege, nevertheless it is important not to dampen the enthusiasm of the friendswho seek imaginative ways to con

tribute to the Faith.” (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, April 14, 1987)

“Tn reviewing your Minutes for14 March 1967, we note Item 25-Bin which the Treasurer suggests alottery as a means of disposing ofa Persian carpet which has beengiven to you by one of the believers. We do not feel this is an appropriate way in which to raisefunds. ...’”

“As to participation in Bingogames by a local Spiritual Assembly with the intention of contributing to the Fund, we do not feelit is appropriate for funds for theFaith to be raised through gamesof chance or raffles.”

“It has been noted that amongthe methods used to raise fundswas to hold a raffle. We are instructed to quote the followingfrom a letter written by the Universal House of Justice on thesubject:

‘The holding of raffles has notbeen specifically mentioned in theKitáb-i-Aqdas, and the UniversalHouse of Justice has not legislatedon the matter. However, we donot at present consider it desirablefor Bahá’í institutions to raisefunds by this method.’ ’”

“*.,,the House of Justice feelsthat it is important for the friendsnever to lose sight of the fact thatcontributing to the funds of theFaith is a spiritual responsibilityand privilege of profound significance in the spiritual life of the individual believer, and care mustbe taken not to trivialize this aspect of Bahd’{ life by applying toit too many ‘gimmicks’ or treatingit with a lack of dignity. At thesame time, the Assemblies shouldnot dampen the enthusiasm ofthose friends who, having onlyslender financial resources, deviseimaginative ways of earningmoney for the work of the Faith.

“Within this framework, thereis clearly a difference in the rangeof activities open to individualsand those which it would be befitting and dignified for a SpiritualAssembly to engage in or sponsor.””

“There is clearly no objectionto an Assembly’s giving contributions in kind to a professional auctioneer to sell and then to use theproceeds for the fund. Whether itwould be improper to hold suchan ‘ordinary auction’ among Baha’is would depend upon the Assembly’s judgment as to whether aproperly dignified atmospherecould be observed and alsowhether it could be construed asbringing pressure to bear upon thefriends to contribute, whichwould, of course, be undesirable.In general the House of Justiceprefers not to encourage such auctions for the fund.” (Extractsfrom letters of the UniversalHouse of Justice enclosed with aletter from the House of Justice tothe National Spiritual Assemblyof Malaysia, June 26, 1982)

Raising funds for charity andhumanitarian causes

“Your letter of 22 July has beenreceived by the Universal Houseof Justice which has asked us torespond as follows. i

“The provisions set out in theletter of 17 July 1978 written toyour National Spiritual Assemblyon behalf of the House of Justiceremain applicable. The followingpassage from the Pen of Bahd’u'll4h

“Tt would be impossible to conceive of any act more contemptible than soliciting, in the nameof the one true God, the richeswhich men possess. ...””

clearly indicates what the attitude of the Baha’is should be.

“There is, however, a widerange of fund-raising activities inwhich Baha’is may engage. Forexample, Baha’i institutions arefree to approach governments orinstitutions which hold themselvesout as wishing to fund charitableactivities, to apply for grants toassist in specific humanitarianprojects. A Bahd’{ school whichhas both Bahá’í and non-Baha’ipupils is free to raise funds for itsown development by such activities as concerts, etc., or by appealsto parents; in this instance, ahumanitarian institution is clearlyidentified, and the funds are beingcollected in its name rather than inthe name of the Faith.

See FUND-RAISING page 31

‘WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?’

Contributions to the National Bahd’ Fund provide pioneers, resident teachers and year-of-servicevolunteers (youth) with a weekend

of training and deepening to prepare them for international servicein distant lands.�[Page 6]6 / The American Baha’i / March 1988

Report chronicles excitement, joy of Taiwan campaign

There have been several announcements about the need fortraveling teachers to go to Taiwanto help with the Muhájir Teaching

Project. The need for teachers remains urgent. Here is a reportSrom Jene Bellows, a Bahá’í fromSkokie, Illinois, who has been inthe forefront of the teaching workin Taiwan for the past severalmonths.

.We have had more than 1,000new believers in Taiwan since last

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?PICK A COUNTRY—PIONEER!

We have only 13 months remaining in which to meet our obligations—fill 62 goals. The beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, so eloquently pleaded:

“Will they not arise with super-human energy and united effortto spread the Cause ...?’’ And again: ‘‘I fervently hope that in thenear future the whole earth may be stirred and shaken by the results of your achievements.’’ ‘‘Exert yourselves: your mission isunspeakably glorious. ””

What a promise! What bounties await you!

If you cannot go now, you can still support the pioneering effort. Remember Shoghi Effendi’s directive in The Advent ofDivine Justice:

“Should they find it impossible to take advantage of so rareand sacred a privilege, let them, mindful of the words of Baha’u’ll4h, determine, each according to his or her disposal, to appoint a deputy who, on that believer’s behalf, will arise and carryout so noble an enterprise.’’

Let us hear from you soon. Contact the Office of Pioneering,Baháa’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-8699039 for more information.

U.S. International Pioneer CallRidvan 1987—Ridvan 1988

Preferably Persian

North Abaco, Eleu(S) Venezuela

thera, Andros, Cat Island, Long Island(E) Barbados ran Total Americas 45Employment opportunities for a dentist ee(E) Belize f ©) India 20(E) Malaysia 120

(S) For radio, consolidation, development projects; skills for NaTo help develop public relations experts

AFRICA Assigned Sent self-supporting Assigned Sent() Burundi 1 0 ©) Jamaica 4 0() Ciskei 2 ho Preferably self-sup(E) The Gambia porting for rural areasPreferably Persian 2 2 to work in village©) Kenya developmentPreferably outside (F) Martinique 1 0Nairobi Lake, French-speaking(©) Nigeria 3 0 youth to enroll in uni(E) Sierra Leone 2 0 versity or with musical(E) South Africa 2 1 talent(E) St. Helena 2 0 (S) Nicaragua 24 1D(E) SW Africa/Namibia 2 1 Preferably Persian©) Transkei 2 2 () Paraguay 2 0(EB) Uganda (BE) St. Lucia 4 1One to teach in the Skills in community“university; one doctor 2 1 consolidation(E) Venda 2 1 ©) St. Vincent/Grena 2 0Total Africa 23 10 dines() Suriname BogAMERICAS Preferably Persian(€) Bahamas 3 2 @) Trinidad/Tobago Bo

Dhigp(E) Virgin Islands, British 2 018

May. There was a slowdown herefor about six weeks because theNational Assembly switchedgears, requiring equal ion proclamation and consolidation as well as expansion. Now weare in balance, and enrollmentsare climbing again without a slowdown in consolidation or proclamation.

During the first month I washere I traveled to three locations,helped set up centers, and devisedsystems of communication amongthe teaching teams, the TaskForce and the National SpiritualAssembly. My computer helps.

At first, our goal was to contactthe new Baha’is. We began withsocial get-togethers and shortdeepenings. Through this, there isa natural expansion taking place,as the friends bring their friendsand family members to the Faith.

Last stop on the first circuit, Imoved on to Taitung, in southeastern Taiwan, where the teaching team was working, to observetheir work and afterward to makesuggestions to the National Spiritual Assembly.

Taitung is in a rather remotearea, reached only by plane, train(seven hours) or bus (10 hours) directly from Taipei, the capitalcity. Or, if coming around fromthe west, one can go only as far asKaohsiung by train or plane. Thenthere is a four-hour bus trip overstomach-wrenching mountainhighways with few or no guardtails, and rainwashed potholesthat begin in the middle of theroad and widen as they get closerto its outside edge.

We had the largest number ofnew believers join the Faith in Taitung, more than 400 in a veryshort time! Most are young people, high school or college age.

We now have a beautiful Centerthere, and it is visited every nightby the new Bahá’ís.

Kenton Dunbar and I just returned from Taitung. We werethere for three days, and at least30 of the new believers came out

during that time, some of themtwo or three times. And they bringtheir friends and family.

The new believers have startedcontributing to the Fund (as of themost recent Nineteen Day Feast).All four new Centers are hostingFeast every month.

We had a youth meeting onSunday. As a result of their consultation, the friends decided theywanted to help with the teachingwork, help with the Center, andasked to learn more about theFaith!

These are well-educated youngpeople with open minds andhearts. The cynicism and sophistication encountered in other partsof the world are absent here.

A traveling teacher (an architect) presented a slide program onarchitecture and religion in one ofthe industrial schools. As a result,the headmaster now comes to theBaha’i Center every day, and hasasked us to help with Englishclasses.

Last night, more than 400 attended another slide program atthe same school, many of whose

students have joined the Faith.

The same program was presented in the city of Makung on Penghu, one of the islands in the Pescadores, off Taiwan. Three teachers there have joined the Faith andare bringing their colleagues to theCenter, which they refer to as“thome.”’

One of the goal areas of the National Spiritual Assembly was Chiayi Mountains, where the Tsaopeople live. They are a protectedminority.

To go into these mountains, wehad to get mountain passes fromthe government. A team of fourBaha’fis—an American, a Japanese, an Australian and a Malaysian Chinese—went to Shang MeiChuen (a village). There are now62 new Baha’is in the village!

The village priest (an American)invited the Bahá’ís to attend masslast Sunday, and to present theFaith to his flock. They received astanding ovation from the peopleand were asked to stay for lunch.

And this is only a /ittle of thegood news! It goes on and on withsuccess upon success!

Forty-three prospective pioneersattended a Pioneer Training Institute held January 8-10 at theBosch Bahá’í School in SantaCruz, California. Included in the

‘program were presentations byAuxiliary Board member EdwardDiliberto and two former pioneers, Ann Sadeghpour and Rebecca Johnston.

Summer work campsoverseas are lookingfor young volunteers

Looking for a different kind ofsummer? Try an internationalwork camp.

Volunteers for Peace sponsors2-3 week programs in 36 countriesthat allow volunteers a chance towork in construction, agricultureor maintenance, or on social andenvironmental projects.

Family-style living arrangements allow work campers to coordinate and share daily dutiessuch as food preparation and entertainment.

Cost of the program is $75-$90.Each person is responsible fortransportation costs to the workcamp site.

Work camps are scheduled for1988 in Europe, Central andNorth America, and Africa.

For more information, contactthe Office of Pioneering, Bahá’íNational Center, Wilmette, IL60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

2nd ‘Stepping Stones’ Conference set

The second annual ‘SteppingStones to Peace’’ Children’s Conference will be held June 18 at theCivic Center in Pasadena, California.

The conference is open to parents and their children ages 15years or younger. Youth abovethat age and adults will serve asvolunteer ‘‘Peace Buddies’ tohelp younger children and theirteachers in conference activities.

The goal of the conference,which is sponsored by the Baha’isof Pasadena, is to help childrenunderstand their role in achievingand maintaining world peace, nowand in the future.

This year’s activities will focuson unity in diversity; local children’s service groups, churches andpeace organizations will be invitedto take part.

Pre-registration is required. The$15 (per person, age three and up)fee ($20 after May 15) includesconference materials and a boxlunch.

Like to study, teach abroad?

tional Secretariat ) Nepal 210

(P) Brazil 23) TaiwanPreferably for Ama- Chinese background = y 7zon Project; possibly Total Asia slycane en AUSTRALASIA

(S) Chile 2 0 (E) Marshall IslandsJuan Fernandez Is- To help with adminislands, preferably tration ceSpanish-speaking Total Australasia = yycouple

(©) Dominica 2 1 EUROPE

(F) French Guiana 3. 0 (©) Portugal 2,340Preferably Persian Couples for goal areas

(E) Grenada Dani outside greater Lis(F) Guadeloupe 2 um bon, preferably PortuOpportunities for ‘guese or SpanishEnglish teachers speaking

(©) Guyana 2 0 Total Europe 250Preferably East Indians and blacks Language Key

(S) Honduras 2 7 @)English —(M) MandarinBay Islands, Yoro, (D) Dutch —_(P) PortugueseColon; preferably (F) French —_(S) Spanish

Are you interested in studying or teaching abroad? The Officeof Pioneering has information on resource guides for studentsand teachers, available through the Institute of InternationalEducation. For more information, please contact the Office ofPioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Participation is limited to 1,500registrants including adults andchildren.

Volunteers are needed to teach,and ‘Peace Buddies’’ also areneeded to help make the conference a success.

For registration forms and volunteer information, write to“Stepping Stones to Peace,”’ P.O.Box 844, Sierra Madre, CA 91024,or phone 818-459-9033.

Guyana beckons U.S.youth to teach there

Youth: Are you itching to traveland help spread the Bahá’í YouthMovement?

The youth in Guyana are arising! The National Spiritual Assembly of Guyana is asking foryouth from the U.S. to come toGuyana next August to helpspread the enthusiasm and continue the momentum initiated bythe youth in that country.

The time is ripe for victory!Let’s take the energy and inspiration of the International YouthConference in Bloomington, Indiana, to the youth in Guyana.

If you are interested, pleasecontact the Office of Pioneering,Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.�[Page 7]The American Baha’i / March 1988 / 7

Youth Conferenceto ‘Set Stage’ forgrowth, change

“The Stage Is Set!”” From June30-July 4, people from around theworld will be attending the International Youth Conference at theUniversity of Indiana in Bloomington to gain a deeper understanding of their role in the Causeof Baha’u’llah.

Participants will also discoverwhy “‘the stage is set”’ at this moment in history for dramaticchange and transformation bothwithin the Baha’i community andin the world at large.

The International Youth Conference will actually be a tripleconference for children, youthand parents whose programs willfocus on the significance of theday in which we live, the influenceof the Revelation of Baha’u’ll4h,and what the immediate futureholds in store.

Included will be talks by members of senior institutions of theFaith, exciting presentations byyouth, and multi-media programs.

Bahá’ís are asked to bring their

See CONFERENCE page 20

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Do you want to save time, $10.00, and avoid on campuscheck-in and registration hassles? Then:

Include full payment with your registration form.

-Use one form per person.

CONFERENCE SERVICES

On campus dormitory housing is recommended. Most roomshave two single beds. A limited amount of single rooms isavailable to adults only. Linens and pillows are provided. Mostrooms are NOT air conditioned. Air conditioned rooms are beingreserved for those with special health-care needs. Fans may berented on campus for $6.00. ‘Those wishing to room together‘should enclose their forms in one envelope,

PLAN A ~ includes dormitory housing, double occupancy, 10 meals and01

registration fees per person for the entire weekend.

PLAN B -- includes dormitory housing, single occupancy (for adults only), 10meals and registration fees per person for the entire weekend.

PLAN C ~ (please read carefully) is designed to give families a cistsrate. child or youth may register under this plan and nothousing charges. ‘The two beds in the room must be paid for by 10‘other family members registering under PLAN A. In order to usePLAN C there must be no more than 4 persons per room; PLAN Cregistrants must be accompanied by two people registering underPLAN A._ No bedding or linen will be provided for those regesteringunder PLAN C.

PLAN D — only applies for persons who are NOT planning to stay indormitory housing. This is a conference registration fee only.

BAHA’! CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

Name

StreetCityBaha'i ID#

Race/Ethnic Background

PLEASE CHECK ONE:__Thave enclosed the forms of the person(s) I wish to room with

1 will accept the roommate assigned

‘Special assistance required (DISABLED NEEDS).

Will you be attending the special workshops

Cer reece ecm cat

PLAN SELECTED:

ene ene eaePARKING PERMIT eee

AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUS) $____

SUB-TOTAL $a$10 LATE FEE (after June 1) $_

TOTAL $

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FULLAMOUNT IN U. S. FUNDS.

To 38 Lam Please have parent fill out

Date

be oe ee

1, . parent ofYouth Committee to consent to any and all necessary medical or surgical treatment deemed advisable by any physician or surgeonlicensed under the provisions of the Medical Practice Act effective while my child is attending this event.

Signature of parent —

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY—— Dt ————

(CONFERENCE ATTENDING (Check one):

Youth (age as of July 88)—~ Parent (complete parent section below)Children's (grade completed as of July, '88) _

for the Hearing Impaired and Deaf?

CURES ORBPlease complete the following section:

All parents bringing children (under 13) to the conference are asked to devote‘some time in service to the Bah’ Children's Conference.Additional volunteers are also welcome. Please fill out this section.

Would you prefer to tach?_______ Assist?‘What age group(s) would you prefer to work with?hrs,

Number of hours and/or days you are willing to offer. days

Special skills/talents you can share

PMD OO tot

If you would like to volunteer, check area of preference: ____ Ushering______ Registration ____Security______ Children's Conference

this section, even if parent will be attending the conference.

» a minor, authorize the Baha'i National

Please fill out this section if you are being sponsored by someone other than a parent.

arent of

Date —_

CHECKS SHOULD BE MADEPOZO OM CE bh Le

» appointis be tay ChILTy Fpomnee GE BENT Inczrnsional Youth Conlereace TOE "The sponsor will serve as @ good and Kindly parentto my child and is fully responsible for himvher at the conference.

BAHA'I IYC 88P.O. BOX 49147JAX BEACH, FL 32250

MAIL FORM AND FEES TO:

permit ($5.00 per vehicle).

FEE SCHEDULE ADULT YOUTH — CHILDREN

PACKAGE PLANS 21&up 13-20 612 35 02

PLAN A dormitory double 115.00 88.00 88.00 70.00 30.00

PLAN B dormitory single 135.00 does not apply

PLAN C domnitory discounted N/A 64.00 64.00 45.00 5.00(family plan),

PLAN D 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 5.00

REFUNDSFull refunds will be available if registration is cancelled prior to June Ist.June Ist, a $15 service fee will be deducted.

After

Those wishing to stay in area hotels must make theirown reservations (see list below). The Indiana MemorialUnion Hotel, located on campus, is the official conference hotel.Mention the Bahd’{ conference when making all hotelreservations to ensure you receive the discounted rates.

BLOOMINGTON HOTELS - per night(Hotel rates do NOT include tax) Number of guests per room

one two three four

INDIANA MEMORIAL UNION 38.00 45.06 55.00 60.00Woodlawn & 7th Street / (812) 332-6381

KNIGHTS INN 2950 35.00 38.00 41.001800 North Walnut / (812) 332-0820

HOWARD JOHNSON'S 38.00 44.00 49.00 54.001722 North Walnut / (812) 332-7241

RAMADA INN 47.00 55.00 62.00 70.00

1710 Kinser Pike / (812) 334-3252

HOLIDAY INN2601 North Walnut / (812) 332-9453

HAMPTON INN2100 North Walnut / (812) 334-2100

(under 18 free with parent)

42.00. 47.00 47.00 47.00(under 18 free with parent)

36.00 40.00 40.00 40.00

Information on area camping facilities is availablefrom the registration office...phone (904) 249-1863.

FOOD SERVICES

On campus meals are included with dormitory housing. Mealsbegin with breakfast on Friday, July 1 and end with breakfast onMonday, July 4 and will be served in campus cafeterias.

There are restaurants and fast food facilities near campus aswell as in area hotels for those making their own housing andfood arrangements.

Please note that on campus housing and food rates have beennegotiated as a package to keep costs low. We cannot adjust ratesfor missed meals or partial use of dormitory rooms.

TRAVEL INFORMATIONIndiana University is in Bloomington, located about 55 miles

south of Indianapolis, Indiana. If you will be travelling by car,

ample parking is available on campus by purchasing a parking

, the closest airport is inIndianapolis, a one hour's drive to campus. Special shuttle buseshave been arranged between the airport and campus at adiscounted rate of $20.00 round trip. Other services areavailable at a considerably higher cost. Look for Bahá’íinformation booths at the airport.

ON CAMPUS TRANSPORTATION

Buses will be available for on campus transportation. Attendeesmay pay 45 cents per trip or buy an unlimited use pass for $5.00at the conference.

SPONSORSHIP for Junior Youth and Children

Everyone under the age of 15 not accompanied by a parent musthave a same sex adult (21 & up) sponsor sharing the same room.The sponsor AND parent must complete and sign the sponsorship section of the registration form.

MEDICAL RELEASE for those under eighteenEveryone under 18 must have a parent fill out the medical releasesection on the registration form...NO EXCEPTIONS!

WHAT TO WEARThe weather will be HOT! Plan accordingly, but please remember that we will represent the Faith in Bloomington.

NURSERY SERVICESA cooperative nursery will be set up for the care of children under

See REGISTRATION page 32

�[Page 8]8 / The American Baha’i / March 1988

Young people learn, grow, cherish memoriesof joyous Baha’i Summer Camp experience

> EDUCATION

What Bahá’í summer experience has the fulfilling elements ofsummer schools, youth conferences, community children’s classes, and teen nights combined intoone? A Bahá’í Resident Camp.

Last summer the upper Midwestwas fortunate to offer its youngpeople two Baha’ camp experiences, Camp Kamal (in northernWisconsin) for children ages 9-14,and Camp Louhelen (at the Louhelen School in Michigan) foryoungsters ages 7-11.

Why a Bahá’í camp?

As expressed often by the 75

Baha’i youth who attended thesecamps, there is no better place inwhich to experience living in a Baha’i community, and deepening inthe Faith, than when they get together—be it at an internationalconference, local retreat, weeklyclass, or, as last summer—at acamp.A Bahá’í camp provides a sustained community where the program of experiences is often initiated, developed and implemented by and for the youth.

At its core are the skills learnedwhen the young people live, workand play with diverse members ofthe camp community. Such acommunity of youth, when associated with a dedicated, qualityadult staff, creates a fertile learning environment.

Moreover, camp gives eachyouth the experience of a smallgroup where issues and problemsare addressed in a democratic wayand the skills of consultation are

developed daily.

