“…shower upon me Thy confirmations, which alone can change a gnat into an eagle, a drop of water into rivers and seas, and an atom into lights and suns...”

- 'Abdu'l-Bahá

The Nine Year Plan 

“During this period … the Bahá’í world will be focused on a single aim: the release of the society-building power of the Faith in ever-greater measures.”    (30 December 2021 letter, Universal House of Justice)

The Nine Year Plan was first announced by the Universal House of Justice in their 2021 Ridván message. Starting in 2022 and ending in 2031, the Nine Year Plan is the first in a series of plans that will span the next 25 years until Ridván 2046, carried out under the guidance of the Universal House of Justice. After the gathering of information worldwide, it has been estimated that, by 2031,14,000 clusters will have a program of growth, 11,000 will have an intensive program of growth, and 5,000 will have reached Milestone 3.
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Spotlight:

  1. Ayyám-i-Há: February 26-29, 2024
  2. Fasting period 1–19 ‘Alá’ March 1–19, 2024
  3. Day of the Covenant, Nov 26  and  Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Nov 28
  4. Invitation for Home Front Pioneers to Rio Grande Valley
  5. A Regular Devotional Meeting in Every Household
  6. Offer of Service to the South Central Regional Council
  7. Supreme Body’s Pioneer Call for the Nine Year Plan
  8. Recent Guidance and Documentaries

News from Around the Region

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Nine Year Plan and You

      “Bahá’u’lláh states that “the purpose for which mortal men have, from utter nothingness, stepped into the realm of being, is that they may work for the betterment of the world and live together in concord and harmony.” He has revealed teachings that make this possible. Building a society that consciously pursues this collective purpose is the work of not only this generation, but of many generations to come, and Bahá’u’lláh’s followers welcome all who labor alongside them in this undertaking.  (30 December 2021 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counselors )
       We have been reminded in the January 4 2022 letter to the Bahá’ís of the world:
“A confluence of circumstances in the world at large and within the Faith has made this a charged moment. The global challenges now facing humanity are a severe test of its willingness to put aside short-term self-interest and come to terms with this stark spiritual and moral reality: there is but one, interconnected human family and it shares one precious homeland. At this same moment, the followers of Bahá’u’lláh are examining anew the possibilities before them to release the society-building power of the Faith. This Plan will test their stamina, their willpower, and the strength of their love for those who dwell alongside them. They will help to nurture, in every place, communities of common purpose that recognize the power of unity to heal, to transcend. Within these communities, every soul may find sanctuary, and in the friends’ many endeavors for worship and praise, for education, for social transformation, for the development of communities—in all these, every soul may find room to grow and to serve. We are stirred by the promise of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “The small shall be made great, and the powerless shall be given strength; they that are of tender age shall become the children of the Kingdom, and those that have gone astray shall be guided to their heavenly home.”
      When Bahá’u’lláh sent forth His glad tidings, the devoted believers who could carry His message to humanity were so few in number. Today, praise be to God, the devotion of the friends is undimmed and their numbers have soared. May their hearts be fortified through the power of His Word and, on every occasion and in every space, may they shine with the light of the splendors of heaven. “
     Let each and everyone of us take a moment and work to find our place in God’s plan.
Link For Article on the Nine Year Plan

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Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

‘Abdu’l-Bahá was born on May 22, 1844. He passed away quietly in his home in Haifa, Israel on November 28, 1921 at 1:00 a.m. He was 77 years old. When we commemorate His ascension, we can recite the prayer that He revealed that is designated the “Tablet of Visitation for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” and which is intoned when visiting His Shrine and in private prayer.
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Day of the Covenant

The Day of the Covenant is a Bahá’í holy day that is celebrated this year on Sunday, November 26, 2023. On this day, Bahá’ís across the globe celebrate the appointment of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.
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sky for twin birthdays

 The Twin Holy Birthdays of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh

The twin birthdays of The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh fall on Monday and Tuesday , October 16 and October 17 of this year (2023). With the implementation of the Badí‘ Calendar in 2015, these most significant birthdays are now celebrated worldwide as a two-day festival of joy and celebration.
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Shrine of the Bab

Martyrdom of the Báb, “Essence of Essences”

Born in Shiraz, a city in southern Iran, on 20 October 1819, the Báb was the symbolic gate between past ages of prophecy and a new age of fulfillment for humanity.
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Ascension of Baha’u’llah

Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when the day-star of My beauty is set, and the heaven of My tabernacle is concealed from your eyes. Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men. We are with you at all times, and shall strengthen you through the power of truth. We are truly almighty. Whoso hath recognized Me will arise and serve Me with such determination that the powers of earth and heaven shall be unable to defeat his purpose. Gleanings, p.1
37
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Declaration of the Bab

