Bahá’í Community News
Regional Conferences of the Five Year Plan
With 3,500 participants, the Atlanta conference was the largest of the first 17 gatherings
in the 41-conference series. More photographsThe Atlanta Regional Conference
6–7 December 2008
A row of friends playing African drums called to order an assemblage of 3,500 Bahá’ís gathered in the Georgia World Congress Center. Prayers were chanted with a drum background and recited to a santour accompaniment. One prayer was sung with piano, in memory of Continental Counselor Rebequa Murphy, who passed away in November.
Greeting the conference, the secretary general of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States reminded the gathering of its purpose: to celebrate progress at the midpoint of the current Five Year Plan of Baha’i endeavor and consecrate ourselves to the activity in the years ahead – both detailed in the 20 October message of the Universal House of Justice.
One of the first reports came from the Southeastern Regional Baha’i Council of the United States, with its secretary describing how Baha’i communities throughout the region are changing in significant ways. Newly formed devotional meetings, study circles, children’s classes, and junior youth programs are cropping up, and new people are coming to those gatherings as well as to existing activities. More individuals from all walks of life are joining the Baha’i community, he said, and the rate of growth has increased by 200 percent.
Other inspiring stories came to light during the sessions:
- A youth from eastern North Carolina related how a few experienced young people were able to energize many others, resulting in establishment of more children’s classes and helping Baha’is of all ages find paths of service.
- A young man from the Atlanta area told about two youngsters, 13 or 14 years old, who are eager to participate in institute courses and gain experience so that in the future they can help with classes themselves. They want to emulate those they see serving around them, especially the animators of their junior youth groups, he said.
- A young woman from northern Virginia described two areas that shifted from centralized children’s classes to neighborhood classes. She said the change was fraught with challenges, but the new classes now have nearly 100 children from the wider community and are enjoying a new richness in culture.
- In Palm Beach County, Florida, a newly enrolled Baha’i hosted the celebration for a holy day and invited her neighbors. The neighbors outnumbered the 15 or so Baha’is and soon five of the newcomers decided to join the Baha’i community, too.
- Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahamas told how they are preparing to initiate their first intensive program of growth, by Ridvan 2009.
Attending the conference as representatives of the Universal House of Justice were Mrs. Rachel Ndegwa and Mr. Stephen Birkland, both members of the International Teaching Center.
Mr. Birkland reminded the participants of a passage in the message from the House of Justice to the gathering, calling them to act, “undeflected by the turmoil and distractions of the world around you.” Mrs. Ndegwa noted that participating in Baha’i core activities is within the capacity of virtually everyone, and such activities can be initiated in practically any setting.
A full program on Saturday evening was devoted to the arts. A rousing choir of young people brought listeners to their feet and children surging forward to get closer to the action; prayers were sung in Persian, English, and Chinese; drum, violin, voice, and guitar blended on a Spanish-language number; an ode to peace in Cameroon was performed; a plaintive Persian song led into a gospel piece in praise of Baha’u’llah.
If Saturday’s sessions were about celebrating and learning, Sunday’s were about discovering what each individual could do in order to contribute to upcoming activities. Participants divided into workshops by home region – or a place they could visit to assist with the work. A number of Baha’is made commitments to serve as tutors, traveling teachers, or homefront pioneers.
At the final session, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly told the gathering that the conference had exceeded the Assembly’s highest aspirations. All weekend, she said, she had thought of another person who responded to a call from the head of the Baha’i Faith – Martha Root, who in 1919, when ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Tablets of the Divine Plan were released, packed her bags and traveled the globe to share the message of Bahá’u’lláh.
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People study the 20 October letter from the Universal House of Justice.
Betty Morris reports on the Chattanooga area cluster.
One girl gets a bird’s-eye view.
A young guitarist, age 3, plays along with David Guillory and the conference choir.
About 30 young people who have been participating in the Mona Project in Atlanta perform music they created while studying the Ruhi Institute sequence of courses.
Jaime Abercrombie, Ray Collins and David Clossen play the drums as people arrived at the conference.
Marla Vaughan welcomes attendees.
The conference was held at the Georgia World Congress Center.
A number of people shared experiences in the plenary sessions.
Mrs. Rachel Ndegwa, right, one of the representatives of the Universal House of Justice, talks with some of the friends.
Break time means time for visiting with friends.
Friends perform at the Saturday night session.
Chairs were in short supply but spirits were high as people visited during mealtime.