In an age in which organizations, schools and work places areoften immense, camping remainson a human scale.

And most critically, the modernneed of young people to reacquaint themselves with thatspecial ecological give-and-take byliving in the out-of-doors is central to camps. At camp, throughcanoeing, swimming, archery,crafts, hikes and star-gazing, tomention only a few activities,campers inhale the natural worldtogether.

Finally, a Baha’i camp renewsone’s spirit. The close intermingling of friendships, the dedicatedguidance of an adult Baha’i, thesense of accomplishment andpride in completing tasks andlearning new skills, the respect indiscovering the natural world, andthe love shared in a harmoniouscommunity all nourish the camper.

Camp Kamal, sponsored by theSpiritual Assembly of Beloit, Wisconsin, had campers from allareas of the Midwest and someeastern states.

These young Bahda’is spent aweek involved in various outdoorrecreational activities and Bahá’ídeepenings. Whether during dawnprayers, canoeing, rehearsing foran evening campfire skit, or taking part in an intercultural gamefestival, each camper knew thatthis camp was special.

The caring demonstrated by theBaha’i counselors, the cooperation evident in each cabin group,the deepenings and seemingly limitless fun and happiness helpedform a special bond that manyyoung Bahá’ís experienced duringtheir week at camp.

Suggested topics are:

¢ Health in an aging population

Please submit abstracts or requests for information to: BIHA,4265 Ste-Catherine West, Westmount, QC, Canada H3Z 1P7, orphone 514-931-7640.

Important reminder: Have youthought of becoming a member orrenewing your membership?Please contact us.

Zoroaster’s faith topic“Zoroaster, Prophet of theMagi”’ is the topic of the annualNur’u’ll4h Baha’i School to beheld April 2 at Indiana UniversitySoutheast in New Albany.

The school begins with registration at 9 a.m. and lasts until 4:30p.m. The fee is $7 per person or$12 per family.

Scheduled speakers includeMike Simmons, director of theCenter for Zoroastrian Research

at Nur’u’llah Schoolat Indiana University in Bloomington, and Manoocher Mofidi,who will present the Baha’i writings on Zoroaster.

There will be classes for children and a weekend-long programfor youth.

For more information, pleasewrite to Joy Sylvester, registrar,

_ Indianapolis, IN 46201, or phone 317-6324795.

Green AcreBaha’i SchoolSpring 1988 Schedule

April 15-17: Singles Retreat.Coordinator: Cornelia Leavitt.Facilitators: Grace Bates, JoanneHenderson, Ben Salvage, FarzinShakibanejad. In consultativegroups, participants will identifyissues, problems and resourcesavailable to help meet the challenge of being single Bahd’fs in achanging world. A palatable combination of intellect, fun and fellowship.

May 6-8: Women’s Conference.

June 10-12: Men’s Conference.

What are the qualities thatmen/women should develop andexhibit today? Focusing on Bahá’íexemplars, Bahiyyih Khanum andShoghi Effendi, women and meninstrumental in changing societywill interact in separate conferences on topics of mutual interestand concern.

Both conferences will includekeynote speakers, a panel discussion on ‘How Can We Make aDifference?’’ and workshops:Recognizing and Eliminating OurPrejudices, Goal-Setting andDecision-Making, Becoming Conduits of God’s Love, and Teaching the Faith. Fast-paced adultweekends.

Women’s facilitators: PhyllisGudger-Porter, Bette Roberts,Carol Rutstein, Ann Schoonmaker, Afaf Stevens, Karen StreetsAnderson.

Men’s facilitators: Husayn Ahdieh, Dan Reimer, Billy Roberts,Farzin Shakibanejad, LeonardSmith, Bernard Streets.

No children’s classes or childcare provided.

May 27-29: Persian Conference.Planned and executed by the AreaPersian/American Affairs Committee, this conference will featurePersian speakers and teacherswith classes in Farsi and English.

For registration information,contact the Registrar, Green AcreBaha’i School, .Eliot, ME 03903, or phone 207439-7200.

�[Page 9]Race Unity,

+ EDUCATION

Under the impetus of the SixYear Plan, members of the National Race Unity Committee andNational Persian/American Affairs Committee gathered December 29-January 3 at the Bosch Baha’i School in California withCounselor Fred Schechter, Aux

iliary Board member Marsha Gilpatrick and fellow Bahá’ís fromthe West Coast for a sessionwhose theme was “‘Spiritual Integration.””

The week-long session includedpresentations by both nationalcommittees covering primaryareas of concern in the achievement of Six Year Plan goals: theintegration of Iranian Bahá’ís intothe mainstream of the AmericanBaha’i community, and freeingour Baha’i community from the

Baha'is build ‘Fortress for Well-Being’as theme of Green Acre Winter School

“An experience of a lifetime”’ iswhat you missed if you were not atthe 1987 Green Acre Bahá’í Winter School.

From December 27-January 1,70 people took part in creating Baha’i reality. Amid the winterwonderland of Green Acre’s prevailing spirituality was manifestedan aura of love, unity and fellowship—a fulfillment of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s wish that we be happy atGreen Acre.

“The Fortress for Well-BeiBuilding Family Unity,” faciltated by Connie Leavitt, offeredfree-flowing, heartfelt discussioncreating an arena of communication that each morning culminatedin a physical project involvingadults and children in building afortress.

Their intense, eager and creative efforts produced a nine-sided,four-foot structure with manicured gardens inhabited by diverseand colorful creatures and decorated with intricate ornaments,while the structure itself wasadorned with the Writings in English and Persian and furnishedwith tiny hand-crafted furnitureand rugs; entrances were gracedby banistered stairs and even anaccess ramp for the disabled.

The building, made from cardboard painted white and toppedwith a gold dome bearing theGreatest Name, is an imposingedifice presently situated in thedining hall of Fellowship Housewaiting for you to see during ourspring sessions.

Most important, this creationwas a labor of love and cooperation that was indicative of the entire week as we became moreknowledgeable of and firm in theCovenant through the efforts ofWill and Debbie van den Hoonardwho through ‘‘New Horizons:

National Archiveshas several itemsavailable for sale

The National Baha’i Archiveshas the following items availablefor purchase through the Bahd’{Distribution Service:

1. Guidelines for Bahá’í Archives, a 63-page manual on theorganization and functioning of aBaha'i archives. Price: $7.50.

2. The American Bahá’í, 19701985, and National Bahá’í Review, 1968-1983, on 35mm microfilm. Set of five rolls. Price: $75.

Send orders to: Bahá’í Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue,Wilmette, IL 60091. Overseas orders add 15 percent.

Any Baha’ can give to the Fund—adult or childNational Baha’i FundWilmette, IL 60091

The Covenant in the FourthEpoch” helped us deepen ourawareness of the emerging realityof the Covenant during the FourthEpoch of the Formative Age ofthe Faith.

One could not have appreciatedmore the feeling of family thatblossomed through prayer, song,study, meals and recreation thatled on Wednesday to a trip to theHoly Land via the film ‘The Pilgrimage,”’ declarations on Wednesday and Thursday, an originaldrama performed by the childrenand youth under the direction ofMary K. Makoski and Leona Hosack, and an exciting and profitable auction conducted by MahinMotlagh.

By the final breakfast and parting session Friday morning wewere riding high on waves of sisterly/brotherly love. The week isadequately summed up by an evaluation comment: ‘‘Love, love, fellowship, unity, unity!”’

See you next time!

fetters of racial prejudice.

Models of integration, retainingpositive and necessary “‘culturaldistinctiveness,’’ encouragingIranian Baha’is to settle in goalareas, and familiarizing them withcertain legal requirements wereamong the topics discussed bySheila Banani, Manouchehr Derakhshani and Puran Stevens ofthe Persian/American AffairsCommittee.

The words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá inthe Tablets of the Divine Plan andof Shoghi Effendi in The Adventof Divine Justice formed thetheme of the presentation by theRace Unity Committee.

Central to that theme was therealization that ‘‘the most vitaland challenging issue’’ confronting the Bahá’í community is notsolely an issue of black and whiterace relations.

As the Guardian clearly statesin The Advent of Divine Justice(pages 28-34), ‘‘As to racial prej

udice ... to discriminate againstany race ... is a flagrant violationof the spirit that animates the

Faith of Bahá’u "lah.”?

As was pointed out by Ron Gilpatrick, Roy Jones and Jim Sturdivant of the NRUC, although theproblems that historically existbetween black and white Americans comprise the most glaring example of this spiritual illness, it isracial prejudice in general that theFaith calls on us to divest ourselves of.

Midway through the week, aftermany small group sessions held tobrainstorm on ways and means tocombat racial prejudice, it wasfound that the problems associThe American Baha’i / March 1988 / 9

Persian/American Affairs committees conferSOBRE

Counselor Fred Schechter deliversthe keynote address during a session on ‘Spiritual Integration’held December 29-January 3 atthe Bosch Bahá’í School in SantaCruz, California. Also taking part

ated with Persian/American integration and racial prejudice intersected so frequently that, in effect, they were not separate issuesat all.

Counselor Schechter, quotingfrom Selections from the Writingsof ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in his keynoteaddress, drew his audience to theconclusion that the events takingplace in the world today are destined, by Divine decree, to culminate in mankind’s recognition andacceptance of its spiritual destiny.

Sharing with the friends the excitement of a recent meeting of the

were members of the NationalRace Unity Committee and National Persian/American AffairsCommittee. (Photo by DouglassThorne)

Counselors in the Western Hemisphere, he also delivered in a wordthe results of their deliberations:Teach.

The best form of teaching: person to person. The best way toteach: reliance upon Baha’u’ll4h.And the best form of teaching: thefireside.

“By God, beside Whom is noneother God! Should anyone ariseSor the triumph of our Cause, himwill God render victorious ...’”(Baha’u’ll4h, quoted in The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 47).

—Douglass Thorne

March/April Brilliant Star honors everyone’s grandparents

One of life’s most preciousbounties is grandparents, and theMarch/April issue of Brilliant‘Star magazine is devoted to honoring these wonderful people.

If you’ve ever had a grandparent, been a grandparent, orwanted one—don’t miss this issue.

It only makes sense that since sooften grandparents are wonderfulstory-tellers, that in turn thereshould be charming, movingstories about grandparents.

In “The Visit,” Roger Whiteshares the story of how one childadjusts to the taunts of othersabout her ‘‘different”? grandmother, a Native American. “TheVisit’’ is illustrated by Keith Kresge.

Another story, ‘‘Sara’s Gift ofGold’’ by Bonnie Hobbs, explainsa young child’s interpretation ofan old proverb, “‘silence is goldey

In ‘‘Grandma’s Book,” writtenby Sue Cauhape and illustrated bySonya Brown, a boy shares thememories of his grandma whosehealth is failing.

Ruth Welch wrote ‘‘Aunt Minnie and the Magic Moped,”’ a delightfully funny story illustratedby Jacqueline Domin.

In our continuing feature, ‘‘Today I Dreamt I was ... GeorgeWashington Carver,”’ illustratedby Fritz Mann, the contributionsof this great and famous man areexamined.

But what issue about our lovinggrandparents would be completewithout two very special grandparents!

The special relationship of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to His grandson,

Shoghi Effendi, is shared throughstories compiled by Elyce Nasseri,a pioneer in Africa. And last butnot least, there is “A Happy Naw-Rúz from Grandfather andGrandmother Sears!””

Also in this issue is a photo essay about crayfishing with grandparents, Ann Keehner’s review ofbooks about grandparents, a lovely song about Bahfyyih Khanum,and poetry. And to round off theissue, grandmother Edie Osbornshares ‘‘Some Thoughts on Spiritual Inheritance.”

It’s an issue everyone will betouched by and will want to treasure. The subscription price forone year (six issues) is $6 payableto Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Brilliant Star

O one year $12.00 (six issues)

O two years $23.00

O foreign, surface, one year $15.00O foreign, surface, two years $28.00O foreign, air, one year $25.00

O foreign, air, two years $47.00

Street

City

Send to.

Bah

Name ___

State & Zip —

Age of recipient

Enclosed is my gift of $Brilliant Star Endowment Fund, estab.lished in honor of the Baha’i children of Iran, for the pur.pose of developing materials for children. I understandthat my gift will become part of a perpetual fund whoseearnings will support this purpose.

ee oe

Brilliant Star

Baha’i Subscriber Ser’ “xNational CenterWilmette, If. 60091

to the

�[Page 10]10 / The American Baha’i / March 1988

Wilhelm Library has‘Unity of Mankind’T-shirts and buttons

With the Unity Picnics last Junestill lingering warmly in our memories, many Bahd’{ communitiesare making plans for communityevents next summer.

Some have decided to hold another Unity Picnic while othersare making different plans—suchas having booths at county fairs,taking part in local parades, orconducting teaching projects.

For all of these activities, andeven for individual efforts in promoting the Faith, the Wilhelm(New Jersey) Library still hasmany T-shirts and buttons featuring the ‘Celebrate the Unity ofMankind”’ logo—the bright circleof red, white, brown, black andyellow figures fitting together likepuzzle pieces—used at the UnityPicnics in Teaneck and at otherpicnics across the country lastyear.

Buttons are available in packages of five (for $4.50), 25 (for$16), and 100 (for $50).

T-shirts, with a background color of red, white or yellow in sizesmedium, large or extra large, cost$9 each.

Because the stock is limited,please state an alternate colorchoice if ordering a T-shirt. Also,please add 10 percent for shippingand handling for each order andallow six weeks for delivery.

‘Checks should be made payableto ‘Wilhelm Bahá’í Library’ andsent with orders to: Wilhelm Baha’i Library, Teaneck, NJ 07666.

Proceeds from the sale of theseT-shirts and buttons will help defray the costs that were incurredby the Wilhelm Council in an effort to renovate and prepare theWilhelm property for the 75th anniversary celebration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit—the event that inspired nearly 1,500 Baha’i communities to celebrate the unity ofmankind at Unity Picnics lastsummer.

Upcoming and Ongoing Teaching Projects

Mito Lac, MN aston, wtMocasools, MN a SSRTTOPAMANI —Mibeaukoo, WtMINNEAPOLIS PROJECT Grpneg EN PROUECT — Sngoey MARANSTEFFES Michigan, MainlandSea309| mont) Jom Breer | PROJECT Tee RGATTORNOWrm oy, 831-091 adEpi Bute, sO sige bor oat re Cmtocest Say 8 Richard SagarSPR oF tHe nose wheat Fock land, LIARS thos aimee009 Macy, NE Bawnbheaxens \ ROCK St FUNT SPARKS A FIRES236 G0 ADE Gason pro.ecr PRoseCT Car nce dan 23-Apr-20, 1968,eos064 734 star ssSobtonGiion —suansareo, RON, Renate Mss20hi Sabah beckon Chvice PrOsect pre ke)402/846-5409 MANOAREE, cee

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Pocamone Cty, MOZon On;;Fai BEURAA PROSEays2525 Hand msesSaree soiber fsFate Crsen, vAWilrington, NO QUINGA PROJECTWit Pnovect Seasesrr! NoseKithttn owen OSs919/763-6188 nee.REAR SyMevPRouECT Fx scFORWAN sce0 ProvectSOR Cesnes" Rotatease Sezeso NeHedi Provect

On the map are listed the ongoing and upcoming teaching projects in theUnited States that the National Teaching Committee had been informedof as of February 5, 1988. The National Teaching Committee feels thatthere are probably more such projects going on in the country, andwould like to be able to count all of them toward the goal of 200 thisyear. If your community is sponsoring a teaching project that does notappear on this map, please fill in the form (at right) and return it to theNational Teaching Committee. If you would prefer that informationabout your project not be published in The American Bahá’í, indicatethis in the “‘comments’’ section. Best wishes for a successful proJject—we look forward to hearing from you!

Baha'is in S.C. brave snow, iceto take part in school, observances

Although snow and ice blanketed much of South Carolina earlyin January, many Bahá’í activitieswere not curtailed.

For instance, the Winter Schoolheld January 7-9 at the LouisGregory Baha’ Institute continued because of the prior arrival ofsome of the friends.

In spite of adverse weather conditions, it was reported that awonderful spirit prevailed amongthe 15 attendees.

Two major events took place inCharleston during January: ‘‘ThePromise of World Peace’? waspresented to Mayor Riley, andWorld Peace Day was celebratedalong with the birthday anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther KingJr.

Dr. Roy Jones, director of the

Friends revisited in Texas’ Vahdat II campaign

From December 19-27, morethan 30 Baha’is assisted in theVahdat II teaching project in central Texas.

The primary goal of the projectthis year was to revisit every oneof the more than 300 believerswho were enrolled in last year’sVahdat project in six communitiesaround Austin, Texas.

The teaching effort, co-sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly ofAustin and the Central Texas District Teaching Committee, workedcollaboratively with homefrontpioneers in three of the communities where regular visits among thenew believers and Baha’ meetingshave been taking place.

Among these three communities, more than 75 per cent of thenew Baha’is were revisited. Several of the local Baha’is offered toopen their homes to Baha’i activities,

During the project the Assembly in Austin hosted a gathering atwhich more than 40 believers, representing every district in thestate, discussed plans and activities for a “‘Texas Arc of Love.’’

Louis Gregory Institute, addressed those who had gathered forWorld Peace Day, and voicesfrom the Gregory Institute’s UnityChoir enhanced his inspiringwords.

World Peace Day and MartinLuther King Jr. Day were celebrated by Baha’is in other SouthCarolina communities as well.

Also during January, Assemblies in the Western District of thestate sponsored a teaching projectin Pendleton. Teams of two ormore Bahá’í teachers went intodesignated areas, inviting residents to a public meeting held inthe evening.

Among those who attendedwere five new friends, some ofwhom desired more informationabout the Faith. One declarationwas made.

The communities are planningfollow-up meetings to continueteaching the new seekers.

In addition, a number of fundraising events for the Arc onMount Carmel have been held.Small communities, such asCross, have hosted several ofthese, raising more than $100 eachtime.

On the last weekend in January,the Gregory Institute welcomed alarge group of pre-teens and olderyouth for a weekend seminar,which was a prelude to the YouthAcademy scheduled for this summer.

st## Teaching Projects -- 1987-88 4 tt

Name of Project:‘Sponsor:

Dates:

Location:Contact Person:

Cost per participant:‘Type Project & Goal(s):

Comments:

|||||||Phone Number(s):||||||\

4 Return to: National Teaching Committe, Baht National Center, Wilmette, IL. 60091

Committee on Women slatesconference in Phoenix, Arizona

The National Committee onWomen is sponsoring a conference on the equality of men andwomen April 29-30 at the Bahá’íCenter in Phoenix, Arizona.

The gathering is noteworthy asit focuses on Native American andHispanic women.

Workshops will be given (inEnglish and Spanish) on a numberof topics. Some of the presentersare Sandy Lebeau, Manuela Villanueva, Alice Bathke and RobertaMaull (who will give a workshopfor youth).

Child care and an interestingprogram for children and youthwill be provided.

A panel discussion with members of the National Committeeon Women is scheduled for Fridayevening, April 29.

The keynote address and workshops will take place on Saturday,April 30.

Arrangements are being made

for an evening of entertainmentcomplementary to the over-alltheme of equality and the focus onAmerican Indian and Hispanicwomen.

The conference is the second oftwo regional meetings arrangedthis year by the National Committee on Women. The first was heldin February at Spelman College inAtlanta, Georgia, with its focuson black women.

Together, the various meetingsare designed to further the committee’s mandate of ‘‘fosteringthe practice of the equality of thesexes’’ within and without the Baha’i community by holding“special conferences and training

Conference information can beobtained from the National Committee on Women, c/o Marcia

Gitchell, secretary,

Hutchinson, KS 67502.�[Page 11]Peace statement rekindles her interest

After attending several firesides, studying Faith,Venezuelan Consul in Chicago declares belief

TEACHING

When Elvira de Urdajfieta, theVenezuelan Consul in Chicago,was presented with a copy of“The Promise of World Peace”last October, she was reminded ofa religion she had briefly heardabout in the past.

Her interest was rekindled, andshe decided to learn more aboutthe Bahá’í Faith.

After attending several firesidesin the home of Kamran andLourdes Movaffa*gh in Skokie,Ms. Urdafieta has become a Bahá’í.

The Baha’is of Chicago havebeen working diligently to present“The Promise of World Peace’’to prominent persons in theircommunity. During their visitwith Ms. Urdafieta, one of the Baha’is invited the Consul to accompany her to a fireside near thesuburb where she lives.

The Movaffa*ghs have been

holding firesides consistently formore than a year, although sometimes no seekers have attendedthem.

Their perseverance in continuing to open their home—if only tothe possibility that someone whois attracted to the Faith willcome—has now borne fruit.

Now that Ms. Urdafieta is a Baha’i, she is still attending thefiresides in the Movaffa*ghs’home, deepening her friendshipwith them, with the Bahd’{ community, and deepening her understanding of the Faith.

The American Baha’i / March 1988 / 11

eu: eePictured in the center of the frontrow is Venezuelan Consul ElviraUrdafieta who became a Bahd’{ at@ fireside in Skokie, Illinois, after

having received last October acopy of ‘The Promise of WorldPeace.’

Chinese teaching on rise all over the country

The need to reach the Chinesepeople with the Message of Baha’wllah has been stressed by theUniversal House of Justice.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá pointed out thespecial qualities of the Chinesepeople in these words: ‘‘The Chinese people are most simplehearted and truth seeking.”

Since the formation more thantwo years ago of the ChineseTeaching Committee, the response to teaching the Chinesepopulation in the U.S. has beensteadily increasing.

Bahá’í communities such asthose in San Francisco, New YorkCity, Seattle, Los Angeles andBoston have set up local Chineseor Asian teaching task forces.

