3rd Weekend of Expansion Phase

This Saturday the three teams pictured above met friends new and old in the neighborhoods of Santa Cruz county.  We spoke primarily about the expansion of junior youth groups in the area and the opportunities available to local youth interested in moderating and facilitating these new groups.  As more 12-14 year old's enter the spiritual empowerment program and prepare for a life of service to humanity, the groundswell of souls who walk alongside one another in this Cause of Unity expands ever greater and greater.

In the evening a number of youth met to discuss and reflect on the life of the spirit.  They read quotes, sang songs, and shared fellowship in an atmosphere full of love and joy in this divine process.

2nd weekend of Expansion Phase

The progress of the campaign to find new friends is steadily unfolding.  One of the main goals of this outreach is to augment the neighborhood children's and junior youth activities with new facilitators.  The campaign aims to introduce the process of service for the community-at-large and, by extension, all of humanity, alongside a brief introduction to the purpose and teachings of the Bahá'í Faith.  This two-fold purpose in our interactions is assisted by a constant attention to friendship for all who cross our paths and is galvanized by a complete reliance upon divine aid.

This weekend we again felt welcomed by those we met in the neighborhoods.  With children playing in yards, youth visiting one another's homes, and families gathering to relax with one another, the community life we found was strong.  Some neighbors, though, also expressed apprehension about the future, unsure of what the economy, jobs, and the housing market had in store.  Being out on the sidewalks reminds us of the importance of sharing this message and offering these opportunities for service. 

We will be continuing this process throughout the week, mostly in the evenings, as we learn with others about how to create a united world.  If you would like to join us, we would love to accompany one another on this path.  With much love,

NC15 ATC

Education Under Fire

If you haven't signed the petition on Education under Fire in Iran, take a look and consider taking this action.  The organizers are looking for 25,000 signatures and they have just passed the 10,000 mark.  If you have signed the petition, they are asking that we spread the message through social media or by talking with those in our social networks.  Cheers!

First teaching weekend IPG#13

The first teaching weekend of Santa Cruz county's teaching campaign resulted open invitations to join the Bahá'ís in activities for children, junior youth, and study groups for youth and adults who are interested in learning more about serving humanity and the communities.  All are welcome to learn more about the Bahá'í Faith and to work alongside the Bahá'í community in building a new world. 

We started the day on Saturday and Sunday early in the morning with 30-45 minutes of prayers, then breakfast, and then memorizing a long quote about teaching from Ruhi Book 6 (above).  Around 9:30am we planned the day, split into teaching teams, and went out to the neighborhoods for a couple hours.  At 1pm we stopped for lunch, generously provided by the LSA of Santa Cruz county central.  At 2pm we went back out and then came back to reflect on the day's activities in the evening.  Later in the evening a small meeting was hosted to introduce the Bahá'í Faith some more as well as the Junior Youth spiritual empowerment program.

Sunday had the same schedule, though we stopped a little earlier in the day.

With love and thanksgiving for all the volunteers, Local Assemblies who supported this work, and the divine assistance that helped on the way,

-NC15 ATC