“God,” said He, “is My witness, O people! I am come to you with a Revelation from the Lord, your God, the Lord of your fathers of old. Look not, O people, at the things ye possess. Look rather at the things God hath sent down unto you. This, surely, will be better for you than the whole of creation, could ye but perceive it. Repeat the gaze, O people, and consider the testimony of God and His proof which are in your possession, and compare them unto the Revelation sent down unto you in this Day, that the truth, the infallible truth, may be indubitably manifested unto you. Follow not, O people, the steps of the Evil One; follow ye the Faith of the All-Merciful, and be ye of them that truly believe. What would it profit man, if he were to fail to recognize the Revelation of God? Nothing whatever. To this Mine own Self, the Omnipotent, the Omniscient, the All-Wise, will testify.”Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings, Pages: 144-147
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Ridván April 21 – King of Festivals

The Twelve Days of Riḍván

The worldwide Bahá’í community joyfully celebrates the twelve-day Festival of Riḍván in early spring each year. This year, 2023, Riḍván begins at sunset on April 20th and ends at sunset on May 2nd. Bahá’u’lláh has ordained Riḍván as the “Most Great Festival” and the “King of Festivals.” During these twelve days in 1863, He declared that He was the Manifestation of God for this day, the “One Whom God shall make manifest” as foretold by the Báb.
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Recent Guidance and Documentaries

Recent Guidance, Documentaries, and Resources

Supreme Body’s Pioneer Call for the Nine Year Plan
 Ridván 2023 Message from the Supreme Body – April 2023
Message to Counselors’ Conference Defines Features of New Nine Year Plan – December 30, 2021
Commemorative Video on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá – Exemplar
Commemorative Video on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá – Glimpses of a Hundred Years of Endeavour

Local Bahá’í Communities

Oklahoma

Texas

Arkansas

Louisiana

Story of Assistance from the Abhá Kingdom
Neighbors  have shown interest in having their children attend a children’s class and Kathryn, Ashley and Joseph have  started with a firm base.  As the word spread about the class they have added a devotional. It is interesting and surprising at the same time how many friends and neighbors are interconnected and of the same wavelength as Kathryn described.
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Montgomery County South TX Cluster Outreach

The Baháʼís of the Montgomery County South TX cluster have been engaging in outreach programs with study circles that include friends of the Faith, and with individual initiatives for children’s education in the wider community.
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First Local Spiritual Assembly of Trophy Club, TX

The first Local Spiritual Assembly of Trophy Club, TX was formed on April 20, 2022. Two home-front pioneers moved into the community to complete the needed nine adult Bahá’is.
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Bahá’i Community Celebrates Twin Birthdays
On Wednesday (10/26/22) about 25 sincere souls, including several friends of the Faith, met in Ridgewood Park in The Woodlands along the road which is aptly named Interfaith Way...
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Building Community
The Power of Empowered Youth – The Community Building Through Social Action. See Video Here

Impressive Social Action as a Result of a Junior Youth Group
Here is a wonderful story from New Braunsfels describing their involvement in the community resulting in a social action activity…
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After-School Program for Children
After-school program offering two children’s classes and a junior youth group in Austin…
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National Day of Racial Healing Devotional/Little Rock, Arkansas
January 22, 2023

Within the context of the framework governing your activities, it is necessary to carefully examine the forces unfolding around you to determine where your energies might reinforce the most promising initiatives, what you should avoid, and how you might lend a distinctive contribution. (Universal House of Justice Letter to the Baha’is of the United States, 22 July 2020)     When the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Little Rock read this quote from the Universal House of Justice, they decided to identify “promising initiatives” that they might reinforce within the context of the community-building framework.
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Praying for Assistance, Receptivity, and Protection
Teaching, we have come to realize, has to be a way of life and not just a campaign or serving in a focus neighborhood which is a center of activity in community… read more

Bahá’í Club at the University of Arkansas
The Bahá’í Club at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith was founded in 2016 and there has been loads of learning in the last 6 years. The club started with the knowledge of the need to be outward-looking… read more

“Sofia Alves Wins Prestigious Design Award”
Congratulations are in order for Sofia Alves, a Baha’i from New Orleans, and her collaborator, Willow Cook. These LSU School of Interior Design students have been selected as winners of the 28th PAVE Student Design Competition.
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“This Has Changed My Life”
The New Orleans Bahá’í community hosts various regular devotional gatherings throughout the city, including one which has been held weekly for over four years now. The multi-faith devotional gathering is held every Tuesday, and brings people from different backgrounds together to study writings from world religions on a given topic, such as love, justice, or gratitude, to discuss…
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National and International Connections

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If the learned and worldly-wise men of this age were to allow mankind to inhale the fragrance of fellowship and love, every understanding heart would apprehend the meaning of true liberty, and discover the secret of undisturbed peace and absolute composure.” – BAHÁ’U’LLÁH –

Bahá’ís believe the need for today is based on the world finding the nature and purpose of life.The writings of Bahá’u’lláh guide us to that unified society. For more information please visit the website of the International Baha’i Community

USAnews

We believe it’s time for humanity to come together as one family, to create a world where everyone can thrive. In neighborhoods across the country, Baha’is and their friends are engaged in a community building process that cultivates love and translates it into action.” 

Bahai.us is the official website of the Baha’is of the United States. It was created and is maintained under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States.

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