Meanwhile, more than 100 individual Bahá’ís have expressedan interest and are involved in

making friends among Chinese allaround the country.

There are two areas of Chineseteaching which have been especially successful so far. The first isamong the Chinese students fromvarious countries who are on U.S.campuses and among ChineseAmerican students. The studentgroup seems to be most open tonew ideas and can accept the principles of the Faith wholeheartedly.

The second area of successfulteaching is among the local Chinese community leadership andthe Chinese news media—journalists, editors and TV managers.

This group of Chinese know theimportance of bringing good information to their people. Theyare most appreciative of such Ba+ha’{ principles as unity in diversityof cultures and the coming of a

Study groups on Word of God bookletquicken seekers, deepen older believers

“This is the kind of study groupT’ve been longing for all my life!’”’was the response of a not-yet-declared Bahá’í who took part in arecent Word of God seminar.

Indeed, the seminar, or studygroup, was the sort of spiritualgathering to deepen understanding of the Words of God in whichBaha’ is have been participating inall areas of the country since thestudy booklet was made availablelast August.

The particular gathering referred to above was one attended byfour persons, one a long-time,well-educated Bahá’í; one a newBahá’í with little formal schooling; a relatively new Bahá’í presently facing many tests and difficulties; and the well-educated

non-Baha’i relative of a Baha’i.

Three of them were white, onewas black.

They varied in age from 20s tothe late 60s. Despite the differences in their cultural, racial, educational and economic backgrounds, the Creative Word ofGod put them all on spirituallyequal footing, and the varyingperspectives in understanding theWords of the Creator added immensely to the richness of thatunderstanding.

If you haven’t yet begun aWord of God seminar or studygroup, you may wish to do so aswe begin another Baha’ year. Thebooklets are available from theBaha’i Distribution Service.

THE WORD OF GOD

Only $2.00 per copy!Please send The Word of God at $2.00 each:

415 Linden AvenueWilmette, IL 60091

. .|!

! i| Copies: Total: 1| Copies: . |.adress

.I City State Zip. |a Phono iVicreacostesr aaa!© (@rcio ono) Mast II Baha’i Distribution Service 'I!' .

Phone: 800/323-1880312/251-1854 in IL

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new world civilization. The practical aspects of those principles areespecially appealing to them.

The Bahá’í community of LosAngeles recently started a teachingproject using cross-cultural gatherings at the Bahá’í Center everySaturday night. Now there aremore than 40 new Baha’is in LosAngeles from many cultural backgrounds, among whom are morethan 10 Chinese.

In addition, a Bahá’í in Los Angeles recently started a “‘UnityHouse’’ in Chinatown to developfurther this successful teachingproject among the Chinese.

The cross-cultural approach is agood way to break the ice. First,the Baha’fs can go to social activities sponsored by such groupsas the Chinese Student Organization and the American-ChineseFriendship Association.

Starting with a person at thesegatherings, cultivate the friendship by inviting them to your ownsocial gathering such as a Naw-Rúz party.

It is easy to start out with oneChinese friend, and then thatfriend will introduce you to otherChinese as you associate withthem more often.

All it takes to get this started isone Bahá’í and one Chinese.

Even though we should notteach people from mainland China with the goal of having themsign a declaration card, Baha’isare encouraged to befriend thosefrom the mainland, and may familiarize them with the principles

See CHINESE page 32

sion teaching goals.

£6 Goal for Growth:

"To increase the number of spiritual assembliesand of localities opened to the Faith through the encouragement and support of local and district extencommits itself to

holdina local park.

Bate sta atonal Teaching Commie f you hav

tension teaching activities, so that your community may beire helping to achieve this important goal of the

ing to teach the Baha'i Faith

added to

Spiritual Assembly of Phoenix sponsorsProject Mihdi for teaching, consolidation

Project Midhi, a teaching campaign sponsored and directed bythe Spiritual Assembly of Phoenix, Arizona, was launched inApril 1986.

It began with a combinationbriefing and deepening which focused on the use of the ‘‘EffectiveTeaching’’ booklet.

Within its first year, the campaign helped to bring 25 adults in

Paulette Pappas Langness (standing) gives a financial report for the‘California Arc of Love Campaign’ at California’s secondstatewide meeting of DistrictTeaching Committees of 144 B.E.held during the last weekend in

Es qJanuary at the Bosch Bahá’íSchool. In addition to its goal ofraising $1 million for the Arc byRiḍván, the group focused onways to achieve teaching goalsthroughout the state in a spirit of

‘unified action.

to the Faith. Eight of their children have since been registered asBaha’is.

For the first six months, teaching teams were sent out weekly. Attimes the teams were large (eightto 10 people) and at times small(no more than two). Each teamdid what it felt most comfortabledoing.

Those who enjoyed deepeningand visiting focused on consolidation; the others concentrated onexpansion, taking the Message ofBaha’u’ll4h to a targeted neighborhood.

New believers were invited to,and attended, Feasts and HolyDay observances. Weekly contactwith the new believers is maintained, and every fourth Feast isheld in a neighborhood where theteaching has taken place.

The projecteers follow a cycle intheir consolidation efforts, engaging in a different activity for eachweek in a month:

‘Week I—prayer meeting (at anew believer’s home).

Week 2—prayer -breakfast(home of the coordinator).

‘Week 3—deepening (home of anew believer).

Week 4—social event (anyhome).

It is not unusual for new seekersto come to hear about the Faith

See MIHDI page 15�[Page 12]12 / The American Baha’i / March 1988

FOR NEW BAHA'IS...

Administrative Order designed to help unify human race

To fulfill its purpose for humanity, the message of each Manifestation of God must influencenot only individuals, but societyas a whole.

In the past, religions have takentheir social and administrativestructure largely from the patternsof interaction developed by theirearly followers. In the Bahá’íFaith it is Bahd’u’ll4h, Himself,Who has established the form ofthe administrative order.

The purpose of the administrative structure is the same as thepurpose of the Faith—to bringabout the unity of the humanrace.“This Cause .. Shoghi Effendi notes, ‘‘is designed to benefit the entire human race, and theonly way it can do this is to reform the community life of mankind, as well as seeking to regenerate the individual. The Baha’iadministration is only the firstshaping of what in the future willcome to be the social life and lawsof community living.’’

Bahá’u’lláh’s administrationhas three levels—international,national and local. The UniversalHouse of Justice administers theaffairs of the Baha’i world, andeach country has a National Spir

However, it is on the local levelthat individual believers have thegreatest opportunity to interactwith and support the developingsystem established by Baha’u’ ll4h.

The Universal House of Justicestates: ‘‘The divinely ordained institution of the local Spiritual Assembly operates on the first levelsof human society, and is the basicadministrative unit of Baha’w’llah’s World Order. It is concerned with individuals and families whom it must constantly encourage to unite in a distinctiveBaha’i society, vitalized andguarded by the laws, ordinancesand principles of Baha’u’llah’sRevelation. It protects the Causeof God; it acts as the loving shepherd of the Baha’i flock.””

The local Spiritual Assembly isa channel for the life-giving spiritwhich Baha’u’ll4h has brought tothe world.

Each Assembly has a number ofspecific responsibilities for itscommunity. Some of these are todirect the teaching work; to protect the Faith; to promote the unity and participation of the believers; to extend help to ‘“‘thepoor, the sick, the disabled, theorphan, the widow’’; to promotethe spiritual and material educaitual Assembly to guide it.

From the Writings ...

“The duties of those whom the friends have freely and conscientiously elected as their representatives are no less vital andbinding than the obligations of those who have chosen them.Their function is not to dictate, but to consult, and consult notonly among themselves, but as much as possible with the friendswhom they represent. They must regard themselves in no otherlight but that of chosen instruments for a more efficient and dignified presentation of the Cause of God. They should never be ledto suppose that they are the central ornaments of the body of theCause, intrinsically superior to. others in capacity or merit, andsole promoters of its teachings and principles. They should approach their task with extreme humility, and endeavor, by theiropen-mindedness, their high sense of justice and duty, their candor, their modesty, their entire devotion to the welfare and interests of the friends, the Cause, and humanity, to win, not onlythe confidence and the genuine appreciation and respect of thosewhom they serve, but also their esteem and real affection. Theymust, at all times, avoid the spirit of exclusiveness, the atmosphere of secrecy, free themselves from a domineering attitude,and banish all forms of prejudice and passion from their deliberations. They should, within the limits of wise discretion, take thefriends into their confidence, acquaint them with their plans,share with them their problems and anxieties, and seek their advice and counsel. And when they are called upon to arrive at a certain decision, they should, after dispassionate, anxious and cor:dial consultation, turn to God in prayer, and with earnestness andconviction and courage record their vote and abide by the voice ofthe majority, which we are told by the Master to be the voice oftruth, never to be challenged, and always to be whole-heartedlyenforced. To this voice the friends must heartily respond, and regard it as the only means that can insure the protection and advancement of the Cause.’’ (Shoghi Effendi, Bahá’í Administration, p. 64)

Discuss this passage along with the Baha’i who taught you theFaith, or with another believer. Together, consider the followingquestions:

If you would like to read more about the local Spiritual Assembly, refer to the following materials which are available fromthe Baha’i Distribution Service:

tion of children; and to make arTangements for regular meetings,Feasts and other gatherings.

In its interaction with the community, the local Assembly is tooffer encouragement, love, adviceand guidance.

The Assembly is ready to helpthe believers with their personalproblems. Individual members ofthe Assembly have no unique station or position in the community—it is the institution as a bodythat is given responsibilities andauthority by Baha’u’ll4h.

There is much that each individual can do to help support andnurture the local Assembly. First,Baha’ is must obey the decisions ofthe Assembly.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us that evenif an Assembly makes a mistake,this mistake can be most easilyidentified and corrected if the believers are unified. The community can offer its ideas and advice tothe Assembly; one part of eachNineteen Day Feast is set aside todiscuss community business andto offer suggestions and recommendations to the Assembly.

The Universal House of Justice

writes:

“The friends are called upon togive their whole-hearted supportand cooperation to the local Spiritual Assembly, first by voting forthe membership and then by energetically pursuing its plans andprograms, by turning to it in timesof trouble or difficulty, by praying for its success and taking delight in its rise to influence andhonor. This great prize, this giftof God within each communitymust be cherished, nurtured, loved, assisted, obeyed and prayedfor.””

Bahda’u’llah’s World Order renewed each yearduring period that marks Festival of Ridvan

From April 21 to May 2 a pattern is repeated in more than 150countries and 30,000 localities asthe national and local institutionsof Baha’u’llah’s embryonic WorldOrder are re-formed in annualelections.

The renewal of these institutions during this period is morethan a coincidence. For these 12days mark the anniversary of theRidvan festival—the public declaration by Bahá’u’lláh of HisMission.

By April 1863 the enemies ofBaha’u’llah had succeeded in having Him banished from Baghdad.However, they were soon to regrettheir action,

Baha’u’llah’s impending departure was greeted by an overwhelming outpouring of devotion, sympathy, admiration and grief by thepeople of Baghdad—from theleaders of the city to the poorestof its inhabitants. The prestige ofthe Faith was raised immeasurably.

The flood of people who wishedto visit Him one last time was sogreat that Baha’u’llah was unableto meet them in His home. Oneprominent citizen placed a largegarden at Baha’u’llah’s disposal.This garden, which lay at the outskirts of the city, was designatedby His followers as Ridvan (Paradise).

As Baha’u’llah left Baghdad onhorseback for the Ridvan garden,

the people of the city—the vastmajority of whom had no connection to the Faith—lined the streetsto see Him one last time.

“Numerous were the heads,’’the Baha’i historian Nabil recounts, ‘which, on every side,bowed to the dust at the feet ofHis horse, and kissed its hoofs,and countless were those whopressed forward to embrace Hisstirrups.””

Baha’u’ll4h Himself later saidthat God had enabled Him to“depart out of the city, clothedwith such majesty as none, exceptthe denier and the malicious, canfail to acknowledge.””

For 12 days Baha’u’llah stayedin the Ridvan garden. By day, Hewould meet with countless visitors; by night, He would revealnew verses,

“Of the exact circ*mstances attending that epoch-making Declaration,’’ Shoghi Effendi writes,“‘we, alas, are but scantily informed. The words Baha’u’llah actually uttered on that occasion,the manner of His Declaration,the reaction it produced, its impact on Mirza Yaḥyá, the identityof those who were privileged tohear Him, are shrouded in an obscurity which future historians willfind it difficult to penetrate.

Nabil, telling of the spirit thatpermeated those days, writes:

“Every day, ere the hour ofdawn, the gardeners would pickthe roses which lined the four ave

nues of the garden, and would pilethem in the center of the floor ofHis blessed tent. So great wouldbe the heap that when His companions gathered to drink theirmorning tea in His presence, theywould be unable to see each otheracross it.

“All these roses Baha’u’ll4hwould, with His own hands, ehtrust to those whom He dismissedfrom His presence every morningto be delivered, on His behalf, toHis Arab and Persian friends inthe city.””

Of the significance of the daysin the Ridvan garden and themighty Declaration made there,Shoghi Effendi writes:

“The ‘thousand two hundredand ninety days,’ fixed by Danielin the last chapter of his Book, asthe duration of the ‘abominationthat- maketh desolate’ had nowelapsed. The ‘hundred lunaryears,’ destined to immediatelyprecede that blissful consummation (1335 days), announced byDaniel in that same chapter, hadcommenced.

“The nineteen years, constituting the first ‘Vahid,’ preordainedin the Persian Bayan by the pen ofthe Bab, had been completed. TheLord of the Kingdom, Jesus”Christ returned in the glory of theFather, was about to ascend Histhrone, and assume the sceptre ofa world-embracing, indestructiblesovereignty.””

On April 21, and continuing insome areas of the country throughMay 2, about 1,750 local communities will hold elections to reform their local Spiritual Assemblies. Any community that has atleast nine Bahá’ís over the age of21 should, according to the explicit direction of Bahá’u’lláh, form alocal Assembly. Bahá’í electionsare held in a quiet atmosphere,without nominations or campaigning. Each adult Bahá’í in thecommunity is eligible to vote, andto be voted for. Each voter

‘must,’ according to the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, ‘prayerfullyand devotedly and after meditation and reflection elect faithful,sincere, experienced, capable andcompetent souls who are worthyof membership. ...”�[Page 13]

Some 150 people from acrossSouth Carolina gathered February7 at the Louis G. Gregory Baha’iInstitute near Hemingway for theannual “South Carolina GetTogether.”

This year’s event was organizedand sponsored by the recentlyformed South Carolina Coordinating Committee.

The keynote speaker was Dr.Robert C. Henderson, secretaryof the National Spiritual Assembly, who presented an overview of

the National Assembly’s aspirations for South Carolina andspoke of its confidence in theability of the friends there to meetthe challenges set forth for themin the Six Year Plan and to playtheir destined major role in bringing about the spiritual transformation of society.

Dr. Henderson reminded hisaudience that South Carolina isthe only state specifically mentioned in the Six Year Plan.

Following Dr. Henderson’s talk

the 30-voice Louis Gregory UnityChoir, which performs regularlyat the Institute and in localchurches, presented a concert.

After lunch, which was provided by choir members to help raisemoney for a summer tour to include stops at the Bahá’í House ofWorship and the InternationalYouth Conference in Indiana, anopen forum was held for consultation on teaching, consolidationand other concerns.

Plans for the establishment of a

The American Baha’i / March 1988 / 13

150 confer, make plans at ‘South Carolina Get-Together’

Youth Club at the Institute werediscussed as well as plans to sendas many young people as possibleto the Youth Conference in July.Also discussed were ideas for theproduction of a statewide newspaper for Baha’is.

One of the primary concerns offriends throughout the state, thatof the many local Spiritual Assemblies among the 270 in SouthCarolina which are not as yetfunctioning adequately, wasdiscussed at

“The challenge before us,”” said

Dr. Roy Jones, director of theLouis Gregory Institute, ‘‘is todevelop those Assemblies. That’snumber one on our agenda.

‘We need to start with the iniduals in each community, generate excitement among themabout the Faith and love forBaha’u’ll4h.

“When we plug into thisspirit,’ he said, ‘‘draw energyfrom it, and channel that energytoward our goal, we will undoubtedly succeed,”’

Association for Baha’i Studies beginsnew quarterly journal, solicits members

The Association for Baha’iStudies has announced the inauguration of a new quarterly publication, The Journal of Bahá’íStudies, to contain articles and reviews on a wide range of important contemporary issues.

While the Journal is the publication of the Association for Baha’i Studies with the broadest appeal, the Association also produces other informative publications including the Bahd’f Studiesmonograph series, books such asTo the Peoples of the World: ABahá’í Statement on Peace (whichincludes ‘‘The Promise of WorldPeace’’ by the Universal House ofJustice); Unity: The CreativeFoundation for Peace, by HossainDanesh; and The Bahd’{ Faith andMarxism, published in December1987, which contains the proceedings of a dialogue between Marxist and Bahá’í scholars.

The Association for Bahá’íStudies invites you to become amember. By doing so

You will receive free the Bulletin of the Association which

forms you of the worldwide activities of the fraternal affiliates ofthe Association.

You will receive discounts at

the annual and regional meetingsof the Association.

If you are traveling outsidethe United States for any reason, please contact the Office ofPioneering (312-869-9039) forinformation.

You will discover your own

considerable and unique abilitiesas they pertain to understandingthe teachings of Baha’u’ll4h andtheir application to our daily lives.

The Journal of Bahá’í Studies isan ideal and inexpensive ($16/yr)gift for friends, Bahá’í childrenreaching the age of maturity, newBahá’ís, pioneers, public libraries,social agencies and, of course,oneself.

If you are interested in contributing an article to the Journal, ifyou would like to subscribe, purchase other publications of theAssociation, submit abstracts orpapers for presentation at Association conferences, compete inthe annual essay contest, or become a member, please write toihe Association for Baha’i StudOttawa,Ontario KIN 7K4, Canada, orphone 613-233-1903.

Cost of membership is as follows: life member, $700; adult,$35/yr.; couple, $50/yr.; student,$15/yr.; institutional, $35/yr.

‘Unity Through Action’ was themain topic of consultation at ayouth conference held January15-18 at the Orrington Hotel inEvanston, Illinois. The event,

which was planned by the DistrictYouth Committee of Northern Illinois No. 2 and sponsored by theSpiritual Assembly of Evanston,

sdrew about 70 youth from theChicago area as well as some fromas far away as St. Paul, Minnesota, and Montreal, Canada.

Baha’is in Graham, Texas, sponsor forums on were peace

As a new approach to sharingthe Message of Baha’u’llah whileperforming a community service,the Spiritual Assembly of Graham, Texas, decided to sponsor aforum last September whose topicwas world peace.

Invited to take part in a paneldiscussion were a Catholic priest,a retired school teacher, a radioproduction manager and a Baha’i,each of whom spoke for 15 minutes, after which the floor wasopen for questions.

Interest was so keen that theAssembly consulted later and decided to sponsor a series offorums on various aspects ofworld peace.

The second forum, on WorldLaw and World Peace, was heldDecember 12. The panelists included the county sheriff, countydistrict attorney, another attorney, and Dorothy Lee Hansen,a Baha’i from Mineral Wells who

‘eaching

Phone: (312) 869-9039.

ASSEMBLIES IN JEOPARDY NEED YOUR HELP!

"The Lord hath ordained that in every city a Houseof Justice be established wherein shall gather counsellors to the number of Bahd (9), and should it exceed this number it does not matter..."

Some of our divinely ordained Houses of Justice, which are now reterred to as local Spiritual Assemblies, are in danger of bein:the number of adult believers in the communities is not brought backto nine before Ridvan. If you could relocate to a nearby community orto a distant post to help save one of these precious Assemblies,please contact your District Teaching Committee or the National

Committee, Baha'i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

—Bahá'ulláh

lost if

is an educator, award-winningpoet and traveling teacher.

Copies of the UN Declarationof Human Rights and related materials were made available tothose who attended.

Advance newspaper coverageincluded biographical materialand photographs of the speakers.

Before each of the forums, thesecretary of the local Spiritual Assembly was interviewed for 20minutes on local radio.

The second forum was videotaped and broadcast on local cabletelevision as a public service, whilethe newspaper printed a summaryof the panelists’ presentations.

A third forum, on Religions inHarmony and World Peace, washeld January 9 with panelists including a Presbyterian minister, aBaptist minister, and Bahá’í DannMay, adjunct professor of philosophy at North Texas State University.

The ministers, who acknowledged that they hadn’t knownwhat to expect before the meeting,said they were delighted with theprogram and with learning moreabout the Baha’i Faith and otherreligions.

This forum also was videotaped, and the Assembly is making copies for each minister as agift to share with their congregations.

At his request, a copy of theaudio tape was given to the radioannouncer for use on his morningprogram.

A highlight of each of theforums has been the involvement

Pictured at the second in a seriesof forums on aspects of worldpeace sponsored by the SpiritualAssembly of Graham, Texas, are(left to right) Bahd’{ Dorothy Lee

Hansen of Mineral Wells; SheriffEd Shields of Young County; atof children and youth. On twoprograms, a youth played flutewhile other youth and childrenread from the Writings or sang aBaha’i prayer.

On another program, JesseVillagomez, who was the Baha’ispeaker at the first forum, sangand played the guitar.

Speakers on each of the panels

torney Imajean Gray; county District Attorney John Neal; archaeologist Michael Bradle; and Jeanette Hedayati, forum moderatorand secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Graham.

were given copies of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace.”

