The American Bahá’í - August/September/October 2020 • V51N04

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NATIONAL CONTACT INFORMATIONEmail addresses for offices of the National Spiritual Assembly, as wellas contact information for locations other than Evanston/Wilmette andWashington, can be found at www.bahai.us/community/ —sign in with yourBahá’í ID number, scroll down and click on “National Offices.”Bahá’í National Center offices1233 Central St.Evanston, IL 60201–1611Phone: 847-869-9039FIND OUT ABOUT• Study circles, tutor training, children’s education trainingInstitute coordinators serving your cluster have that information. Tofind your cluster’s institute coordinators, contact your regional traininginstitute coordinator or the nearest Local Spiritual Assembly.• Homefront pioneering, traveling teaching;Assembly training to support growth of the FaithRegional Bahá’í Councils (above) coordinate these activities.• Bahá’í youth volunteering at the permanent Bahá’í schoolsOffice of Education and Schools: byscschools@usbnc.org• College club registration: youth@usbnc.orgWashington offices(Public Affairs)1320 19th St. N.W. Suite 701Washington, DC 20036–1631Phone: 202-833-8990REGIONAL BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL OFFICESAppalachian StatesP.O. Box 11Hendersonville, TN 37077-0011615-307-1567secretary.rbcapp@gmail.comAtlantic States6208 Fayetteville Rd. #106Durham, NC 27713919-914-0156secretariat@rbcatlantic.orgCalifornia852 Maple Pl.East Palo Alto, CA 94303-1353707-943-3252secretary@rbcca.usbnc.orgFour Corners States9908 N. Sand Dollar Ct.Tucson, AZ 85743-5217623-396-6769secretary@rbcfourcorners.orgHeartland States25 Briar Ln.Rockford, IL 61103815-962-1892secretary@rbchl.usbnc.orgMidwestern States5847 Sage River Ct. S.W.Wyoming, MI 49418616-610-2504secretariat@rbcmws.orgNortheastern StatesP.O. Box 932Bellport, NY 11713631-258-3571secretary@rbcne.usbnc.orgNorthern Plains StatesP.O. Box 1055Thayne, WY 83127-1055307-272-0722secretary@rbcnp.usbnc.orgNorthwestern States2262 N.E. Jackson Ave.Bend, OR 97701503-673-1922RBCsecretary@nwbahais.orgPrairie StatesP.O. Box 858Derby, KS 67037-0858316-640-8390secretary@rbcps.usbnc.orgSouth Central States5824 Covehaven Dr.Dallas, TX 75252-5228214-796-6486secretary@rbcsc.usbnc.orgSoutheastern States1337 Cedar Park Pl.Stone Mountain, GA 30083470-991-9779rbcsesecretary@usbnc.org• Teaching materials and literatureBahá’í Distribution Service: bahaibookstore.com or see pages 23–25• Assembly support in administration and justiceOffice of Assembly Development: OAD@usbnc.orgOffice of Community Administration: community@usbnc.org• Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Contact the Pilgrimage Office at the Bahá’íWorld Center: pilgrimage@bwc.org or http://pilgrimage.bahai.orgJames Humphrey, Editorjhumphrey@usbnc.orgTom Mennillo, Associate Editortmennillo@usbnc.orgRichard Doering, Graphics and Photo Coordinatorrdoering@usbnc.orgADDRESS/MAILING CHANGESIf you have an address change, go to updatemyinfo.bahai.usOR: To change your address or discontinue mailings, sign in towww.bahai.us/community/myprofileOR: contact the Membership Office (Membership@usbnc.org),Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611.There is no need to contact the editors directly.A form is inside the back cover.تغییر نشانی پُستیلطفاً‏ برای هر گونه تغییر نشانی پستی،‏ یا برای دریافت کردن مکاتبات بهتعداد معیّن،‏ با دفتر احصائیّه Office) (Membership در دفتر محفلروحانی ملّی به نشانی زیر تماس بگیرید:‏Membership Office, Bahá’í National Center • 1233 Central St.Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (email Membership@usbnc.org)از این پس نیازی به تماس مستقیم با سردبیر مجلّه نیست.‏ برای تغییرنشانی،‏ فُرم مخصوص که در صفحٔه ما قبل آخر مجلّه در اختیار شماگذاشته شده را تکمیل فرمایید و به نشانی باال ارسال کنید.