The National Convention will continue through May 2 and is the continuation of a process that began last October when Baha’is at Unit Conventions throughout the nation elected delegates.
It’s happening right now. The article on the u.s website has an interview with Robert Wilson, delegate and father to Rainn Wilson. The friends certainly have a lot to celebrate this year with achievement of the goal of 1500 Intensive Programs of Growth around the world a full year in advance of the end of the Plan. -gw
LisaMarie Chilcote Miller on Facebook: 2 Childrens Classes, 1 Jr Youth Class, a Study Circle, and a Devotional — a beautiful way to off-set the 12 broken up fights- 3 lost kid searches- 2 school lock-downs a jumped Son and a kicked-in back Door – IT IS ONE TRIBE
Lisa and Deb shared these stories fresh from the day of 15 children gathered for the inaugeral second children's class to be launched in the Salishan neighborhood. -gw
the school said that in the past decade 946 students have graduated from Nations 6th Form College. They have written a total of 2,468 Cambridge University Advanced Level examinations with a pass rate of 74.8% and with 18.6% of all the examinations written were given an ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade by Cambridge. Several students have gone on to universities in North America and Europe and many have now completed their Masters and PHD degrees.
The news from Tiger Bay, Guyana, the new location for a Baha'i-inspired school. -gw
O’Toole said service has been the high priority of Nations since it started, recalling that in the early years the children did service projects such as working along with senior citizens’ homes and with children who are differently-abled. He said the move to the Tiger Bay area seemed ideal because they realized the impact they could have on the children through new programmes.
O’Toole revealed that he was advised against moving to Tiger Bay because “people said it is dangerous.” Though a bit concerned he decided to make the move. According to him, some of the views on the area were based on prejudices from many years ago.
Currently, the school is targeting two groups: children under 11 years and children between the ages of 11 and 14 years. Significantly, he said the mothers from Tiger Bay have been very involved in the project, showing up regularly every week and in the case of one batch, every two weeks to follow up on the progress of their children and to discuss the critical supporting roles they play in the programme.
I am white, my husband is black and we have children so we aren’t “just friends”. People could still hate that, but now days they rarely stare and never spit openly. I used to be a Christian, but now I’m a Baha’i. People have warned me I will burn in Hell for this one. Even so they will still smile. They just avoid eye contact so I won’t steal their souls. But what most people really hate is that I am a mime.
Today saw the release of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s Eleventh Annual Report on Religious Freedom in the World
The report includes this chilling assessment:
"….. In early 2008, the Iranian parliament began considering a new law that would impose serious punishments, including the death penalty, on converts from Islam. In September 2008, a committee in the Majlis approved advancing the amended language on apostasy, which could be passed by the full Majlis in the near future. Although the Iranian government has in the past applied the death penalty for apostasy under Islamic law, it has not been explicitly codified. If the proposed law is passed, it would further endanger the lives of all converts from Islam, particularly members of the Baha’i faith, who are already considered apostates, even if they are fourth- or fifth-generation Baha’i adherents."
Beautiful juxtaposition of song and historical event of such great spiritual significance. -gw
From: Northwest BahaiLibrary
Ninth Day of Ridvan (April 29) A Family Reunited! Is the day when Baha’u’llah’s family joined him at the Najibiyyih Garden, Baghdad (Garden of Ridvan).
"For twelve days Bahá'u'lláh stayed in the Garden, and would be found each day in the utmost joy, walking majestically in the flower-lined avenues and amongst the trees. The friends living in Baghdad would come during the day and return home each night, whilst others would be engaged in service to those in the Garden.
Eminent rulers, clergy and jurists would come continuously to Bahá'u'lláh's tent with their insoluble problems, and take their leave satisfied with their dilemmas entirely solved."
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Natalie Merchant – Wonder (This Child will be Gifted)
Doctors have come From distant cities Just to see Me…
They say I must be one of the Wonders, God's own creation, And as far as they see they can offer No explanation….
Newspapers ask Intimate questions, What confessions; They reach into My head To steal the Glory Of My story……
I know that religion was never meant to cause segregation. And it has, right here in this little state of Utah. There is much segregation, prejudice and dis-unity due to the Mormon church. My beliefs differ in that I believe there is One God – yet many different paths to him. I believe that we are in the New World Order and that there is a process of a new civilation being built. I believe that Science and Religion can absolutely be in harmony with another. I don't believe we need the use of priesthood or bishops anymore…I feel that served it purpose for a time, but we no longer NEED it as we did before. Humanity is ever advancing, and at times people become too attached to the customs and rituals of the past thinking it is the only way.
Katie despises religioius segregation. Separation among the members of the human family is an anathema to the Baha'is. -gw
Dear Friends: How often did the Beloved Master express the hope that the hearts of the believers would overflow with love for one another, that they would abide no lines of separation but would regard all of humanity as one family. "See ye no strangers," is His exhortation; "rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness."
"To the Baha'is of the World," The Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 2010
It was at a Thursday devotional a couple of weeks ago that the friends got to reminiscing about the small towns where they grew up. The Baha'i community is uniquely focused on the level of the neighborhood in the cities and the village in rural areas. Small and local. Grassroots. That's where transformation occurs. Personal and collective. -gw