Other forums were scheduledfor February 27 (AppreciatingEthnic Diversity/Achievementsand World Peace); March 26(Universal Education and WorldPeace); and April 16 (The Equality of Men and Women and WorldPeace).

Justice Society sets

What is the Baha’i concept ofjustice and how will it be established in the world?

That theme, ‘‘Justice: Achieving the Baha’i Concept,’”’ will beexplored in depth June 2-5 whenthe Baha’i Justice Society holds itsthird Conference and AnnualMeeting at the Bosch Baha’i

conference theme

School. (Note that the conferencedates have been extended to include Thursday evening, June 2.)

For details about registrationand transportation, watch for theApril issue of The American Bahd’f or contact the Bosch Baha’iSchool, Santa Cruz, CA 95060(phone 408-432-3387).�[Page 14]14 / The American Baha’i / March 1988

FromtheHouseofWorship

February marked the annual observance of Black History Month atthe Baha’f House of Worship. The National Bahá’í Archives providedan outstanding display on the role black people have played in the development of the American Bahá’í community. Included were photographs of many well-known Bahá’ís, both past and present.

On Saturday, February 20, the annual David Kellum Award was presented to Michael Brownstein for his work with black youth. Mr.Brownstein is the founder and director of the Reading and Math Program (RAMP) which tutors disadvantaged young people on Chicago’ssouth side. The Kellum Award, which honors the memory of an outstanding black Bahá’í journalist from Chicago, is given each year to aperson who has given exemplary service to the black community andwho provides a positive role model for youth. Members of all Chicagoarea black churches and organizations were invited to attend the presentation.

The following Saturday, February 27, a workshop on ‘‘The MostVital and Challenging Issue—1988’’ was held at the House of Worship.Introductory comments were given by Dr. Robert Henderson, secretaryof the National Spiritual Assembly. Workshop leaders included DavidClayborne, Rita Starr, Lennel Grace, Bonnie Taylor, Paul Lample fromthe National Teaching Committee office, and Auxiliary Board memberMorris Taylor.

Reservations for the Special Visit Programs this summer are pouringin as a result of an ad in the January issue of The American Bahá’í.Registration will soon be full. The Special Visits will be May 26-29 andJuly 29-31 (family program with children’s activities). If you are interested in attending one of these programs, contact the House of Worship as soon as possible. For information, phone 312-256-4400.

A letter from a recent visiting guide illustrates the joy and bounties ofguiding at the Mother Temple of the West:

“T am writing this note to share my feelings after I visited the Baha’itemple for the first time. It was incredible. There is more to it than I canexplain!

“T became a guide, and what a feeling! Many people come to you andsay, ‘Tell us about the Bahá’í Faith.’ I do not believe there is any easierand more enjoyable teaching experience than this. It does not even needa lot of knowledge, only (the) need to be excited and that’s all.

“T came to stay one day only, extend(ed) it to two, and finally stretched it to three because I was enjoying (it) so much and I did not want toleave, I had to go home because of some obligations on the third day ofmy stay.

“Let me tell you about the highlight of my visit. I have been to theHouse of the Bab in Shiráz. When I went into the room (in) which thecornerstone of the temple is kept and (I) prayed, I experienced the samespiritual feeling as I had in the House of the Bab. I felt that my spiritualchannels (were) opened. (The) most important element (needed) for aprayer to be answered is absence of doubt. When I was praying in thetemple I had no doubt that my prayers (would) be effective.

“The visit to the temple was one of my most beautiful experiences inlife. There is no way for me to put this experience in words; you have tocome and sense it yourself!””

Nearly 100 in S.C. gather to consultwith state’s Coordinating Committee

Nearly 100 Baha’is from SouthCarolina gathered December 6 atthe University of South Carolinain Columbia for consultation withthe newly formed South CarolinaCoordinating Committee.

The day actually began with alunch/fund-raiser for the completion of the Arc on Mount Carmelhosted by the Spiritual Assemblyof Columbia.

Afterward, at the formal meeting on campus, Auxiliary Boardmembers Elizabeth Martin andTrudy White explained their rolein relation to the statewide expansion/consolidation effort, then introduced their assistants and talked about their functions and responsibilities.

Next Dr. Adrienne Reeves, anassistant to the Auxiliary Board,spoke about the law of Huqiqu’Mah.

The program chairman, Dr.Roy Jones, then offered an historical overview of the evolutionof the Coordinating Committeeand introduced the coordinators:

Betsy Haynes (administration);Moses Richardson (travel-teaching/homefront pioneering); Alexandria Gore (child education);Truitt White (youth); and Dr.Jubin Matin (public information).

Each coordinator then summarized his or her duties and responsibilities.

The coordinators also fieldedquestions which served to furtherclarify the work-in-progress tostrengthen communities aroundthe state.

Of chief concern, they said, areelecting Assemblies, deepening thenative believers, educating children and youth, and improving theinternal communication network.

Also, the continued development of the Louis Gregory Institute and Radio Baha’i WLGI is animportant agenda item for thestate.

Each of the friends at the meeting was given guidance about howto become involved in the work ofthe coordinators.

The Bahá’ís of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, were invited to participateJanuary 24 in an interfaith prayerservice marking the 125th anniversary of the Congregation of the

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.In extending the invitation, theminister said he had been reading‘The Promise of World Peace’and had selected parts of it for the

Bahá’í reader. Pictured as she

presented excerpts from the peace

statement is Sue Schaut, a member of the Bahd’{ community ofSun Prairie.

More than 300 at youth conference in Georgia

More than 300 young Bahá’ísfrom a dozen states attended aRegional Youth Conference heldDecember 28-January 1 at theRadison Inn and Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

The over-all theme of the eventwas ‘‘Bahd’{ Youth: Building theNew World Order.””

Each day of the conference hada different theme—service, leadership, social issues, teaching—anda keynote speaker to highlight thattheme.

On the first day, Jane Failyfrom Canada spoke about thechallenges facing Bahá’í youth inthe field of international service.

On the second day, LawrenceMiller presented a talk on youthleadership, and on the third day,social worker Joy Cross gave herviews on how to create a new social order and conducted workshops to help youth understandthe laws of chastity.

Jack McCants, a member of theNational Spiritual Assembly whowas to speak on the fourth andfinal day of the conference, was soill that his doctor advised him toremain in bed.

But Mr. McCants had otherideas. He came to the conference

WHO ARE WE?WHY DO WETEACH?Search for the treasuredanswers to these questions on the followingpages:

Gleanings from theWritings of Baha'u‘Nah; pp. 197-198,137, 339.

Selections from theWritings of the Bab;pp. 11, 133.Selections from theWritings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; pp. 2-3.Unrestained as theWind; pp.183-186, 8486.

Centers for Baha'iLearning; pp. 14-15.

and gave one of his typically fieryspeeches, inspiring the youth toarise in service to the Cause.

The afternoon workshops wereoptional but filled with youngpeople eager to learn more abouttheir role in the Six Year Plan.

Evening sessions, consisting ofshort talks and entertainment,were followed by late-night discussions.

The first evening featured a performance by the Atlanta Bahá’íYouth Workshop; the second, atalent show; and the third, a partywith entertainment by the Bahá’íband ‘‘New Generation.”

After the conference, a groupof Bahá’í youth taught in nearbyCollege Park where five peoplewere enrolled. They then decidedto teach together every Saturday

on a regular basis.

A fund-raiser sponsored by theDistrict Youth Committee on thelast night of the conference raised$175 for the National Fund.

The conference itself was planned by youth, for youth. The average age of the planners was 14

years.The Spiritual Assembly of Roswell, Georgia, was the sponsoring

body.—Natasha Miller

Usted sabe en cuales comunidades hay Baha'isHispanos? Por favor deavisar al: National Teaching Committee, Baha'i National Center Wilmette, IL60091. (312) 869-9039.

Pictured are Bahá’ís from Seminole County, Florida, who attended an interfaith memorial serviceJanuary 17 in Sanford markingthe anniversary of the birth of Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Ben Levyis at the far left, Francine Levysecond from left, and Dr. DavidClosson fourth from left.

Baha’is in Seminole County, Florida,help mark anniversary of Dr. King’s birth

Baha’is in Seminole County,Florida, took part January 17 intwo programs in Sanford thatmarked the anniversary of thebirth of Dr. Martin Luther KingJr.

At an interfaith religious observance that afternoon, Dr.David Closson read a prayer forunity just prior to a call for the audience to greet one another andjoin hands in friendship.

Ten Bahda’is were among the300 people at that event, which

was covered for local television byanother Bahá’í, Toni Guinyard.

At the city’s commemorativebanquet that evening, Ben Levyread a prayer for mankind whileFrancine Levy, named for the second year to the Martin LutherKing Steering Committee byMayor Bettye Smith of Sanford,presented Brotherhood Awards.

An estimated 275.people including 11 Bah’is attended the banquet.�[Page 15]

ris

LICINFORMATION

The Provo Community Journal, Provo, Utah, published a recent article about St. Mary’s

Church where George Townshendserved as the first Episcopal priestin Provo. The article noted that“Townshend had a falling outwith the Episcopal Church in laterlife, and became one of the pillarsof the Bahá’í Faith.”

The Pomona, California,

Progress Bulletin published an article about Rebecca Du Gruy, aBahá’í from Pomona who servesweekly meals in her home to theneedy.

The article states that she hasserved meals to all comers, unconditionally, for a year, and thatfollowing the meals she invites herguests to a post-dinner fireside.

Although the article did notmention that Mr. Eaton is a Baha’i, the writer was aware of hisreligious convictions. Mark serves

Baha’is inform mediaabout situation ofthe friends in Egypt

In January, on the occasion ofEgyptian President Mubarak’svisit to the U.S., the NationalSpiritual Assembly asked PublicInformation representatives andcommittees to meet with editorsand reporters from local newspapers to inform them of the situation of the Baha’is in Egypt.

Quiet representations and appeals to the Egyptian governmentover the past three years have notsucceeded in establishing eitherthe innocence of the Bahá’ís orthe right to practice their religion.The National Assembly felt that itwas necessary to inform the publicof the situation and to show theEgyptian government that its behavior is being observed by therest of the world.

As of February 1, local Spiritual Assemblies and Groups in

the U.S. have registered 772 Public Information representativesand 102 Public Information committees.

The individuals and committeesthat comprise the Bahá’í PublicInformation Network are the instruments for communicatingfacts to the public about the Faithand its principles in action, aboutmajor developments affecting theBahá’í world, and about the structure and teachings of the Faith.

P.I. reps and committee members are appointed annually andreceive guidance and educationfrom the Office of Public Information.

as a Public Information representative for the Spiritual Assemblyof Santa Paula and has regularcontact with the news media.

The Cordovas are residents ofDuncan, Arizona.

The author quoted Mr. Silas explaining how the Faith has affected his life and his desire to sharehis culture with as many people aspossible.

“‘When I investigated the Baha’i Faith,’ Mr. Silas says, “Icame to realize that it is the fulfillment of Navajo prophecies.’’

During his visit to the Houstonarea, Mr. Silas took part in interviews with personnel from radioand newspapers as well as with

The American Bahá’í / March 1988 / 15

Article in Utah newspaper notes George Townshend

freelance writers.

¢ The Carrollton (Texas)Chronicle published two articleson the same day about the Faithand about Bahá’ís in Coppell andCarrollton-Farmers Branch.

One article gave an overview ofthe Faith while the second gave anaccount of the persecution of Baha’is in Iran as told by a Persianwho lives in Texas.

¢ In Yakima, Washington, theHerald Republic published an article about school teacher Ed

Rousculp and his activities as aBahá’í during Christmas celebrations at his school.

© The Fort Lauderdale (Florida)News published a feature story onChristine and Wilbert Rayner andtheir family. Mrs. Rayner is amember of the National Committee on Women and serves on thelocal Spiritual Assembly in Plantation.

The writer said, ‘To the Rayners, the Bahá’í Faith is a livingpresence. It guides them througheach day.’”

Construction continues on the interior of the new classroom building at the Native American Bahá’íInstitute on the Navajo Reservation in Houck, Arizona, Thebuilding, designed by John Nicolin collaboration with the Institute’s Council, consists of two hogan-shaped classrooms broughttogether under a common roofand separated by bathrooms andaclerestory-illumined foyer. Thebuilding is heated and cooled byits passive solar design, with electricity provided by eight photovoltaic panels and a 75-amp battery.

The 14-inch-thick rammed-earthblock walls have been pre-wiredfor future computerization andsatellite information reception.With low maintenance costs aconsideration, the classroombuilding is a mixture of ancientand modern building materials: a

blue industrial metal roof andrigid foam insulation covered withearth-colored elastomeric stuccoenclose a rustic earth building.Pictured here is an artist’s rendering of the new classroom building.

Theme Is ‘World Order of Baha’u’llah’15th Conference of Nur to be held at Elizabethtown College

The 15th annual Conference ofNur, sponsored by the SpiritualAssembly of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, will be held June 3-5 atElizabethtown College.

The conference theme is ‘‘TheWorld Order of Baha’u’llah.””

Speakers will include AuxiliaryBoard members Tahireh Ahdiehand William Roberts; Dr. Daryush Haghighi, a Trustee of theHuququ’ll4h; and Katharine Bigelow, deputy director of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Officeof External Affairs.

Among the highlights:

Two of the topics and one

workshop presented in Persian toenhance the Persian friends’ participation in the conference.

¢ A special program for youth.

Special classes and recreationprogram for children and preyouth.

° A concert Saturday eveningfeaturing five styles of music including Persian and a mime presentation.

Wilmette, IL 60091.

Please let us know of news articles

Whenever a reference to the Faith appears in your local newspaper (excluding ads placed by Baha’ is), please send two originalsof the page containing the mention to the Office of Public Information as soon as possible. We are dependent on the Baha’ is foran accurate assessment of what is published about the Faith. Theaddress is Office of Public Information, Bahá’í National Center,

Accommodations include twonights lodging in the air-conditioned college dorm, five meals,and use of the college’s recreationfacilities (pool, tennis, and bowling for 40 cents a game).

Pre-registration by May 25 is required for both weekend attendees and commuters.

Cost: Plan A—weekend attendees: adult (9 years and older), $52;child (4-8 years), $26; 0-3 years,free. Commuters: adult (9 yearsand older), $8 a day; child (4-8years), $4 a day; 0-3 years, free.

Plan B—weekend attendees:adult, $48; child, $24; 0-3, free.Commuters: adult, $4 a day;

child, $2 a day; 0-3, free.

Although the college has raisedits prices, the costs are the same aslast year.

For registration forms or additional information, please write tothe Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg, P.O. Box 3108, Harrisburg,PA 17105, or phone 717-232-9163.

Mihdifrom page 11

while the projecteers are meetingwith new believers.

Friends and relatives often dropby to sit, listen and discuss. Theseguests receive the Message and become familiar with the basics in acomfortable and amiable atmosphere.

The support and prayers of thePhoenix Assembly have been amainstay of the project.

Soon after a person declares hisfaith in Bahá’u’lláh, an Assemblyrepresentative accompanies theproject coordinator to the new believer’s home to welcome the newfriend to the Baha’i_ communityand to present a “Daily Readings’’ book. This rapidly connectsthe new believer to the institution.

Although the friends in Phoenixfeel there is much left to do in balancing the twin processes of expansion and consolidation, Project Mihdi has made great progress toward that aim. Little stepson a weekly basis have aided inachieving the goal of bringingavowed adherents into the Faith.

Several splendid summer programsset at Gibson Media Training Centre

Summer programs at the AmozGibson Training Centre for Baha’i Media in Arecibo, PuertoRico, include the following:

June 13-24; Baha'i International Service, an intensive two-week training session designed toprepare students for internationalBahá’í service. Included are sessions on pioneering, travel teaching, living abroad, use of themedia, travelers’ health, crosscultural communication, learninga foreign language, and Spanish.

Cost: $330 (U.S.) per student,or $280 with early registration discount. Principal instructor: Randie Gottlieb. Language of instruction: English.

June 27-July 15; Introductionto Media, a three-week introductory course designed to give students a general overview of mediause as well as hands-on practice inthe basics of graphic arts, photography, audio-visual presentations,radio, the press, silkscreening,and much more. Students shouldbring a 110mm or 35mm camerawith black-and-white film, and, ifdesired, samples of their own

media work.

Cost: $450 (U.S.) per student,or $400 with early registration discount. Principal instructor: Randie Gottlieb (with a team of mediaspecialists). Languages of instruction: English, Spanish.

July 18-August 5: Media Technology for Development Communication, an intensive three-weekcourse for Baha’is and others interested in serving developmentcommunications projects in atechnical capacity. Topics coveredinclude alternative energy systems, appropriate technology,low-power broadcasting, villageradio and other small media, anda general introduction to electronics. Cost: $450 (U.S.) per student, or $400 with early registration discount. Principal instructor: K. Dean Stephens. Languagesof instruction: English, Spanish.

For more information, pleasewrite to the Amoz Gibson Training Centre, HC-02, Box 14765,Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00612, orphone 809-878-4189 before 9 p.m.eastern standard time.

�[Page 16]16 / The American Baha’i / March 1988

TheSixYearPlan

One of the goals of the Six Year Plan is for Baha’is to place greateremphasis on the practice of dawn prayer (prayer offered sometime between dawn and two hours after dawn).

At first, dawn prayer may be hard. It requires getting up earlier,prioritizing your time, and putting forth a determined effort. With experience, however, you soon learn that this sacrifice of time and energymakes way for many blessings.

You become aware that dawn prayer is the surest way to begin the daywith a deep union with God. With this special early morning unioncomes inspiration and guidance that helps set the course for the day.There is an increased sense of daily purpose, of well-being, and of lovingconnection with one’s own family members and co-workers. Not havingthis early morning inspiration is similar to running a car on too-low octane gasoline. Like the car, your day simply doesn’t go as well. After awhile you look forward to this special time with God and His divinewords, and missing an opportunity for dawn prayer becomes a real loss,like passing up time with your dearest love.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains that “Each bosom must be a Telegraph Station: one terminus of the wire attached to the soul, the other fixed in theSupreme Concourse, so that inspiration may descend.”’ Dawn prayer isthe opportunity to turn on our end of the Telegraph Station and startthe day firmly grounded and inspired by our loving Creator.

To help the friends with their dawn prayers, the Bahá’í DistributionService provides the following books:

Dawn prayerhelps strengthenindividual lives

The 22nd in a series of columns on thegoals of the Six Year Plan.

PS $4.

oY HC 8.50

& 3

\ aes. peek bieHC $14.95

Prayers and Meditations Baha’i Prayers“He has every hope that the peru- * Contains 177 prayers revealed bysal of such a precious volume will Bahá’u’lláh, the Bab, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá© Organized into easy-to-find cathelp deepen, more than any otherpublication, the spirit of devotion

and faith in the friends, and ‘thuscharge them with all the spiritualpower they require for the accomplishment of their tremendousduties towards the Cause.’ Froma letter written on behalf ofShoghi Effendi© A collection of nearly 200 prayers and meditations of Bahd’w'lláh compiled by Shoghi Efegories such as prayers for assistance, evening, marriage, meetings, morning, steadfastness,teaching, and the triumph of theCause

Books

Books e Books e

Epistle to theSon of the Wolf

By Baha’u’llah

A mustSor everyBahda’t library

A compilation of His writings that He personally selected

Contains the major themes of His Revelation

Includes His promises and warnings to the people of the world

Available for the first time in an inexpensive pocket-size edition and anew hardcover edition

PS $4.50

HC $19.95

ee era New hardcover and pocket-size editionsOne Counti:pee’ | The Earth Is But One Country

By John Huddleston

This book was written primarily for skeptics who do not believe that religioncan bring fulfillment into their own lives or solve the problems facing contemporary society

Shows how the Bahá’í Faith meets the needs of mankind today

Emphasizes the practical means of accomplishing the above

The Baha’i Faith and Marxism = i

An exciting new book! This will make you wish that you were present at i|

the Louhelen Bahá’í School when this exciting dialogue took place.

Explores common ground and identifies important differences in goals

and strategies

SC $4

fendi the prayer to be read at Bahá’í

SC $3.95

ge O God, Guide Me!O God, My God.. "This inviting prayer book is justThis unique children’s prayer _ right for children.Bisok faceures 8 DrGper OF tdbler in © Illustrated Bah Pactave yaleEnglish on the rig pages —_racial drawings 5and the Persian (with some Ara- ® Set in large, ‘easy-to-read typebic) equivalent on the left — '* Has attractive red, white and© He ne blue cover stamped gold coverwith calligraphic design by S. © Contains 10 prayers or parts ofjazeb > prayers revealed by Bahá’u’lláh,

36 prayers and tablets _ the Báb and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Writings of Baha’u’llah:A Compilation

Almost all of the writings of

Bahá’u’lláh available in English

translations are included in this

single volume. The compilation

includes:

The Seven Valleys

The Four Valleys

° The Hidden Words

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

HC $19.95

Back in stock

Guidelines for ParentsBy Margaret Ruhe

This valuable booklet addresses

many topics that are of great interest to Bahá’í parents

Speaks to a wide range of concerns (from “We're going to

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Bahd‘i Distribution ServiceYour source for the Creative Word, Sacred Texts, Writings,

and special materials.

Order now through you�[Page 17]New Compilation!

Crisis and Victory

This compilation of Bahá’í writings deals with the dual effects of persecution

¢ Helps believers become aware of the processes, inside and outside the Faith, that will accompanyits progressive emergence onto the center stage of world affairs

Universal House of Justice$4.50

new!