‏SUBMITTING ARTICLESOR PHOTOGRAPHSFull information is on www.bahai.us/community/ — sign inwith your Bahá’í ID number, then use the menu to navigate toResources > Stories for The American Bahá’í.Every item will be carefully considered, but we cannot guaranteepublication.Articles should be clear, concise and relevant to the aims of theFive Year Plan.We may edit stories for length and style.We cannot print advance articles to publicize locally sponsoredevents, but may be able to list them in the Calendar pages.Sorry, but we cannot publish poems.Photographs should be bright, well-composed and in focus.Please identify people when possible. If you wish photo printsreturned, include a self-addressed envelope (you do not need tosupply postage).Electronic photo images should be high pixel count(5 megapixels or larger), in TIFF or JPEG format.Deadlines for upcoming issues:Issue dated November / December 2020: Deadline September 4Issue dated January / February 2021: Deadline November 6Send items for possible publication to:The American Bahá’í, 1233 Central St.,Evanston, IL 60201email TABWeb@usbnc.org2 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
MESSAGESOn the final year of theFive Year PlanLetter from the Universal House of Justice to all National SpiritualAssemblies, dated May 9, 2020Dearly loved Friends,As will by now be all too apparent, theFive Year Plan’s final year has brought challengesdifferent to those of the precedingfour. The world is caught in the grip of afast-spreading virus that has claimed manythousands of lives and severely disrupteda large share of humanity’s social and economicactivity. Yet the Bahá’í communityhas remained composed and has actedswiftly to meet the immediate demands thatconfronted it. It has found ways to ensurethe continuity of community life, whilealso striving to play its part in meetingspiritual and material needs in society morewidely—a fitting response to an emergencysituation. We commend all the action thathas been taken so far. Now, however, wewish to explore more fully what the comingyear might entail. Your efforts to stimulatethe advancement of the Plan in its finalmonths will inevitably be shaped by yourpressing responsibility to guide the friendsin their response to an evolving global crisis.These unique circumstances require thatwe address you directly; you may share thisletter with your communities, in whole orin part, as you deem appropriate.When we expressed our desire to see fivethousand intensive programmes of growthestablished by the end of this Five Year Plan,we were keenly aware of the magnitude ofthe undertaking this implied, but the conditionof the world demanded it. We called forthe work of strengthening programmes ofgrowth to accelerate everywhere. We weregratified to see how the supporters of theCause were galvanized into action, exertingunprecedented levels of effort. In the spaceof four years the Bahá’í community doubledboth the number of core activities occurringworldwide and the number of theirparticipants. To have brought hundreds ofthousands of individuals into the embraceof the community’s activities in such a shortperiod is an advance in capacity that has noparallel in any of the previous Plans in thepresent series.Much, then, has been accomplished, andthis is a clear indicator of the strength andconfidence of the Bahá’í community. But, asyou already appreciate, the current crisishas altered the context in which the Plan isbeing pursued. We have been impressed byhow many communities have taken greatstrides in adapting to this new reality. Farfrom viewing the present period as simplya hiatus to be endured with patience, theyhave recognized that the state of the worldhas made the need to render meaningfulservice to humanity more urgent. Naturally,the activities undertaken must suit theprevailing conditions, but there should beno doubt that this is a time for noble aims,high resolve, and intense endeavour. As iswell known, the activities of the Plan areintended to cultivate a thriving communityspirit, through which resilience to mightychallenges is also strengthened. Educationalefforts aim to raise up a growing numberof souls who can contribute to the spiritualand material well-being of a community;devotional meetings nurture the spirit ofservice as it blossoms, rooting it in a cultureof collective worship. In short, the promotionof the Plan implies building capacity towalk the path of service in every time andseason—which must surely include momentsof acute peril in the life of humanity,such as now. It is essential, then, that thesteps