O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household. In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence.
O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy.
O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.
O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind.
O God! Establish the Most Great Peace.
Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together.
O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy Providence.
Thou art the Mighty and Powerful, Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind.
- 'Abdu'l-Bahá
So, what do you think? Sign into the guest book or email, Yea or nay?
MISSION OF THE AMERICAN BAHÁ'ÍS
RECEPTIVITY TO THE FAITH
PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
The Bahá'í Writings promise that if we are "truly united" and promote the "essential purpose" of our Faith with an "all-unifying love," that "so great a light will shine forth from your faces as to reach the highest heavens, . . your aims and purposes will exert their influence upon the great and mighty nations,. . . and ye will discover yourselves to be . . . marshals of the army of peace, and princes of the forces of light, and stars shining from the horizon of perfection, and brilliant lamps shedding their radiance upon men." Some may feel this task is too great. But our Teachings confirm that we are not alone. Bahá'u'lláh has pledged the assistance of divine forces if we but call upon them. Foremost among these are the spiritual powers of unity and love, without which we are paralyzed. To assure our success, every believer must foster "a greater realization of the power of Bahá'u'lláh to reinforce the efforts of those who serve Him, of His promise to do so, and of the impotence of all our deeds without this divine assistance." Any assessment of our prospects is "entirely misleading if it does not take this supreme power into consideration." Constant reliance upon Bahá'u'lláh will enable us to formulate audacious plans and carry them out with confidence no matter how great the obstacles.
Central Features of The Five Year Plan
1. Advancing the process of entry by troops
a. Collaboration of the institutions in systematic programs of growth
b. Carrying out the National Teaching Plan including:
i. Maturation of training institutes
ii. Formation of clusters by local communities
iii. Initiation of area growth programs where conditions are favorable
c. Enhancing seeker follow-up
d. Doubling the core of active believers
2. Integrate and nurture children in the life of the Cause
a. Advance education and training for Bahá'í children, junior youth, and youth
b. Engage children, junior youth, and youth in consultation with their Assemblies about their cares,
hopes, and plans
c. Enhance the range and quality of activities for children and youth
d. Register Bahá'í children on the National Membership Rolls
3. Cultivate individual initiative
a. Promote home front and international pioneering and traveling teaching
b. Include the arts in community activities
c. Train institutions in nurturing individual initiative
d. Encourage universal participation in the Bahá'í Funds
e. Complete the goals of the Kingdom project
4. Promote the spiritual transformation of individual believers, Bahá'í communities, and Bahá'í institutions
a. Hold devotional gatherings
b. Enhance the spiritual and social vitality of the Nineteen Day Feast
c. Encourage daily prayer and daily study of the Bahá'í Writings and regular
service to the Cause
d. Strive to achieve compliance with Bahá'í standards of conduct
e. Refine the art of consultation
5. Influence the course of human affairs
a. Expand local community external affairs efforts
b. Promote racial unity and gender equality
c. Establish projects of social and economic development
d. Pursue promotion of social justice
Spiritual Mission for Individual Bahá'ís
"If ye will follow earnestly the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, ye shall indeed become the light of the world, the soul of the body of the world, the comfort and help for humanity, and the sources of salvation for the whole universe." -`Abdu'l-Bahá
Youth
You have reached the age of spiritual maturity and now must strive to become leaders and sources of strength to your families and your communities. Many of those now investigating the Faith are young people whom you must embrace and teach. Bearing these things in mind, we ask you to:
Develop a plan, in consultation with your family, for your spiritual and social growth based on a careful assessment of your spirit and character and your aims in life and the needs of the Faith, including provisions for:
o Strengthening the disciplines of daily prayer and study of the Sacred Writings, especially the Life and Station of Bahá'u'lláh and His Covenant
o Cultivating the habit of service to all people
o Learning how to share effectively the Bahá'í Teachings with others
o Planning for your education, career development and a year of service
o Developing moral and spiritual discipline
Join in a study circle and consider being trained as a study circle facilitator
Participate in teaching and service projects
Mentor children and junior youth and establish relationships with older community members
Champion racial unity and the equality of women and men
Take a leading role in improving the spiritual and social quality of Bahá'í community life
Contribute to the Bahá'í Funds and the Kingdom Project
Adult Bahá'ís
You are the strength of the Bahá'í community, its most able and experienced members. The development and growth of the community rests largely in your hands. At this turning point in the growth of our Faith, we ask each of you to consider prayerfully Shoghi Effendi's admonition, "Without the spirit of real love for Bahá'u'lláh, for His Faith and its Institutions, and the believers for each other, the Cause can never really bring in large numbers of people. For it is not preaching and rules the world wants, but love and action." - Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
Develop a spiritual transformation plan for yourself, your marriage, your family.
Foster patterns of loving encouragement to all people and to the Bahá'í Institutions
Study the Life and Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh and His Covenant
Support the development of training institutes, study circles and extension courses
Make a personal teaching plan
Assist in seeker follow-up efforts
Consider homefront and/or international pioneering and traveling teaching
Mentor and encourage children and youth
Increase awareness of issues facing the larger community and champion racial unity, gender equality, and social justice
Contribute to the Bahá'í Funds and the Kingdom Project
We have all done so much to incorporate the five year plans into our lives. Where are you at in your plan? The five year plan ends at Ridvan, 2006. This is the last year to make your pledge for the Kingdom Project. Have you done that yet? Lets share our goals and our plans so that we may pray for one another's success! Love you lots ~mom
a. Collaboration of the institutions in systematic programs of growth