Cassettes

Peace ... The Promise

The 1986 San FranciscoPeace Conference addressesby the renowned scientistand writer Ervin Laszlo andour own National SpiritualAssembly Secretary, RobertHenderson, are now available on cassette. ErvinLaszlo, keynote speaker atthe conference, addressesthe issue, “‘Is peace possible?” His opening statements that peace is not onlypossible, but necessary and coming is only the beginningof his breath-taking talk. Dr. Henderson gives thethought-provoking closing address, reminding us thatwe have nothing to fear during these times of convulsivechanges, These changes, he says, will serve only to release the potential inherent in the station of mankind.

Carmel, the Mountain of GodThe Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khadem

is sure to capture your heartas well as deepen your understanding of the significance of the building of the

dem explains how “‘It shall come to pass in the last days(of Bahd’w’lláh) that the Mountain of the Lord’s Houseshall be established in the top of the mountains and shallbe exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unThis absorbing talk by theArc on Mount Carmel, theMountain of God. Quotingto it (pilgrimage). ...and He shall judge among the nations (the Universal House of Justice and its laws). ...

precious Hand of the Causefrom Bahá’í Christian andThe laws of God will flow from thee, oh Mountain Carof God Zikru’lláh KhademMuslim writings, Mr. Khamel, to thee to the world.””

Calendars4q Wall Calendar

The Bahd’ Wall Calendar for 145B.E. celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Universal House of Justice with a splendid photograph ofthe Seat of the Universal House ofJustice.

Thirteen Gregorian months, beginning and ending with March,are shown on the front ona flannelgray background. Holy Days,Feasts, and Naw-Rúz are clearlyindicated with different colors onthe front and are listed on the backalong with other special Baha'i ob

yer

Videos

The Pilgrimage

Experience the Bahá’í Holy Places and the

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The Green Light Expedition

The breathtaking landscapes; the beautiful,

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VHS or Beta, $39.95

Peace ... The Promise

The San Francisco Peace Conference onvideo. Experience it for the first time or reminisce about this unforgettable event.

The American Baha’i / March 1988 / 17

Blessings Beyond Measure evokesjoyful response from Mr. Yazdi’s friends

The Bahd’{ Publishing Trust asked four of the late Ali M. Yazdi’sfriends to share their thoughts about his newly published book, Blessings Beyond Measure. Here are their responses:

Adrienne Reeves“Ali Yazdi’s memoirs of those years are told in the same

manner that characterized the Ali Yazdi I knew in California for manyyears. One can see how the environment in which the child Ali grew upas part of a Bahd’{ family sent by Bahd’u’llh Himself to Egypt, andwhere before breakfast, as he relates, ‘we chanted our morning prayersand heard father tell wonderful stories about his experiences with Baha’w'll4h and the Master or read the latest communication from the HolyLand,’ formed the character of the devoted believer who in later yearswas instrumental in the growth of the Faith in northern California. ...””

Anita loas Chapman

“In this tender, deceptively simple account, we of the Englishspeaking world see glimpses of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi foundnowhere else ... the heartbreak of Shoghi Effendi when turned backfrom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s journey to America; the description of the hourbefore sunset spent each day with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His garden; ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s voice heard through the open windows, as He spoke with authority and firmness to the Turkish Commission of Inquiry. ...Here,too, you will find very personal letters of Shoghi Effendi to his friend,Ali. They have not been published before.”

Anna Stevenson

“Shoghi Effendi ... becomes more real through the memories of Ali,his fellow student and choice friend. And all this now available to usthrough the graceful, reverent and carefully checked work of MarionYazdi. ...””

Dorothy Frey _

“The magic of his closeness to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá remained with him hisentire life. ...On only one or two special occasions was he prevailedupon to speak with us about those earlier times. When he did, it was notfrom notes, but from his heart. When he shared with us these intimate,sacred reminiscences, his sincerity, spontaneity, the generosity of spiritwith which he took us back with him, made you want him to go onspeaking forever. And when he did stop, you could whisper, ‘I wasthere. ...’ A reading of Blessings Beyond Measure evokes that same response.”*

Blessings Beyond Measure can be purchased through your local disas representative or from the Bahá’í Distribution Service for12.95,

i/i Distribution Service ORDER FORMfe coo Dateieee er earner OhSomer Tarlo woreme Naserere maxesow Tare Tin a Tare Te

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ENCES. © The culturally diverse music and dancers of$1.75 Africa, Asia, Spain, Eastern Europe;American, Native American, country andwestern from the United States, and many,DA Datebook many more. ...Designed on a monthly format, © Highlights of statements by conferencewith all Bahá’í Holy Days and speakers including the keynote speaker,Feasts clearly indicated, this com- Dr. Ervin Laszlo, renowned scientist andpact, pocket-sized calendar is the writer, and the closing address by Dr.same as last year's with the addition of new gray and green cover Robert Henderson, secretary of the Na- (Check or Money Order HVISAGr MasierCara Exoeat0n dale Totaland one-page list of Feasts. tional Spiritual Assembly eisese eso encuswee gos VHS or Beta, $39.95 ser TAB 3/884 ai 415 Linden Avenuea ail Di ib iti ion i Wilmette, IL 60091

�[Page 18]18 / The American Baha’ / March 1988

CLASSIFIEDS

Classified notices in The American Baha’i are published free ofcharge as a service to the Bahá’ícommunity. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating10 the Faith; no personal or commercial messages can be acceptedSor publication. The opportunitiesreferred to have not been approved by the National SpiritualAssembly; the friends should exercise their own judgment in responding to them.

EMPLOYMENT

THE DEPARTMENT of HumanResources at the Bahá’í National Center is seeking qualified persons to servein a variety of positions at the National Center in Wilmette. Althoughthere is an ongoing need for those withstrong secretarial skills, we will acceptgeneral applications as well. Presentvacancies include: customer servicerepresentative (Administrative Services), World Center staffing representative (Human Resources), secretary (Office of External Affairs inWashington, D.C.), administrative assistant (Office of Pioneering), andclerk aide (Persian/American AffairsCommittee office). For more information and/or an application, pleasecontact the Department of HumanResources, Bahá’í National Center,Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039 as soon as possible.

THE BAHA'I World Center has anurgent need for individuals to serve assecurity guards for the Holy Placesand other Bahá’í properties in theHaifa/‘Akká area. Applicants mustbe male, physically fit, and willing todo shift work. The length of service isfrom one year to 18 months. Thosewho are interested may contact theDepartment of Human Resources, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL60091 (phone 312-869-9039), or writeto the Bahá’í World Center, P.O. Box155, Haifa 31 001, Israel.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

DEVOTED homefront pioneers areurgently needed in Salinas, California(@ racially diverse city of 91,000) tohelp maintain its Assembly and assistin consolidating nearby communities.Salinas is eight miles inland fromMonterey Bay and 106 miles south ofSan Francisco. It is the agricultural,industrial, financial, governmentaland military center of MontereyCounty. Housing, although relativelyexpensive (starting at about $525 amonth for a two-bedroom apartment),is readily available. Fluency in Spanishis not necessary, but would be usefulon a resumé. We are willing to helpyou find housing, jobs, schools, etc. Ifinterested, please write to the SpiritualAssembly of Salinas, P.O. Box 3512,Salinas, CA 92912, or phone SheilaWalsh, 408-754-1330.

RETIRED and wanting to pioneerand teach? Think about making yourhome in Vero Beach, Florida, a lovelycity with many cultural advantages—a_new Center for the Arts with 12 teaching rooms; a new and modern theatre;three local theatre groups; and a college besides! We are a Group of onlythree Bahá’ís and can use help inteaching and forming an Assembly.For information, please write to Lucile E. Greenan, j

Vero Beach, FL 32960.

PLEASE help save our endangeredAssembly! Marion, Iowa (pop. 19,000)needs one or two adult Bahd’fs by Ridvan, We have eight adult believers butone is quite ill. There are 12 Baha’children in Marion, and the Tender

Branch Baha’ { School offers classes onSundays. Marion is a suburb of CedarRapids (pop. 100,000). Our schoolsare among the best in the country, andthere are four colleges and two universities within commuting distance.The metro area offers a broad rangeof employment opportunities. For fullinformation packet, write to the Bahá’ís of Marion,

Marion, 1A 52302, or phone319-377-6938 or 319-377-9505.

THERE IS a critical need for homefront pioneers in Neah Bay, Washington, on the Makah Indian Reservation, a remote area of great naturalbeauty bordering the Pacific Oceanand the Juan de Fuca Straits. In thesummertime, Neah Bay is a touristcenter; job opportunities are scarce,but are available to school teachersand employees of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. If you are self-supporting, give us a try. We need strong,deepened Bahd’fs ... two or more. Forinformation, write to P.O. Box 306,Neah Bay, WA 98357.

WANTED: homefront pioneer tohelp save Assembly in Janesville, amid-sized community in central Wiscor 15 miles north of the Illinoisborder. We have many parks, a twoyear college, vocational school, largehospital, recreational activities, shopping centers. About two and one-halfhours from the Bahá’í House of Worship, one and one-half hours fromMilwaukee, an hour from Madisonand from Rockford, Illinois. A goodplace to open a business or possibly toretire; we will help you in any way wecan. For more information, contactBeverly Ruby,

Janesville, WI 53545 (608-754-6166),Helene Graumann (608-756-1049) orLois Swanson (608-756-4258).

DO YOU want to move to California, or are you living there and wishfor a change? If so, there’s a greatchance for you to help the Baha’(s inAlturas where there is no smog; clear,cold water right out of the tap; and thepeople are friendly. We have excellentschools and teachers from kindergarten through high school with competitive sports. There are four or morecolleges within a hundred miles, andyoung people could come home everyweekend if they wished. Also goodfishing, hunting, camping, etc. Alturas, the county seat of Modoc County, is a great town for families or retired couples; splendid senior centerwith good, inexpensive meals and suchactivities as Bingo, etc. A two-bedroom home with two-car unattachedgarage with its own fully insulatedbedroom is for sale. Five lots go withit: parking space, large lawn and shadetrees, all fenced; large garden, alsofenced. All for $35,000. The highschool is within walking distance ofthe house, and there are buses to takethe younger children to their respective schools. If interested, please writeto Mrs. Marian McKee, P.O. Box 116,Alturas, CA 96101, or phone 916-2335118.

HAMLET, North Carolina, has lostit* Assembly status and welcomes inquiries about the community. Theweather is ideal the year ‘round, andwe are 45 minutes from Pinehurst, twohours from the beaches, and one andone-half hours from the Louis Gregory Institute. Please write to the Bahá’í community of Hamlet,

Hamlet, NC 28345, and wewill help in any way we can.

THIS IS an appeal for those whoare looking for a spiritual challenge tocome to Gallup, a city of 20,000 innorthwestern New Mexico, relativelyclose to the Navajo, Zuni and HopiReservations and only 50 miles fromthe Native American Bahd’{ Institute.Whether you are a family or a singleperson, we need you desperately. Formore information, write to Mrs. RoanStone, - Gallup, NM 87301, or phone 505-8636701.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are neededto help stabilize the Spiritual Assembly of Bemidji, Minnesota—one ortwo families who would like to settledown, and/or students who can commit to at least a two-year stay at Bemidji State University. Diverse community with American, Persian andAmerican Indian groups. Two adultsare needed to re-elect the Assembly atRidvan. Bemidji (pop. about 11,000)is a northern Minnesota paradise surrounded by the Ojibwe Indian Reservations. The small but active Baha'icommunity hosts a successful teachingproject called ‘Project Dawn-Breakers’”’ and a Bahá’í school. If you arelooking for a place to serve the Faithand be employed in a vacation land,is the place for you. For moreinformation, please contact Nanette

Missaghi, Bemidji, MN 56601.HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed

in the fast-growing town of CasaGrande, Arizona (pop. 20,000), in thescenic desert between Tucson andPhoenix. A good area for startingone’s own business; also, opportunities in agriculture, construction, andseveral national companies. A greatfamily town. Please come and help usbuild a strong community. For moreinformation, please write to theSloans, CasaGrande, AZ 85222, or phone 602-8369133.

THE COLONY, Texas, the city bythe lake, has a community of eight active adults, a jeopardized Assembly,and a great need for homefront pioneers. We have accomplished muchand wish to continue. Our small community has Sunday children’s classes,‘a park sponsored by the Bahd’{ community, planned classes in Farsi, regular Feasts that everyone attends, andall members active on the Assembly.We have good rapport with the citygovernment, and there are good jobopportunities with J.C. Penney, FritoLay, and Texas Instruments. This is aunique community of homes only,which are available for rent or purchase. The school system is one of theDallas area’s best, stressing excellencein academics. There are many job opportunities in Dallas, and we are only20 miles from International Airportand other employment possibilities.For more information, please contactPeggy Linden, The Colony, TX 75056 (phone 214-370-7988)or Mehrdad Shenassa,

The Colony, TX 75056 (phone214-370-8432).

HELP US win important goals forthe Six Year Plan on the U.S./Mexicoborder. The District Teaching Committee of Southern New Mexico/WestTexas needs homefront pioneers inareas where Assemblies are beingelected but are not functioning. If interested in receiving a descriptive listof the 12 Assembly areas that needpioneers, please write to Liz Arramide, _ .» Anthony, NM 88021. Teachers, nurses,Spanish-speaking people, returningpioneers from Spanish-speaking areas,college students and teachers are especially needed, but we need everyonewho wants to come.

WANTED: dedicated, deepenedBaha'is to move to Canton, Ohio,which has a Group of four active Baha’is. Employment is limited; ideal forretired couple. Low crime area withinexpensive housing. Come join ourclose-knit community in its never-ending teaching activities. For information, write to Hamid Farzan,

Canton, OH 44718,‘or phone 216-477-1873 (evenings) or216-821-9110, ext. 385 (days).

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Bismarck, North Dakota, is in near-jeopardy. We are an active and caringcommunity with new and deepenedmembers, and are enjoying the successof a newly-formed Bahá’í deepeningand study class that meets every two

weeks while children’s classes are insession. Bismarck is a state capitalwith two colleges, quality schools, twomedical centers, a YMCA, civic center, shopping malls, art galleries andassociations, good fishing, lovelyscenic nature, and much more. If youare considering a move, the Baha'is ofBismarck welcome you to become apart of our community. For information, write to the Spiritual Assemblyof Bismarck, Bismarck, ND58502, or phone 701-223-6189. Also,we would be happy to mail brochures,etc.

HOMEFRONT pioneers: Ayden,North Carolina, a small town close toGreenville, home of East CarolinaUniversity, needs you! The dormantBahá’í community of Ayden is a legacy of the ’70s mass teaching projectsand the efforts of the also-dormantGreenville community. There is aspark there that awaits your fire!Perfect for single persons or retiredcouples. For information, write to theDistrict Teaching Committee of Eastern North Carolina, c/o Warren Rochelle,

Garner, NC 27529, or phone MarySpires (919-446-5889) or Warren Rochelle, 919-772-1340.

THE BAHA'IS of Okaloosa County (eight adults) and Fort WaltonBeach (two adults), Florida, invite youto consider their communities ashomefront pioneering posts. Opportunities for teaching are unbounded; thelocal community offers exceptionalchallenges in terms of racial, ethnic,economic and age diversity. The areais known for its white beaches, watersports and lovely climate. Homefront

pioneers will find an attractive and>

diverse economy with opportunities intechnical fields, tourism, private business and government service. The lowcost of living makes the area attractiveto the family person as well as to students who attend the local college anduniversity. For information, contactBill Thomson,

Niceville, FL or phone 904-862-6930.

PORTALES, New Mexico (pop.12,000), home of Eastern New MexicoUniversity, an excellent communications college with its own PBS television station, has an inactive Assembly with one English-speakingmember (me). It was formed by myselfand a Persian friend in 1983, and reformed in ’87. Have large house(5,600 sq. ft.) with computers to housestudents for low cost. Clovis, 20 milesaway, home of Cannon Air ForceBase, has a few Baha’is. If interestedin the area, feel free to come visit orwrite to Liz Dehghan, P.O. Box 716,Portales, NM 88130.

SHINGLETOWN, only 17 milesfrom Lassen Volcanic National Parkin Northern California, could use apharmacy, a service station (sellinggasoline and diesel fuel, fixing cars,putting on chains, pumping tires), ormaybe a bowling alley. Shingletown isa foothill community with an elementary school (450 students) and easy access to Redding, only 30 miles away.There is an Assembly in Redding, andone Baha’ in Shingletown. For moreinformation, write to Laurel Kessler,P.O. Box 285, Shingletown, CA 96088,or phone 916-474-5891.

HOMEFRONT pioneers: WakeForest, North Carolina, poised on theedge of unprecedented growth, offersthe coziness of a small town with a bigcity (Raleigh) within easy commutingdistance. There is great potential in aWake Forest Bahá’í community thatawaits your touch. The active communities of Raleigh and Wake County arealso rich resources. Perfect for singlesor retired couples. For more information, write to the District TeachingCommittee of Eastern North Carolina, c/o Warren Rochelle,

Garner, NC 27529,or phone Art McKinley, 919-469-2783or Warren Rochelle, 919-772-1340.

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly ofWilmington, Delaware, incorporatedsince 1955, is in danger of being lostthis year. Those moving to the areausually settle in the outlying county,but this small city of many interracialneighborhoods with employment inchemicals, banking and various service industries needs dedicated homefront pioneers who are committed to“see it through”’ in a small but deepened and loving community. We willdo all in our power to welcome youand help you settle. Those of black orHispanic background are especiallywelcome as those black friends whofounded the community here areunable to be active because of age andill health. Phone 302-654-0171 collect,ask for Jim or Ginger Honatke, andlet us talk you into Wilmington!

WALK the ‘‘mystical path’’ to theYakima Indian Reservation; specifically, the Spiritual Assembly of Toppenish (Washington) needs you beforeformation at Ridvan. Toppenish is arural area with employment in agriculture and government; nurses arealso needed. Contact the Spiritual Assembly of Toppenish, P.O. Box 284,Toppenish, WA 98948, or phone 509865-5838 or 509-865-5453.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

NEPAL: The UN InternationalLabor Office is seeking a project coordinator for a labor-intensive publicworks project. Requirements include adegree in civil engineering, substantialexperience in design, and implementation of rural development works inwater development and irrigation. Formore information, contact the Officeof Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

INTERESTED in spending sixmonths in sunny Guatemala? A pioneering couple will be returning to theU.S. for six months and would like toexchange homes with a U.S. couple orfamily during that time. A wonderfulchance to become familiar with another culture and to practice learningSpanish. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’íNational Center, Wilmette, IL 60091,or phone 312-869-9039.

DOMINICA: The Ministry ofHealth is presently hiring doctors. Thegovernment contracts directly with thephysician/surgeon. Especially neededis a general surgeon. Salaries are low.For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ NationalCenter, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone312-869-9039.

BARBADOS: This goal country offers possibilities for retirees and thoseinterested in investing substantially inbusinesses that create employment. Ifinterested, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilae IL 60091, or phgne 312-869NICARAGUA: Job opportunityfor an epidemiologist with an occupational safety and health program toconduct training and collaborative research on pesticide-related healthproblems in the Leon/Chinandegaregion. Requirements are epidemiological training, research experience,fluent Spanish; physician training isdesirable. Salary; full living, travel,medical, vacation plus essential homecosts; savings. This is a one-year assignment. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091,or phone 312-869-9039.

NIGERIA: A two-year position isavailable for a farm manager/extension specialist to take responsibilityfor a demonstration farm and smallholder extension program in centralNigeria. Position requires an M.S. inagricultural sciences or equivalentfarming experience; work at field levelin Africa; well-organized with goodcommunication skills. Competitivesalary plus fringe benefits. For more

�[Page 19]

CLASSIFIEDS

information, contact the Office ofPioneering, Bahd’{ National Center,Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

TAIWAN: a Montessori school inTaipei is looking for two teachers forthe 1988-89 school year who havecompleted a Montessori trainingcourse (pre-school, 3-6 year olds),preferably an Association MontessoriInternational course. Applicants neednot speak Chinese, but someone witha background in or experience withChinese culture, people and languagewould be valuable. The school paysfor Chinese language lessons, transportation costs and other benefits. Formore information, contact the Officeof Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone312-869-9039.

BOLIVIA: the USAID Office ofa*griculture and Rural Development isseeking candidates for a personal services contractor to act as an agroindustry/credit specialist in La Paz.Qualifications include a minimum offive years’ experience with an international donor agency working on agroindustry and credit-related activities; agraduate degree in agricultural busifness/economics, other related techical area or equivalent experience;to relate well to officials ofpublic and private sector institutions.Experience with AID agricultural/rural development sector programs ishighly desirable, as is fluency in Spanish and English. Salary depends on applicant’s qualifications and prior earnings. For more information, contactthe Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, orphone 312-869-9039.

MARSHALL Islands: U.S. Armyfacility on Kwajalein Atoll is seckingpatrol officers to assume law enforcement/security duties. Applicantsshould be graduates of a police academy ofits equivalent, have threeyears’ experience in security during thelast five years, be in good physicalcondition and be capable of acquiringa security clearance. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

KENYA: Job opportunity for a private enterprise specialist /economist toserve as principal adviser in designingand supervising private enterprise activities in eastern and southern Africa.Based in Nairobi and funded by AID’sRegional Economic Services Officefor East and Southern Africa. Applicants should have a degree in business,economics or finance, five years’ private sector experience in a developingcountry, and ability to develop newprograms and business strategies.Ability to speak French and prior experience with AID are desirable. Position requires extensive travel under atwo-year contract. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering,Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

BAHAMAS: Several openings existat the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic UnderseaTest and Evaluation Center on AndrosIsland, 35 miles west of Nassau. Benefits include free lodging and freemeals; all positions are single status.They include security guard, painter,paint and body mechanic, heavyequipment operator, air conditioningmechanic, diesel power generator mechanic, diesel power plant operator,marine diesel mechanic, aviationstorekeeper, and communicationstechnician. For more informationabout qualifications and employmentapplication, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-8699039.