being taken to learn how to apply thePlan’s framework for action to the currentcircumstances of the world continue inearnest; in all likelihood, the global healthcrisis will have a direct impact on Bahá’íactivities, to a greater or lesser degree, formonths or even years, and the task of adaptingto the situation cannot be postponed.In this regard, the Continental Counsellorsand their auxiliaries, ably guided by theInternational Teaching Centre, have shownimpressive determination in their efforts tospur on the friends and orient them in theirapproach to the work at hand; they willdoubtless do the same over the coming fourcycles and beyond.We appreciate, of course, that someactivities have had to be suspended, andparticular strategies or methods that areunsuited to current conditions have hadto be set aside for a time. However, whilecertain possibilities have been temporarilyclosed, others have opened up, and newmeans have emerged for strengtheningexisting patterns of activity. Flexibility hasproven to be an asset, but so has vigilance inensuring that the primarily local characterof community activities is not diluted;efforts to nurture flourishing communitieswithin neighbourhoods and villages andacross clusters must continue. In some cases,present conditions have created unexpectedopportunities for widening communityparticipation in devotional meetings andstudy circles, conducted with safety inmind. Many parents whose families havebeen confined to home surroundings havewelcomed support that has helped themto move from the position of observer toprotagonist in the spiritual education oftheir children. Junior youth and groups ofyouth have discovered the power of simpleacts of compassionate service carried outwith wisdom. Nevertheless, it would beunderstandable if you determine, in someinstances, that plans that require the movementof pioneers, mobile tutors, or visitingteachers will have to be postponed, and thisshould not give you cause for concern; youcan re-evaluate the situation in the monthsahead. The coming One Year Plan couldafford an opportunity to fulfil any goals orobjectives that may in the end remain out ofreach during the present Plan.We recognize that continuing to functionin the course of this crisis will, in manycases, put you under financial strain, andthe economic hardship being experiencedby many in the community may limit theresources upon which you can draw. Beassured that we stand ready to support you.THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 3
Page 1 and 2: Universal House of Justice on the f
Page 3: ContentsRace unity action resources
Page 7 and 8: MESSAGESForging a path toracial jus
Page 9 and 10: BUILDING A NEW ORDER2020 delegateel
Page 11 and 12: SOCIAL ACTIONOrganic growth: One sm
Page 13 and 14: HUMAN RIGHTSEscalation inpersecutio
Page 15 and 16: A ‘very practical and visual appr
Page 17 and 18: National Bahá’í FundThe promise
Page 19 and 20: NATIONAL FUNDUPDATESNational Fund g
Page 21 and 22: BAHÁ’Í SUBSCRIBER SERVICEYour S
Page 23 and 24: BUILDING COMMUNITYIn July 2000, Dur
Page 25 and 26: 1.800.999.9019 | www.BahaiBookstore
Page 27 and 28: Instantly Download in ePub & mobi/K
Page 29 and 30: Spirit of quest for justicemoves Ba
Page 31 and 32: Residents of a Raleigh, North Carol
Page 33 and 34: For years the response to this devo
Page 35 and 36: Central and southern Ohio Bahá’
Page 37 and 38: A RESOLUTE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC
Page 39 and 40: A RESOLUTE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC
Page 41 and 42: BUILD SINCERE FRIENDSHIPS“Our eff
Page 43 and 44: PÁGINAS EN ESPAÑOLSobre este últ
Page 45 and 46: PÁGINAS EN ESPAÑOLUn mensaje delo
Page 47 and 48: PÁGINAS EN ESPAÑOLFamilia en Texa
Page 49 and 50: صفحه فارسی PERSIAN PAGESا
Page 51 and 52: صفحه فارسی PERSIAN PAGESن
Page 53 and 54: PERSIAN PAGESفارسی صفحه ط
Page 55 and 56:
PERSIAN PAGESفارسی صفحه ا
Page 57 and 58:
صفحه فارسی PERSIAN PAGESح
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CalendarEFFECT OF THE PANDEMICWhile
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The American Bahá’í - August/September/October 2020 • V51N04

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