KENYA: A technical adviser isneeded in Nairobi. Qualifications include a degree in management, business administration or a related field;experience in small enterprise management training; consulting and advisoryservices; experience in preparing, using and evaluating training materialsand methods. For more information,contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

PORTUGAL: a luxury development project—building an 18-holegolf course, clubhouse and 160-villacomplex—is seeking a project manager. Someone with previous experience in Spain or Portugal is preferred,although fluency in the language is notessential. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091,or phone 312-869-9039.

WANTED

WOMEN of the world are being invited to share their thoughts aboutpeace as part of the preparation for anInternational Women’s Peace Conference next August in Dallas, Texas.Articles, poems and essays will becompiled in a book commemoratingthe conference. Writers must agree toallow their works to be displayed atthe conference and to. be publishedwith full credit to the author. Selectedwriters will receive scholarships to attend the conference. Submissionsshould be no longer than 2 typewritten‘or 3 handwritten pages. Please sendto: Peacemakers’ Words, 100 CrescentCourt, Suite 270, Dallas, TX 75201.Include a $5 fee to help cover the costof publication and conference scholarship. Deadline is April 1, 1988.

THE DISTRICT Teaching Committee of Northeast Colorado needsyour help to save jeopardized Assemblies before Ridvan. Most of theAssemblies are within 60 miles of themetro Denver area and major ski resorts. If you are willing to relocate,please write to the District TeachingCommittee,Golden, CO 80401, or phone DuaneTroxel, 303-278-8687. Colorado offersexcellent opportunities for jobs,education and recreation.

SEEKING your personal recollections, experiences and correspondencewith Hands of the Cause of God for awork to be published. Your experiences, shared with the Bahd’{ community, will prove invaluable to thepresent and future generations of believers. Write to Barry Harper,

Santa Fe, NM 87501,or phone 502-982-8337 or 502-9898370.

WANTED: readers and writers forthe Bahá’í Esperanto League’s worldnewsletter (La BELmonda Letero),published in Esperanto four timeseach year. Learn what Baha’ Esperantists are doing around the world;share your efforts in working for international understanding through Esperanto. At the present time, LaBELmonda Letero reaches more than200 Bahd’s living in 40 countries andterritories. For a complimentary copy,write to June K. Fritz, editor, La BELmonda Letero, RFD 1, wWilber, NE 68465. For beginners, an English translation is also available.

DENTAL hygienist needed in Meridian, Mississippi, whose Assembly isin jeopardy. Dentist is Christian; ad isplaced by a Bahd’{ friend. Send resumé with photo to Dr. E.C. Fletcher,

Meridian, MS 39301.

HELP wanted: experienced volunteers for stage preparation, set design,lighting and audio/visual programming are needed for the second annual“Stepping Stones to Peace’? Children’s Conference to be held June 18 inPasadena, California. Please phonePeggie Moore, 818-459-9033.

WE ARE interested in any materialor ideas relating to children’s programs to use during Nineteen Day

Feasts, Bahd’{ Holy Day observances,Sunday school, programs for all-dayinstitutes, etc. Please write to Karenand Enrique Campos,Mexico.

WANTED by Bahd’{ composer:poems written by children for possibleuse as texts for choral pieces to bewritten for a children’s choir. Pleasesend to Margaret McClellan,

Danville, KY 40422.

BAHA’E songwriter seeks other Baha’i musicians to work with on ‘“‘soul/contemporary/urban’” songs. Write toJames Boyd, Moline, IL 61265.

WANTED: motor home for summer travel teaching. Must be reasonably priced, in good running conditionand deliver good gas mileage. Write toKathleen Johnson,

Plymouth, WI 53073, orphone 414-892-4799.

WANTED: volunteer fund-raisingcoordinator for the Baha’i Encyclopedia Project to be responsible forcoordinating all encyclopedia fundraising activities. Strong organizational abilities, ability to work independently, social poise required;business. or fund-raising experiencedesirable. Contact John Walbridge,Bahá’í Encyclopedia Project,

Dearborn, MI 48128, orphone 313-278-0230.

WANTED: mature woman or couple to share home with elderly womanin Durham, North Carolina, For information, write to Mrs. Marjorie Edwards, Durham, NC 27704, or phone 919-4773991.

WANTED: used Bahá’í books andlocal librarian’s overstocks of newbooks. Send list indicating quantity,title, author, edition, and condition ifused. We will send you our offer byreturn mail. Los Angeles Bahá’{ Bookshop, 5755 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles,CA 90016 (phone 213-933-8291).

THE BAHA’t World Center Library collects materials on a worldwide basis that mention the Faith, including master’s theses and doctoraldissertations or their equivalents. Ifyou have produced such a thesis ordissertation, please inform the WorldCenter Library of the title, date, andwhere copies may be obtained. Writeto the Department of Library and Archival Services, P.O. Box 155, Haifa31 001, Israel.

WANTED: photographs and/ortapes (audio or video) of Watters andDaughters at the 1985 InternationalYouth Conference in Columbus,Ohio. Also interested in same fromother appearances. Will reimburse anyexpenses including postage. We needthese as soon as possible for inclusionin a portfolio. Thank you for yourcooperation. Write to Watters andDaughters, Ridvan Valley,

Lynx, OH 45650, or phone513-544-3584.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archivesis seeking district convention votinglists for 1952-67 for the states ofWashington, New Mexico, Colorado,Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky,Maine and North Carolina. Anyonehaving lists they could donate is askedto send them to the National Baha’iArchives, Baha’i National Center,Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE NATIONAL Baha'i Archivesis seeking tape recordings and photographs of the two Navajo ReservationConferences (June 1962 and June1964) at which the Hand of the Causeof God Zikru’lláh Khadem spoke.Both conferences were held at PineSprings, Arizona. Anyone havingtapes or photographs that they coulddonate to the Archives is asked to sendthem to the National Baha’i Archives,Baha’j National Center, Wilmette, IL60091.

SCHOOLS, CAMPSTHE AMOZ Gibson Training CenThe American Baha’i / March 1988 / 19

tre for Bahá’í Media in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, is sponsoring several summerschool programs for those interestedin the work of the Faith throughmedia, especially radio. The first ofthese, a course on Baha’/ internationalservice, will be held June 13-24. Someof the topics to be discussed are pioneering, traveling teaching, livingabroad, use of the media, travelers’health, cross-cultural communication,learning a foreign language, and Spanish. The session should be of specialinterest to anyone considering a Yearof Service as a volunteer in LatinAmerica. The language of instructionis English. For more information,contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

CAMP Kamil is a Baha’ residentialcamp that offers young people (entering fifth through ninth grades) of allfaiths and backgrounds an enrichingenvironment of purposeful outdoorliving. The camp, sponsored by theSpiritual Assembly of Beloit, Wisconsin, will be held July 16-23 at a lakeside wilderness camp in the UpperPeninsula of Michigan surrounded bythe Ottawa National Forest. For moreinformation and registration materials, contact James Lewicki,

Viroqua, WI 54665, orphone 608-637-2743.

PENN State University is offeringgraduate fellowships to American Indian students interested in special education teacher training. The deadlinefor submitting applications is April 15for fall semester 1988 and November15 for spring semester 1989. The university is in a rural area surrounded byrolling hills. The local Assembly inUniversity Park is in jeopardy.Anyone who is able to relocate shouldcontact the Assembly secretary, GailAlberini, at 814-238-7980. For moreinformation about graduate fellowships, write to Anna Gajar,

University Park, PA16802.

ATTENTION all college-bound Baha’is and those already attending college. The Bahd’{ Club at Northern Illinois University is gaining momentum; however, some club memberswill be graduating, and while the clubis growing, there is a need for energetic Baha'i students dedicated to carrying on the flame and advancing theCause of Bahá’u’lláh. This year, theschool administration sponsored a“Unity Through Diversity” weekend

and plans to make it an annual event.The campus knows the Baha’ Club isa force to be reckoned with. We can’tturn back now. Please consider Northern Illinois University in your prayers.

FREE 1988 program brochure forthe Landegg Centre in Switzerland isavailable. Courses cover such topics as“Assembly Management,” ‘‘TheCovenant,” ‘‘Youth and (Baha’/)Scholarship,” ‘‘Study of ComparativeReligion,” “The Two Wings of theBird: Men and Women,” and “‘Current Thoughts and the Unity Paradigm.” The ‘‘unbroken thread”’ of the1988 programs is scholarship and current thought. For a free brochure,write to Landegg Centre, 9405 Wienacht, Switzerland.

U.S. school teachers may be able toobtain continuing education credit forcourses taken at the Amoz GibsonTraining Centre for Bahd’{ Media. Formore information and a course schedule, write to the Centre at HC-02 Box14765, Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00612, orphone 809-878-4189 before 9 p.m.(st).

‘CAMP Kamil in Wisconsin is seeking applications for the following positions: camp counselors, cook, campnurse, and water safety instructor.This is a wonderful opportunity forBaha'is to share their skills with youngpeople and to become involved in anexciting outdoor program. The residential camp, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Beloit, Wisconsin,will be held July 16-23 at a lakesidewilderness camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan surrounded by theOttawa National Forest. Room andboard are provided for staff. For moreinformation, contact the camp director, James Lewicki,

Viroqua, WI $4665, or phone 608-6372743.

A SCHEDULE of classes for theAmoz Gibson Training Centre for Bahd’{ Media can be yours for no chargesimply by writing to the Amoz GibsonCentre, HC 02 Box 14765, Arecibo,Puerto Rico 00612, or by phoning 809878-4189.

OKLAHOMA Baha'i School springsession will be held April 1-3. For information, please write to the registrar, Oklahoma Bahá’í School, P.O.Box 1814, Ponca City, OK 74602, orphone 405-765-8504.

<HABLA Espafiol? Or know someone who does? The Amoz Gibson

See ADS page 28

BlessingsBeyondMi sare

Recollections of‘Abdu’l-Bahá andShoghi Effendi

By Ali M. Yazdi

HC $12.95

To order

No charge for postage and handling

From the Baha'i Publishing Trust

The warmth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi is captured as we see beyondthe roles that each respectively played as the Center of the Covenant and theGuardian. Through Ali M. Yazdi's eyes we experience the “intensely human,keenly alive" Master. Through the open, affectionate letters from the youthfulShoghi Effendi to “my dearest Ali.” we glimpse Shoghi Effendi’s compassionand struggle as a college student preparing himself to serve the Cause.

Contact your Distribution Representation or the Baha'i Distribution Service

Bahda‘i Distribution Service415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 TEL. 1-800-323-1880

Price valid only in the United States

�[Page 20]20 / The American Baha’i / March 1988

Exito en la ensefianza en Pueblo

El proyecto de ensefianza“Arise 2” en Pueblo, Colorado,ha estado muy envuelto en la expansién y en la consolidacién delos creyentes Hispanos en el sur deColorado.

Los Bahá’ís dedican muchotiempo a la integracién de losnuevos creyentes a la comunidadBaha’i.

Este proyecto, el cual es apoyado por la Asamblea Espirituallocal de Pueblo, comenzé6 el 7 denoviembre de 1987 y hasta lafecha han habido mis de 15 declaraciones.

Los Baha’is de diferentes comunidades en Colorado viajanpara ayudar con los esfuerzos dela ensefianza de la Fe en Pueblo.

Evento de ensefanza

Varias comunidades Baha’is enNuevo Méjico y Tejas, cerca de la

ESPANOL

frontera con Méjico, auspician,cuatro veces al afio, fiestas comoactividades de proclamacién.

Estas actividades han ayudadoen la integracién de los creyentesHispanos a la comunidad Baha’i eestar activamente envueltos en losasuntos de las comunidades.

Recientemente, el 31 de enero,hubo una fiesta Baha’ en Anthony, Nuevo Méjico. Mas de 200personas asistieron al evento, cerca de 50 de ellos no eran Baha’is.

La fiesta fue anunciada a travésde la radio, el periédico y la television.

Aproximadamante 15 de los queasistieron a la actividad fue comoresultado directo de la publicidad.

Un miembro del Comité de Ensefianza de ese distrito atribuyé eléxito de la fiesta a la cooperaciénde los creyentes Hispanos de lascomunidades cerca de Anthony.

‘Como consecuencia del evento,muchos de los creyentes Hispanoshan prometido tener reunioneshogarefias.

Baha’is in Santa Monica take partin program honoring Dr. King’s birth

For the second year, the Spiritual Assembly of Santa Monica,California, took part in the Martin Luther King Jr. WestsideCoalition program January 18celebrating the dream of Dr. King.

Some 350 people attended thisyear’s event, which included a Baha’i prayer in the official program.

Se nombra Comitéde EnsefianzaHispano en EU

El Comité Nacional de Enseiianza Hispano se reunié por primera vez en enero de 1988 en Chicago, Illinois, para consultarsobre el Plan de Seis Afios y la carta de la Casa Universal de Justiciadel 31 de agosto de 1987.

Las metas del comité son el departicipar en el proceso de la entrada en tropas, el asistir en eldesarrollo de la identidad de losBaha’is Hispanos y el de promover la participacién y la contribucién de los Hispanos para enriquecer la calidad de las comunidades Baha’ is y fortalecer las Instituciones Baha’ is.

El comité también tiene interésen mejorar la comunicacién entrelos Baha’is Hispanos en los Estados Unidos, el remover los obstaculos que impiden la ensefianza alas minorias y el entendimiento espiritual sobre el sacrificio.

Los miembros del comité son:Armando Alzamora de California, Silvia Giebitz de Texas, Judith Munter de Florida, JorgeNossa de New York, y ManuelaVillanueva de Arizona.

A prayer for mankind revealedby ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was read in partby Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi, representing the Spiritual Assembly ofSanta Monica, and in part by ablack pastor. The reading made avery favorable impression on theaudience.

As a result, many people cameto the Bahá’í table at a fair thatimmediately followed the program, where a display had beenset up with racial harmony as itstheme.

Pamphlets, copies of the peacestatement, and interest cards weremade available. The table wascrowded with people wanting toknow more about the Faith and itstenets.

The Baha’is were mentioned ina local newspaper that covered theprogram. This event, which required little time and energy, hasemerged as one of the most successful teaching and proclamationactivities held in Santa Monica.

Start making your plansto go traveling teachingto Hispanic communities this summer.

JOIN THE BANDOF BAHA'U'LLAH ]

Contact: NationalTeaching CommitteeBaha’i National CenterWilmette, IL 60091Phone (312) 869-9039.

ayudarle en Ilenar su solicitud.

Atencion: ley sobre legalizacion

Si usted no es ciudadano de los Estados Unidos y ha estado enlos Estados Unidos ilegalmente desde antes del 1 de mayo de 1982o ha trabajado 90 dias en agricultura antes de 1 de mayo de 1986,usted podré cualificar para residencia temporera bajo la ‘‘Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.’’

Si usted cree que cualifica, usted solamente tiene hasta el 4 demayo de 1988 para solicitar. Por favor llame usando el servicio dellamada gratuito al 1-800-777-7700 para mensajes grabados en espafiol el Inglés a la agencia voluntaria mAs cercana a usted para

Recuerde, su solicitud es estrictamente confidencial y no puedeser utilizado para deportarlo. Si usted es eligible, por favor Ilenela solicitud antes de que sea muy tarde!

En el centro de la primera fila seencuentra Elvira Urdaneta delConsulado de Venezuela. La Sra.

Urdaneta se hizo Bahá’í en unareunién hogarefia en Skokie, Illinois, luego de que recibio el Mensaje de la Promesa de la Paz Mundial.

El proposito de nuestra vida es elconocer y adorar a Dios

“El conocimiento es Amor. Titestudia, escucha las exhortaciones, piensa, esfuérzate por entender la sabiduria y grandeza deDios. Debe hacerse fértil la tierraantes que se siembre la semilla.””

—‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

El propésito de nuestra creacién es el de conocer a Dios nuestro Creador y adorarle.

Si le conocemos a El, el proposito de nuestra vida se ha cumplido. El propésito de una lampara es el dar luz. El propésito dela flauta es el emitir notas melodiosas. Tenemos que conocer aDios, si el propésito de nuestravida ha de cumplirse. Si no le conocemos, somos como l4mparassin luz, como flautas silenciosas.

Baha’u’llah, la gran Manifestacién de Dios para esta épocarevela una oracién que dice:

“Soy testigo oh mi Dios, de queTii me has creado para conocertey adorarte. Soy testigo, en estemomento, de mi impotencia y deTu poder, de mi pobreza y de Turiqueza.

“No hay otro Dios mds que Ti,el Que Ayuda en el peligro, el QueSubsiste por Si Mismo.’”

Baha’u’llah nos ha pedido recitar esta oracién al mediodia detodos los dias a fin de no olvidarpor qué hemos sido creados. Seamos una flauta melodiosa,vibrante con las alabanzas deDios. j;No seamos flautas silenciosas!

Como conocer a Dios:

Dios el Todopoderoso, el Creador, El Omnipotente, es inmensamente mas grande de lo que podemos imaginar.

El es la ‘‘Esencia Incomprensible.’’ No podemos ir hasta Elpero El puede llegar hasta nosotros. Asi como él sol envia susenergias a nosotros por medio desus rayos, la guia y gloria de Diosvienen a nosotros por medio deSus Manifestaciones como Krishna, Cristo, Mahoma, y Bahda’u’llah.

Las Manifestaciones de Diosconstituyen el unico medio quepuede llevarnos a El. Si no fuerapor Ellas nuestro mundo se hubiera quedado obscuro y nuestrasVidas hubieran estado muertas

deveras.

Si reconocemos a las Manifestaciones de Dios, hemos reconocido a Dios, Si las negamos,hemos negado a Dios. Baha’u’ll4h, la Manifestacién de Diospara nuestra época, nos dice:

“La puerta del conocimientodel Antigiio Ser, siempre ha estado y siempre estaré cerrada a lafaz de los hombres. El entendimiento de hombre alguno, jamdstendré acceso a Su sagrada corte.

“‘Sin embargo, como una muestra de Su misericordia y como unaprueba de Su amorosa bondad, Elha manifestado a los hombres losSoles de Su divina guia, los Simbolos de Su divina unidad y ha ordenado que tener conocimiento deestos Seres santificados sea idéntico a tener conocimiento de Su

propio Ser.

“Quien quiera les reconozca hareconocido a Dios. Quien quieraescuche Su llamado ha escuchadola Voz de Dios.

“Quien quiera atestigiie la verdad de Su Revelacién ha atestiguado la verdad de Dios Mismo.Quien quiera se aleje de Ellos seha alejado de Dios, y quien quierano haya creido en Ellos no hacreido en Dios.

“Cada uno de Ellos es el Camino de Dios que conecta estemundo con los reinos de lo alto yel Estandarte de Su Verdad paratodos en los reinos de la tierra y elcielo.

“Ellos son las Manifestacionesde Dios entre los hombres, laspruebas de Su Verdad, y los signosde Su Gloria.””

Conference

from page 7

friends who are interested in theFaith. The conference programming will align with the NationalSpiritual Assembly’s request toensure that “‘non-Baha’i participants will not be alienated by emphasis on expansion and development—but will rather be aided tobetter understand the importanceof the goals to the world-shapingmission of the Faith.””

Some of the special events planned for the conference include:

Peace banners: It is asked thatpeople everywhere take part in thebanner project, the purpose ofwhich is to teach and proclaim theBaha’i concept of world peace before, during and after the conference. Banners should be threefeet high by five feet long.

Fund run: ‘‘For the Arc ... GetSet ... Go!’’ is the theme of this“*breath-taking’’ event. Themoney raised will go toward thecompletion of the buildings onMount Carmel. Pledge sheets andfurther information will be available in March and will also be enclosed in pre-registration confirmation packets.

Blood drive: There will be ablood drive at the conference.This is a valuable, life-saving contribution for those who are eligible to take part.

Teaching and service: Many opportunities for teaching and service will exist throughout the conference in the Bloomington area.

This conference is destined tobe one of the most significant Baha’i-sponsored events betweennow and the centenary of the Ascension of Baha’u’ll4h in 1992.We want you to attend!

Please pre-register. By registering before June 1 you will savetime, $10, and avoid on-campuscheck-in and registration hassles.

Bloomington reunion: Allformer residents of Bloomington,Indiana, are invited to attend areunion/reception during the International Youth Conference.

Young Bahai winsaward for poster atparty honoring Dr. King

At a dinner party sponsoredJanuary 16 in Corpus Christi,Texas, by the National Conference of Christians and Jews tohonor the birth of Dr. MartinLuther King Jr., Kendra Sepulveda, an 11-year-old Bahá’í, wona $50 award for a poster whosemessage was “‘We are all flowersfrom the same garden.’””

Afterward, Kendra said she haddecided to contribute the $50 tothe Arc in Haifa, Israel.�[Page 21]dal dyags 3 y lS JL we ot 22Pr Gs ogy play hy HoyWhy Spe 92 letey gel TAS pe bb 29d Gastlsl ay ye ty by Glad oS clo»eASlorges pKow y rly dhe»! aly

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The American Baha’i / March 1988 / 21

Trees learn a lesson in diversity

The gardener said, ‘“‘Let us graft some of you together.” The fruit trees politely declined: ‘‘No, thankyou. We would prefer to remain as we are.””

The gardener replied, ‘‘I will make your fruit sweeter.”? The trees answered, ‘‘But we have come to loveseparate fruits,’ and they broke into joyous song, giving praise to all things separate.

The gardener knew better, however, and while hisjolly but recalcitrant charges were singing he quicklygrafted them. A new branch here and there, and thewhole orchard acquired a more peaceful aspect. Butwhen the fruit trees recognized their new condition, theybecame unhappy with all the world’s such sudden turnings, and grew silent.

At first, all that could be heard were their leaves rustling despondently in the enlivening breeze. Yet soon theleaves were overtaken by bees humming in the softeningair, squirrels playing, fawns skipping, birds singing dayand night—and the orchard of separate fruits had become a safe haven for all.

Despite themselves, the humbled fruit trees could notrefrain from singing. Ever so quietly, a new melody began, sweeter than ever before, and it was carried fromone tree to the next, from row to row, gradually swellinguntil at last the gardener heard and came to see this unprecedented demonstration of happiness.

He addressed them with a mischievous twinkle in hiseyes: “‘I have decided that you were right after all. Youshall be separated as you wish.””

The singers abruptly halted, as they hastened to collect themselves and regain favor: ‘‘No, thank you, beloved gardener. We admit that you were right, and toprove it we have for you our sweetest fruit.””

The boughs were indeed richly laden that day, for theunited trees all broke into song giving praise to the wisegardener.—M. P.

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UN observances spell opportunity for Baha’is

UNITED NATIONS

UNA ‘briefing book’proposes U.S. agendafor an effective UN

With a new President and newCongress taking office next year,people across the country arecoming together through theUNA-USA’s Multilateral Projectto propose a dynamic U.S. agendaat the UN to be presented to thenew administration.

The briefing book for this program, ‘‘A Stronger Hand: Shaping a U.S. Agenda for a More Effective United Nations,”’ providesextensive background informationon nine areas of international concern:

¢ disarmament

health

labor and trade

The 80-page book is a basicsource for study panels in scoresof communities across the country. The recommendations ofthese panels will be published in aconsensus final report to the President, the Congress, the press andthe American people on UN Day,October 24.

The book is available for $7.50per copy ($6 for members of UNAand its Council of Organizations)from the Publications Department, UN-USA, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

The importance of Bahá’í involvement in UN initiatives is expressed in the following words bya former UN Assistant SecretaryGeneral:

“‘When the Bahd’{ InternationalCommunity sends a representativeto the United Nations, when a Baha’i community anywhere in theworld focuses its attention on theUN ..., when a single Bahá’í doeswhat he or she can do to help, ithas a ripple effect on the totalworldwide cooperation of individuals, groups and governments.’”

International Days and Decadesobserved by the UN provide manyopportunities for Bahá’í communities and individuals to acquaintothers with the Bahá’í Faith andits principles by supporting UNsponsored activities that are in accordance with Baha’i ideals.

Here is a partial listing of UNobservances to note in the coming

year:

April 7: World Health Day

May 17: World Communications Day

June 5: World Environment

September 8: International Literacy Day

October 3: Universal Children’sDay (Ist Monday in October)

October 16: World Food Day

October 24: United NationsDayOctober 24-30: UN Disarmament Week

October 31: UNICEF Day (observed in U.S. with Halloweentrick-or-treat program)

December 10: Human RightsDay1981-1990: Third UN Development Decade

1981-1990:ment Decade

Second Disarma

Waukesha hosts parenting workshop

Last October 10, the Bahá’ícommunity of Waukesha, Wisconsin, sponsored a half-day discussion and workshop, ‘‘Parenting with a Career—Maintainingthe Balance,”’ at Waukesha Technical College.

Panelists were Dr. Khalil Kha

CONTINENTALINDIGENOUS COUNCILSouth DakotaJuly, 1988

American Indian Baha’isare invited to attend.

Featured activities include:

preceeding campout

+ involvement of elders

traditional Indian speakers

Watch for more informationin upcoming issues of TheAmerican Baha'i!

vari, professor of psychology atthe University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Diana Loftus, an attorney and registered nurse from Milwaukee (both Bahá’ís); and Dr.Doug Meske, a family psychologist from Elm Grove, Wisconsin.

The moderator was Mrs. SueKhavari of Bayside, Wisconsin.

Topics covered were communication within the family, copingwith family hardships, and rolesharing.

Invitations and flyers were sentto all local school officials and tosociology and economics instructors at Carroll College, the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha,Waukesha County Technical College, and two Waukesha highschools.

Two local radio stations publicized the event for more than aweek while all Carroll Collegestudents received an announcement in the mail from the college.

Among the 35 people attendingwere several non-Baha’is and college students.

1986.

apply before it is too late!

Important notice for immigrants

If you are not a United States citizen and have been in the country illegally since before January 1, 1982, or have worked 90 daysin agriculture prior to May 1, 1986, you may qualify for temporary residency under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of

If you think you qualify, you have only until May 4, 1988, toapply. So please call this toll-free number, 1-800-777-7700, fortaped messages in English and Spanish for the volunteer agencynearest to you for help in filing your application.

Remember, your application is strictly confidential and cannotbe used to deport you or anyone else. So if you are eligible, please

1981-1990: International Drinking Water and Sanitation Decade

1983-1992: UN Decade of Disabled Persons

1988-1997: World Decade forCultural Development

Observing a UN InternationalDay can be as simple as sending apress release about the occasion tothe local newspaper.

Other ways to commemoratethe day might include holding apublic meeting, showing a film, orhosting a special reception. Anopen house for foreign students,musical programs, or displays are

other useful ways to bring UNobservances to the attention of thepublic.

If there is a United NationsAssociation chapter in your community, it may be possible to workwith them on a project.

In planning UN-related activities, the Public Inquiries Unit atthe UN has documents, a UN filmcatalog, pamphlets, posters andother free information availableto the public.

To obtain material on UN activities, write to the Public Inquiries Unit, United Nations, New

York, NY 10017, or phone 212963-4475.

When requesting pamphlets,posters, etc., please make your request by topic and allow 6-8 weeksfor a response.

The Bahd’{ U.S./UN Officewould like to be informed of Baha’i observances of special UNdays. Knowledge of Baha’i support is greatly appreciated in UNcircles.

Please send your reports to theBaha'is of the United States, 866UN Plaza, Suite 120, New York,NY 10017.

World Center archivist visits National Centerin LSeamen for letters written by the Guardian

JUDITH OPPENHEIMER

Judith Oppenheimer, an archivist from the Bahá’í World Centerin Haifa, Israel, visited the Bahá’íNational Center for a few weeksin January and February to workon a major project initiated at theWorld Center to find and collectmissing letters from Shoghi EffenIn what was Ms. Oppenheimer’s first trip outside of the WorldCenter in search of letters writtenby the Guardian to individual Baha’is, Groups and Assemblies, shecame across more than 200 lettersin the National Baha’i Archives inWilmette, Illinois.

It is believed, however, thatmore than 20,000 letters to thefriends in the West were written in

Persian/American Affairs Committeehas books for sale in Persian, English

The National Persian/American Affairs Committee has thefollowing titles for sale. They canbe ordered directly from the Baha’i Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091(phone 1-800-323-1880).

The Advent of Divine Justice($4.25). The Persian translation ofthe Guardian’s work has been corrected and reprinted in a new edition whose Persian title is Zuhur-i‘Adl-i-Iiéhi, This book has beenannounced as the “book of theyear’’ (see The American Bahá’í,November 1987) and approved assuch by the National Spiritual Assembly.

Tablets of the Divine Plan($1.80). This is a reprint of the original Persian text of the Tabletsby ‘Abdu’l-Bahá entitled in Persian Fardmin-i-Tablighi. This edition also contains an extensive in

troduction by Dr. Mahmud Majdhub elaborating the historicalbackground of these Tablets.

Iranian Refugees in America: ACross-Cultural Perspective ($1).This handbook in English outlinesthe general cultural characteristicsof Iranians. It is designed for refugee agencies, sponsors and Ba‘ha’i_ communities working withIranians. It attempts to point outthe areas in which misunderstandings are most likely to occur, andhow they can be avoided.

Learning Arabic: A Self-StudyProgram ($30). This package,written by Amrollah Hemmat andBijan Samali, includes two volumes of text and six audio cassettes. It is designed to helpPersian-speaking friends learnArabic grammar and read theArabic Writings in the originalform.

Paper notes Baha’i family’s successes

Wilbert and Christine Rayner,Baha’js from Plantation, Florida,and their three children were profiled December 31 in ‘‘WestPlus,” the Thursday magazinesection of the Fort LauderdaleNews/Sun-Sentinel.

In chronicling the Rayners’goals—financial success coupledwith a spiritually healthy andworthwhile life—the article mentions their Bahá’í beliefs and theexemplary way in which they haveraised the children.

Having begun married life asschool teachers, Mr. and Mrs.Rayner moved into real estate andprospered financially. As a result,both were able to retire early.

Landry, their oldest child, now25, attended Broward CommunityCollege and plays drums with several bands around the city.

Dwayne, 19, is a student at Florida State University, and Lisa,14, attends St. Thomas AquinasHigh School in Fort Lauderdale.Both are members of the NationalHonor Society.

“To the Rayners,”’ the articlesays, ‘the Bahá’í faith is a livingpresence. It guides them througheach day.

“On two mornings a week, thefamily meets in their library before breakfast to have from one totwo hours of devotions, discussion and study.’”

Mrs. Rayner, a member of theSpiritual Assembly of Plantation,was recently named by the National Spiritual Assembly to serveas a member of the National Baha’i Committee on Women.

response to inquiries to the Guardian, more than half of which arestill missing. And that numberdoes not include those letters initiated by the Guardian himself.

Speaking to staff at the National Center on January 20, Ms.Oppenheimer described the Archives as one of the distinguishingfeatures of the Faith, pointing outthat Bahd’u’ll4h, ‘Abdu’l-Baháand Shoghi Effendi had continually exhorted the believers to collect and preserve the precious relics of the Cause of God.

The letters from the Guardian,she said, ‘‘are a record of thebuilding of the Bahá’í world community, and as such, will be valuable to the friends a thousandyears from now—but the guidanceavailable in those letters is ofcrucial importance to the friendsright now.

“Few of the early Bahá’ís,”’ sheadded, ‘‘understood the exhortations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan. It waslargely through the letters of theGuardian that they came to understand the importance of arising tofurther the Cause.

“The development of Baha’icommunities and of the Bahá’í administrative order around theworld depends on these letters.”

In a letter of November 13,1986, said Ms. Oppenheimer, theUniversal House of Justice stresses the vital relationship betweenthe Guardianship and the Houseof Justice, saying that when theSupreme Body is preparing to legislate on any issue, it turns first forguidance to the writings of ShoghiEffendi.

“It is therefore exiremely important,”’ she said, ‘‘that all of theletters from the Guardian be madeavailable to the House of Justiceas soon as possible.

Colorado Baha’irates high in Teacherof Year competi

Mertie Jane Petree, a teacherand member of the Bahá’í community of Pritchett, Colorado,has received an honorable mention from the Colorado Teacherof the Year Committee for excellence in teaching and her personalcommitment to students and education.

She was one of only six teachersin the state chosen to receive thehonor in the annual competitionsponsored by the Colorado Department of Education.

Ms. Petree earned her B.S. andM.A. degrees at SouthwesternOklahoma State University inWeatherford.

�[Page 27]NATIVEAMERICANS

The Continental IndigenousCouncil, planned for the lastweekend in July on the StandingRock Reservation in South Dakota, will focus on the Six YearPlan goal that calls for ‘thewholehearted allegiance of themembers of the various tribes ofthe Native Americans’’ to “‘ensuretheir active and sustained participation in the conduct of its administrative affairs.”

The Council will provide an opportunity for indigenous peoplefrom Alaska, Canada, CentralAmerica and the U.S. to cometogether to discuss the concerns ofthe American Indian community,its role in the Faith, and its contribution to the completion of theArc on Mount Carmel, and toconsult on the goals of the SixYear Plan.

Every few years a ContinentalIndigenous Council is held to provide a channel for deepening andconsolidation among Indian believers, and it provides an environment within which American Indians can talk to one anotherabout the Cause and their relationship to it.

The Council also affords Indianbelievers an opportunity to develop plans for the most effectiveways of teaching Indian people.

Because Indian people, bothBaha’i and non-Baha’i, need timeto be together without the unintentional cultural dominance ofnon-Indians, which continues toinfluence gatherings, only Indianpeople and their families are invited to the Council.

This summer’s IndigenousCouncil will have two majorthemes:

First, a ceremony of thanksFirst, thanksgiving for the Revelation of Baha’u’llah having beenbrought to Indian people.

Second, the role that Indianpeople must play in the completion of the Arc.on Mount Carmel.

These two themes will be approached through deliberate consultation so that practical ideasfor aiding the completion of theArc and winning the goals of theSix Year Plan can be developed.

Pictured are members of the Continental Board of Counselors inthe Americas and others who metlast October at the Native American Bahá’í Institute in Arizona todiscuss Indian teaching. Back row(left to right) are Ben Kahn, Helen

Kiely, Isabel de Calderén, EloyAnello, Jeff Kiely. Middle row(left to right) Ruth Pringle, Elizabeth Dahe, Lauretta King. Front(left to right) Barbara Taylor,Chester Kahn.

American Indian Teaching ActivitityFebruary/March 1988

The Council’s program will include attention to various aspectsof spiritual development.

During the day there will bespeakers, consultation, and workshops dealing with concerns suchas family life, alcoholism, and education. Also addressed will beissues concerned with strengthenThe American Bahá’í / March 1988 / 27

Indigenous Council to consider role of American Indians

ing local Assemblies on IndianReservations.

The evening program will provide opportunities to socialize.

As more information about theContinental Indigenous Councilbecomes available, it will be printed in The American Bahá’í. Ifthere are any questions, please address them to the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í NationalCenter, Wilmette, IL 60091, orphone 312-869-9039.

Non-Indian individuals or communities wishing to support thisevent may wish to consider helping an Indian family, Bahá’í ornon-Baha’i, to attend.

Consultation is held during the stitute held January 16-17 at the in Houck, Arizona. (Photo by

Navajo-Hopi Pioneer Training InNative American Bahá’í Institute

Michael L. Frank)

Institute provides valuable guidance, advicefor ‘pioneers’ to Navajo-Hopi Baha’i District

The Navajo and Hopi IndianReservations encompass vast expanses of dry highland plateaucountry in northern Arizona andparts of three bordering states.

Though lying within the boundaries of the United States, theseReservations are the base of theNavajo and Hopi Nations. Visitors and guests are immediatelyand constantly aware that they arein a country vastly different fromthe surrounding American society: in many respects, a ‘‘ThirdWorld”’ country.

In recognition of this distinction, the National Spiritual Assembly moved in the early 1970sto establish the Navajo-Hopi Baha’{ District—the first and still theonly district composed almost exclusively of Indian lands.

Bahá’í teachers and pioneershave visited and lived in the Navajo-Hopi area for well over 30years, helping to raise up morethan 400 believers and 13 localSpiritual Assemblies.

In doing so, they have experienced the challenges, tests, unique opportunities and bountiesusually associated with international pioneering—but have oftenundertaken these challenges without the sort of preparation andsupport generally given to prospective pioneers to countriesabroad.

National Conference on Growth inspires

similar gathering inAbout 50 Baha’is—adults andchildren—from throughout theNavajo-Hopi District gatheredJanuary 30-31 at the Native American Bahá’í Institute for a Conference on Growth inspired by thenational conference held last September in Lincolnwood, Illinois.This district conference was anactive ‘‘working session’’ in whichmembers of the Navajo-Hopi District Teaching Committee, the Native American Bahá’í InstituteCouncil, and several committeesor task forces recently appointedby the Council consulted on plansfor the progress of the Faith in the

Wantto assist with theconsolidation ofHispanic believers?Contact: NationalTeaching CommitteeBaha'i National CenterWilmette, IL 60091Phone (312) 869-9039

Navajo-Hopi Districtdistrict.

Throughout the conference,Auxiliary Board member RickWadleigh provided inspirationand assistance.

After deepening and consultation on teaching in general, thefriends gathered in smaller groupsto discuss developments in suchareas as teaching goals and projects, Assembly re-formations,media development, scholarshipfunds, Institute property development, and children’s education.

Participants witnessed a wonderful upsurge of energy stimulated by the spirit of universal participation and loving consultation.The conference was to be followedby yet another gathering February20-21, also at the Institute, atwhich Hoda Mahmoudi, a member of the National TeachingCommittee, was to help thefriends to achieve unity of thoughton teaching and to become inspired to rise to new levels ofunified action and service to theCause.

This situation has begun tochange. On January 16-17, at theNative American Baha’i Institute,the second nationally sponsoredPioneer Institute was conductedfor pioneers to the Navajo-HopiDistrict.

Yael Wurmfeld, director of theOffice of Pioneering (formerly theInternational Goals Committee)at the Bahá’í National Center,served as facilitator of the Institute, which was a deeply moving experience—both for Yael andfor the participating pioneers!

In all, 26 servants of Baha’u’llah along with 15 children attended the Institute, despite aheavy snowfall midway throughthe weekend.

This unique occasion revealed adeep longing on the part of thepioneers, not only to deepen andreceive inspiration from the Writings and from wonderful storiesof pioneering, but also to sharewith one another the burdens, thequestions, and the joy and excitement of pioneering for Bahd’u’ll4h.

Yael and the pioneers agreedthat this ‘‘taste’’ of deepening andinspiration would be but one ofsuch institutes with others certainto follow.

FOUR WINDSCONFERENCEUnity in DiversityBAHA'I POW-WOWJuly 7-10, 1988Los Angeles AreaSponsored bySpiritual Assembly ofMalibu, CA(213) 457-5706

�[Page 28]28 / The American Baha’i / March 1988

Mary Monique, a Bahdé’t whoteaches special education atFabens High School, is one of 300teachers from across the statenominated for a Texas ExcellenceAward for Outstanding HighSchool Teachers. The awards,sponsored by the University ofTexas Ex-Students’ Associationand the UT Austin College ofEducation, recognize creativeteachers who make a special effortto prepare their students forhigher education.

Baha’i to undertakevideo documentary oflife of Enoch Olinga

Wherever he went, the Hand ofthe Cause of God Enoch Olingastirred the heart and conscience ofeveryone he met.

Among the Baha’is who knewhim is a former pioneer to theCaribbean, Joyce Owen Olinga.

“I had never understood thequality of nobility until I metEnoch Olinga,”’ she recalls. ‘‘Hecarried himself so regally yethumbly, and was totally devotedto the Cause.

“He had a tremendous abilityto speak to the heart of our questions, always seeing our inherentgoodness.””

Ms. Olinga, a video producer,plans to travel soon to Uganda tointerview George Olinga andothers who knew and loved EnochOlinga, who was brutally murdered with his wife and othermembers of his family in 1979.

It is hoped, she says, that avideo documentary will enable theworld to catch a glimpse of thisprecious servant of God.

Anyone with audio tapes, pictures or stories about Enoch Olinga is asked to please send them toOlinga Consultants, P.O. Box23953, St. Louis, MO 63119.

Texas Board membersconfer with assistants

On January 30, the AuxiliaryBoard members for propagationand protection in Texas met withall of their assistants to consultand discuss the important role theBoard members and their assistants must play in fulfilling thegoals of the Six Year Plan.

Besides reading and discussingreferences from the Baha’i Writings on teaching, they also reviewed materials sent from the Bahá’í World Center on the role andresponsibilities of the assistants tothe Auxiliary Board.

It was the consensus of thegroup that its members should inactivities as well as work moreclosely with Assemblies and committees in winning victories for theFaith during the Plan.

Ads

from page 19

Training Centre for Bahá’í Media offers courses in English and Spanish.For a schedule of Spanish-languageclasses for 1988, please write to Centrode Capacitacién Amoz Gibson, HC 02Buzén 14765, Arecibo, Puerto Rico00612, or phone 809-878-4189. Sehabla espaiiol.

FOR SALE

PLAQUES featuring the ‘“‘GreatestName’”’ in picture frames or plexiglassare available from Unity, Glen Burnie,Maryland. Frames are in white, black,gold leaf, burgundy or silver leaf.Sizes of frames or plexiglass plaquesare 21/2 x 4 inches ($15), 41/2 x5 1/2 inches ($29), 6 x 8 inches ($44),and 8 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches ($59). “YaBaha’u'l-Abhdé” can be printed onplexiglass or appear in frame in black,green, yellow, red or blue, or you maychoose your own color by sending asample. To order or request an orderform, write to UNITY, 324 HighlandDrive, Glen Burnie, MD 21061.

DUE TO an overwhelming responseto a previous ad, Images Internationalis pleased to offer Gordi Munro’s cassette tape, “Unity in Diversity,” forsale once again. This spirited and upbeat music with powerful themes oflove and unity will have everyone singing! Order today by sending a checkfor $7.99 (regularly $8.50) plus 10 percent for shipping and handling ($1minimum) to Images International,P.O. Box 1051, Dept. AB, Belchertown, MA 01007.

MY NAME Is Nabil by Wendy Heller relates the first-hand impressionsof a young Baha’ boy, Nabil, as heexperiences the Nineteen Day Feast,the celebration of Bahá’í Holy Days,and other aspects of Bahá’í community life. The general principles of theFaith are outlined in a direct, easilyunderstood manner. The book is aimed at developing a child’s sense of Baha’i identity, and is a useful teachingaid. Recommended for ages fivethrough nine, it is available from Images International for the sale price ofonly $4.95. Order today by sending a

Baha’i recognizedfor help in planningKing Day program

For the past three years the Baha’is of Decatur, Illinois, havetaken an active role in the city’sobservance of the anniversary ofthe birth of Dr. Martin LutherKing Jr., earning recognition as agroup that supports the oneness ofmankind and as individuals who“‘share the dream’’ of Dr. King.

Bill Clark, a member of the Baha’i community of Decatur, served as chairman of the programcommittee for this year’s MartinLuther King Jr. Day celebration.

Mr. Clark, who spent severalmonths helping to plan the event,was surprised when he was calledfrom backstage during the program to receive the followingaward:

“The Human Relations Commission of Decatur. honors BillClark. In recognition of your exceptional service to the Decaturcommunity, your cee for aeman values, your understanof people of diverse canisand your willingness to give ofyour time and talents on their behalf, the Decatur Human Relations Commission presents thisaward of recognition.’’

The Spiritual Assembly of De

check (including 10 per cent for shipping and handling, minimum $1) toP.O. Box 1051, Dept. AB, Belchertown, MA 01007.

CHILDREN: here is a newsletterfor Bahá’í families, teachers, or anyone interested in the training of children. Future issues will include activities for Feasts, Holy Days, Ayyam-iHA, plus much more. Cost: 12 issuesfor $12. For a sample copy, send abusiness-size SASE to Diane Stocker,

South Holland,

IL 60473.

THE BAHA’l Faith: An Introduction is a highly professional video thatideal for use at firesides. The viewervisits Bahá’{ communities across thecountry and sees their commitment tounity in diversity. The 45-minute videois narrated by actor Alex Rocco. Toorder, send a check or money order(VISA/MasterCard also accepted) for$29.95 (plus 10 per cent for shipping)to Kalimat Press, 1600 Sawtelle Blvd.,Suite 34, Dept. A, Los Angeles, CA90025, or phone 213-479-5668.

THE BAHA'I Faith is not a cult.Find out some reasons why it isn’t.The award-winning fireside video tapeproduced by the Bahd’{ InformationOffice of the Miami Valley is stillavailable. To order a copy, send $10plus $3 for handling to BIO, P.O. Box624, Dayton, OH 45409.

MUSIC tapes from Bahá’í musicians such as Parish and Teppano, theVan Mannens, and Seaforth and Jenkins are now available from KalimatPress. For a free brochure, write toKalimét Press, 1600 Sawtelle Blvd.,Suite 34, Dept. A, Los Angeles, CA90025, or phone 213-479-5668.

PHYSICIANS and other healthcare professionals: Rahmat, a healthcare newsletter designed to allow anexchange of information among Baha’i health care professionals, ispreparing for publication. If youwould like to receive a copy and be apart of the information exchange,write to Cindy Nielsen, DO, 500 4thAvenue South, Wolf Point, MI 59201.

MISCELLANEOUS

THE BAHA’IS of Bellingham andWhatcom County, Washington, aregetting ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Faith in that area andneed your help. If you have ever livedin that area or pioneered there orknow of pioneers and/or travelingteachers fo or from that area, pleasewrite to the Spiritual Assembly ofBellingham, P.O. Box 103, Bellingham, WA 98225, or phone Lina Zeine,206-734-6505. We are grateful to thefriends who have already respondedbut need many more!

ANYONE who took part in thesurvey made several years ago offormer “‘cultists”” and did not receivea promised copy of the completedstudy may obtain one by writing toJanet M. Tanaka, P.O. Box 405, Issaquah, WA 98027.

THE SCHOOL of the Nations inBrasilia, Brazil, needs English-speaking teachers, with training and experience, from kindergarten throughhigh school. The school seeks unmarried teachers, pays passage to andfrom home base after two years of service, and offers a salary of $7,000 ayear (reasonable for living in Brazil)plus a housing allowance. Please sendinquiries to the Board of Directors,Escola das Nacées, Caixa Postal 7093,Brasilia, D.F. Brazil 71600.

Any Baha'i interested inteaching the Faith inMEXICO?Contact: NationalTeaching CommitteeBaha’i National CenterWilmette, IL 60091Phone (312) 869-9039

On December 13, the Bahá’í community of Evanston, Illinois, presented its third annual Humanitarian and Community ServiceAward to ACORN (the AdultCommunity Outreach Network).ACORN helps adults under stress

to develop skills for independentliving; food, clothing and job assistance are among the services ofJered at its drop-in center. Theaward was initiated by the Evanston community to recognize outstanding community service.

Baha’ is narrator of symphonic workcomposed to honor memory of Dr. King

Richard Reid, a Bahá’í fromGrand Rapids, Michigan, was thefeatured speaker at three performances in January of JosephSchwantner’s ‘‘New Morning forthe World,” a work in which thewords of Dr. Martin Luther KingJr. and music evocative of thatgreat man’s memory are intertwined.

With the composer present atall three performances, Mr. Reid,in the words of The Grand RapidsPress’ music reviewer, ‘‘injectedanger into the civil rights leader’swords where appropriate, andcompassion and hope at othertimes.””

The first two performances bythe Grand Rapids Symphony conducted by Catherine Comet weregiven in Grand Rapids on January15-16, the third the followingevening in Detroit.

The program was broadcast onthe University of Michigan’s radiostations WVGR (Grand Rapids),WUOM (Ann Arbor) and WFUM(Flint) on January 29, and will beheard again March 22 on WBLV(Muskegon-Blue Lake).

Mr. Reid, who accepted theFaith in 1959 in Cleveland, Ohio,is an instructor of English andSpanish at Grand Rapids JuniorCollege and a former radio andtelevision announcer.

He was a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Grand Rapidsfrom 1963-87.

TEACHING MATERIALS FROM THENATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE...Title CostEffective Teaching Workbook $2.00Instructor's Book $2.00Teaching Project Guidelines $2.00Enrolling New Believers $ .50Traveling Teaching $ 50Building Unity of Thought on Teaching $ 50Spanish Teaching Pamphlets (La Fe Baha'i) $ .01The Word of God $2.00Baha'i Program for MothersComplete Set (including Teacher's Guides) $18.00Set of Mother's Books $9.00Fireside Video (VHS) $15.00To Move the Word (VHS) $15.00Rúḥíyyih Khanum’s Talk to the Indians of theWestern Hemisphere (audio cassette) $2.00English or Spanish (please specify)Conference on Growth--1987(audio cassettes featuring):Robert Henderson $2.50Wilma Brady/Robert Harris $2.50Gene Andrews/Hoda Mahmoudi $2.5075th Anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s VisitCommemorative Poster $10.00Photo of ‘Abdu'-BahaEnglish quotation $1.00Spanish quotation $1.00Persian quotation $1.00 ffeeeSend orders to: National Teaching Committee, | Bahst NationalCenter, Wilmette, TL 60091. Please add 10% for postage and makechecks payable to: "Bahá’í Services Fund".ome —

�[Page 29]“If you’ve got a shawl, thencome on out and dance.””

Many of the Baha’is attendingthe pow-wow on the AlabamaCoushatta Indian Reservationnorth of Houston, Texas, did exactly that.

The pow-wow, held on February 6, came at the end of a day ofservice for the Baha’is.

Bahá’ís from all over Texas hadhelped with the third Health CareFair on the Reservation. The Fair,organized by the District TeachingCommittee of Texas Eastern No.2, enabled Indian families to bescreened for medical and dentalproblems and to seek nutritionaladvice.

More than 125 local residentsattended during the day-long Fair;14 percent of the Alabama-Coushatta tribal members were served.

In the afternoon, Kevin Locke,a Lakota from South Dakota, presented two programs, on American Indian music and beliefs, to apacked house.

That same evening, Mr. Lockewas the honored guest performerat the tribal-sponsored pow-wow,speaking briefly about unityamong all peoples and performinghis spectacular hoop dance to thesatisfaction of the Indian people,some of whom had come fromneighboring states to see thedance.

Several times during the dancing, the announcer recognized theBahá’ís who were present, thanking them for their work in organizing the third Health Care Fair.

In several dances, Baha’i women were invited to dance the hatdance while men were invited todance the shawl dance by the Indian dancers.

The Baha’is’ first service for theAlabama-Coushatta Tribal Council, three years ago, was to pick uptrash and clean restrooms on theReservation campground.

Later, two Health Care Fairswere arranged. A new level oftrust was evident at the thirdHealth Care Fair. The tribe set thedate, asked the Bahd’fs to takepart, handled all the publicity,and asked the Bahd’fs to attendthe evening pow-wow.

Trust was also evident, said Andre’nea King, secretary of the District Teaching Committee, in thechildren playing together.

To support the effort, severalBahá’í communities even changedthe time for their Nineteen DayFeast so that members could attend the service project.

Persian Baha’ is including a psychiatrist, pediatrician, dentist andmedical student were especiallywelcomed.

Some of the Baha’ youth were

The American Baha’i / March 1988 / 29

Third Health Care Fair held on Texas Indian Reservation

A resident of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation nearHouston, Texas, has her blood

pressurevolunteer during the third Health

particularly touched when Indianchildren greeted them by name

checked by a Bahá’í

~ StakCare Fair held February 6 andsponsored by the District Teaching Committee of Texas EasternNo. 2.

and asked if they would be returning this summer.

Do you know the names of anyone in this picture of Lidia Zamenhof’s class in Esperanto takenat the Green Acre Bahá’í Schoolin 1938? Miss Zamenhof is secondfrom the right in the front row;

Can you identify anyone in this picture?

Pee

Mrs. Roan (Orloff) Stone is second from the left in the middlerow. Please send any names to theNational Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’íNational Center, Wilmette, IL60091.

NPAAC appoints seven more area committees

The Area Persian/AmericanAffairs Committees operate underthe auspices of the National Persian/American Affairs Committeeof the National Spiritual Assembly.

Until August 1987, there were15 Area Persian/American Affairs Committees in the U.S.

Since then, the national PAAChas appointed seven moreAPAACSs for a total of 22: Austin, Texas; St. Louis, MissouMinneapolis, Minnesota; Colubus, Ohio; Miami, Florida; Orlando, Florida; and Colorado.

Members of the national committee have visited more than 10area committee locations in thepast six weeks and hope to visitthe remaining areas in the nearfuture.

In the spirit of the Six YearPlan, the three strategies adoptedby the national PAAC for areacommittees during the current Baha’ year are:

1, Encouraging the Iranian Baha’is to become involved inteaching racial and ethnic groups(Native Americans, black Amer

Youth are invited

to 8th ‘Touchstone’

Youth ages 14 and older are invited to attend the eighth annualTouchstone Conference to be heldApril 22-24 at the John KnoxRanch near San Marcos, Texas.

Included will be group activities; recreation such as canoeing,volleyball and swimming; a talentshow; music; skits; and guestspeakers on such topics as ‘FastTimes as an American Baha’i,””“The Baha’i Life,” and ‘TheMost Challenging Issue.”’

The conference is sponsored bythe Spiritual Assembly of CedarPark, Texas.

The setting is rustic; the camp iscentrally located on the BlancoRiver in the Texas hill country.Cabins have mattresses or pads,so bring your own sleeping bag, orsheets and blankets. Food will beprovided.

The cost is only $30 for theweekend. Pre-registration is a

phone 512-258-2408.

HC $16.95

icans, Hispanics and Asians).

2. Promoting the study of TheAdvent of Divine Justice (in Persian and English).

3. Serving as a cultural resourceagency for local Spiritual Assemblies, District Teaching Committees and individual Baha’is.

The National Persian/Amer

ican Affairs Committee hopesthat the friends in each of the newcommittee areas will lend theirsupport and help to these culturalresource agencies, so as to helpcreate stronger bonds of love, unity and cooperation between thePersian and non-Persian friends,both in their daily lives and inteaching the Faith.

Landegg Centre’s 1988 program

The theme of the 1988 programat the Landegg Centre in Switzerland is ‘‘Baha’i scholarship andcontemporary trends of thought.’’

Upcoming sessions include:

“The Covenant”’ (March 27-31)with Counselor Adib Taherzadeh.

“Seminar for Schoolteachersand Educators” (May 13-15).

Swiss Summer School (July10-18).

“Youth and (Bahd’{) Scholarship” (July 22-28).

“Introduction to the Study ofComparative Religion’? and“Two Wings of the Bird: Men andWomen” (July 30-August 3).

“Shoghi Effendi: His Life and

Works” (August 8-14).

Persian Summer School (August 14-21).

Fourth ‘‘Yousof Course’’ inmemory and honor of the belovedmartyr Yousof Ghadimi (August22-27).

“Current Thoughts and theUnity Paradigm’”’ (August 29-September 3).

“Spiritual Principles in Agriculture”’ (October 14-16).

Seminar on Teaching (November 10-13).

For more information, write toTagungszentrum Landegg,CH-9405 Wienacht/AR,Switzerland.

By Baha'u'llah

selected

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To order.

No charge for postage and handling

Price valid only in the Uni

New from the Baha'i Publishing Trust

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@ The last work of Baha'u'llah

Acompilation of His writings that He personally

Contains the major themes of His revelationIncludes His promises and warnings to the people of

Available for the first time in an inexpensive pocket.size edition and in a new hard cover edition

Contact your local Distribution Representative or the Baha'i Distribution Service

Bahd‘i Distribution Service415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 TEL. 1-800-323-1880ed States.

�[Page 30]30 / The American Baha’i / March 1988

Letters

from page 3

by or sit next to bulletin boards,read campus papers or listen tothe student radio station.

“Many schools have foreignstudents who will be future leadersand professionals in countriesaround the world.

“This is not to say that theseresources are not being used. Onmany campuses there are Bahá’íclubs with hard-working and devoted students, striving to bringnews of the Faith and its teachingsto their peers.

“Unfortunately, many of these —

clubs are small, and going to college .is a full-time job. Often,students attend college and worknights to support themselves. Thatdoesn’t leave a lot of time to devote to organizing events and preparing proclamation materials.

“Imagine the results if thewhole community got behind theBaha’i Club and supported its efforts!”

The idea quickly catches on.Another community membersays, ‘Maybe we should have aspecial meeting with the club. Wecould ask them how we could besthelp them to teach on campus.

“‘We wouldn’t want to step ontheir feet—I mean, it’s their club.But we could offer to help themprepare teaching materials, findspeakers, and organize events.’”

I wrote this story to illustratethe opportunities that exist on college and university campuses.Many communities and Bahá’íclubs fail to take advantage of theincreased teaching and unity thatcan result from working closelywith each other.

The time in which we are livingis a turning point for the Faith; wehave emerged from obscurity, andwe can’t afford to pass up such anunlimited teaching opportunity.

P.S.—Even if you don’t haveBahd’{ students at your local college, the National Youth Committee has a way that your community can target a college or university and start its own club.Curious? Write to them and askabout it.

Kern KuipersEvanston, Illinois

40-Day Teaching Plan’

To the Editor:

I recently heard of a new teaching plan that sounds exciting andeffective.

Called the ‘‘40-Day TeachingPlan,”’ it was used by the friendsin Guayaquil, Ecuador, and after40 days they had 14 new Baha’is.

Here’s the idea: each Baha’( in acommunity chooses one personwhom he wishes to teach.

For the first nine days, he praysdaily for that person ... he praysardently that his mind and heartmay be opened.

At the end of nine days, he begins to get acquainted with thisperson; he invites him to his homeand pays attention to him. It is a

time for hospitality, warmth,friendship, kindness and caring.

The Bahá’í listens to this personand. gets to know his interests andhis needs. All the time, he continues to pray for him.

Gradually the new friend startsto ask questions about the Faith.Books are out on the table, andinterest is awakened. This is thetime for personal teaching in anatural, easy, casual way.

Next, the teacher invites theseeker to firesides and offers himbooks to read. The seeker plungesinto the Writings and begins tograsp the meaning and the magicof the Bahd’{ Revelation. All thetime, prayers for him continue inan ardent way.

At the end of 40 days, theteacher will suggest in a lovingway, “‘Had you ever thought ofbecoming a Bahá’í?’’

If the answer is positive, a cardis produced and the seeker is invited to sign it. If the process takeslonger (even years), we must persist with patience and prayers. Remember, in Guayaquil, 14 soulsdeclared their belief at the end ofthe 40 days.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá says this: “Ifeach and every one of the believerswould become a true friend to oneof the unheeding, and, conductinghimself with absolute rectitude,associate with this soul, treat himwith utmost kindness, ... and atall times act in accord with the admonitions of God, it is certainthat little by little he will succeedin awakening that ... individual,and in changing his ignorance toknowledge of the truth.” (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 265)

Let’s try this new approach.

Margaret RuheHaifa, Israel

We should use calendar

To the Editor::

There have been letters in TheAmerican Bahá’í recently aboutthe use by Bahda’is of the calendarinstituted by the Bab.

I agree that we should use this(our) calendar more in our dealings with fellow Baha’is, and amhappy to say that I have been using the Baha’i calendar in correspondence and in dating entries inmy journal. The Bahá’í Datebookmakes ascertaining what our dateis in relation to the Gregorian calendar quite easy.

Once one starts using our calendar on a regular basis, it becomeseasy and accessible and has thewonderful benefit that one comesto experience oneself living in theBaha’i Era instead of the Common (or Christian) Era.

The more I’ve written the yeardate 144, for example, the morereal it becomes to me that I am living in the 144th year of the Baha’iEra, not in the 1987th year of theCommon Era.

I prefer the use of Persiannames for months to their Englishforms; somehow it seems to meaffectedly pious to use names ofmonths that are too overtly divineattributes.

Names of Bahda’i ‘experts’ sought

The National Spiritual Assembly would like the names of individuals who are involved in international education and development and related areas. Relations with national and internationalorganizations have developed to the point at which the expertiseof Bahá’ís in these areas is required. Interested Bahá’ís shouldsend a resumé or a description outlining their skills and experienceto the following address: National Baha’i Office of External Affairs, 1606 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., Washington, DC20009.

The Persian words are certainlyno more foreign than words presently used for the months of theyear: December, Latin for the12th month of the year—silly.

I do think, though, that thePersian names should be somewhat Anglicized; I’m for droppingall the apostrophes, for example. Idon’t think Masd’il works for anEnglish-speaking person as well asdoes Masail.

T hope all the accent marks willdrop out in time; the pronunciation doesn’t much matter anyway.

John IvesAlbany, California

Thanks from Down Under

To the Editor:

As Continental Flight No. 1climbs away from the Los AngelesAirport, my heart, filled withgratitude, goes out to you, the Baha’is of America, and to the OneWho has generated us from thepower of His decree and the potency of His will.

In seven and one-half months Iwas able to visit 43 states andmany Bahá’í communities, all ofwhom manifested a degree of loveand warmth that is exemplary.

The mellow music, ‘‘NaturalStates,”’ presently filling my head,enables me to visit my mind, puton my memory bank as one woulda back-pack, and journey in an instant to a place in my heart whereeach one of you has been indeliblystamped.

In my few years of internationaltravel, America has been the mostdifficult country, emotionally, forme to leave.

Even now the faces of all thosethat I have had the bounty of beholding are being recognized bymy inner eye, are being remembered, loved and thanked.

You have allowed me to be apart of your efforts to promotethe Cause of God, to experiencesome of your geographical wonders and much of your diversepopulation.

One day I hope you will allowme to bestow on you that whichyou have so conditionally bestowed on me. ...Conditionally?Conditional in the respect that theFaith will be assisted in being placed in the foremost ranks of society ... sooner than later.

If we do not meet in Australia,

then, God willing, we will meet”

again in New York in 1992.

I now look forward to returninghome to share with my friends andfamily a 12-month day-to-daydiary filled with experiences that Ican only have them imagine (andto find a more permanent place tohang my toothbrush).

Continue to keep the Faith andstay true to your heart.

Noel BlomeleyLong Jetty, NSWAustralia

Environment needs ourhelp

To the Editor:

In The American Bahá’í (December) it was noted that the Baha’i International Community hasissued a statement on nature andentered the Worldwide Fund forNature’s Network on Conservation and Religion to support efforts to protect the environment.

There are serious ecologicalproblems that affect the quality ofour lives, and to which a solutionmust be spiritually based to be effective.

We have all seen environmentalissues swallowed up and lost in thepolitical arena, and legislation sodiluted as to be ineffective. I am

grateful to the Bahd’{ International Community for its effortsin representing the Faith.

At the grassroots level, there ispotential for each of us to makea personal effort to protect the environment. One way in particularthat could become a fund-raisingeffort is recycling.

Certainly, separating glass, aluminum and paper garbage is an ef. fort; and certainly it does not generate /arge amounts of money atan individual or family level.

But it does provide an opportunity to contribute money earnedby the sacrifice of the effort torecycle, and an opportunity toeducate ourselves and our childrenabout the direct impact—positiveor negative—we each can have onour environment.

An organized community effortcould conceivably generate alarger amount of money for theFund and become a social activityin the process.

Ata time when money is neededfor so many critical projects (andonly through sacrifice can thesegoals be won), let’s not overlookany possible means.

Meg WiltseMt. Healthy, Ohio

Having phone really helps

To the Editor:

We are a small Baha’i Group inthe suburbs of Detroit, and wouldlike to suggest that one of thecheapest forms of advertising theFaith is to have a telephone.

We have a telephone listing inthe white and yellow pages, thelocal directory and the east-sidedirectory. The yellow page listing,under “Churches,” reads:Churches—Bahá’í FaithBahá’í Faith—Macomb County22090 HighviewClinton Twp 468-1844

In view of the National Assembly’s advice not to list a privatehome address for public meetings,it might be better to have no address listed, only phone numbersfor the various communities in anarea.

Our cost was $100 for a deposit,refundable with interest in threeyears, plus about $100 for installation, and a phone. Then $14 amonth for incoming calls only—the cheapest way to do it.

Dorothy HaselhuhnMt. Clemens, Michigan