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A simple companion to

TheFiveYearPlan 20062011
163168B.E.

KDKFactory/BadiPublishing POBox39651,Phoenix,Arizona85069,USA Tel/Fax:8889091919 2

 eBookEdition April2010/Jall167 MithaqKazimi Editors:ReedChandler,SheibaKaufman,BretKaufman 3

TableofContents
1. Preface 2. Index 3. ThePlan a. Individual b. Community c. Institutions 4. TheYearAhead 5. Notes

Preface
Whatisasimplecompanion? Itisasimplecompanion. Sowhatdoesitaccompany? ItistoaccompanyyouasyoustudythemessageoftheUniversalHouseofJusticedated 27December2005whereinthecurrentFiveYearPlanisintroducedandexplained. PleasenotethatthisisbynomeansaninterpretationorreplacementfortheMessage itselfitissimplyabreakdowntohelpyouvisualizethemessageandcreateareference foritsdifferentcomponents. WherecanIgettheoriginaldocument? Informationaboutobtainingitdigitallyand/orinprintcanbefoundon http://www.kdkfactory.com/simple/ 5

Index

Accompaniment,Page10 AreaTeachingCommittee,14 Auxiliaries,13,14 BahinspiredNGOs,14 Capacitybuilding,79 Childrensclasses,1012,14 ClusterChildrensClassCoordinator,14 ClusterInstituteCoordinator, ClusterJr.YouthCoordinators,14 ClusterReflectionGatherings,12 Clusters,7,11,12 Collectiveteaching,1113 Communities,7,12 Consolidation,7,11,13 Coreactivities,11,12 Counselors,13,15 Devotionals,11,12 Entrybytroops,7,9 Expansion,1114 Externalaffairs,14 FifthEpoch,7,16 FormativeAge,716 Funds,12 Homevisits,12 Humanresources,7,11 Individualinitiative,9,14 Individuals,7,13 Institutions,7,14 IntensiveProgramsofGrowth,11,15 InternationalTeachingCenter,12 Jr.youthgroups,11,12,14 Largescalegrowth,9,12,14 Learningprocess,9,11,12 LocalSpiritualAssemblies,6,15 Neighborhoods,15 NineteenDayFeasts,12

NationalSpiritualAssemblies,14,15 Practices,8,10 PresentingtheFaith,10 Prioritize,11 Receptivepopulation,13 Receptivity,10 RegionalCouncil,14 Regionalevents,12 Sectors,15 Sequenceofcourses,8 Socioeconomicdevelopment,14 Studycircles,811 Summer/winterschools,12 Systematicaction,9,12,14 Systematize,7 Teachingfield,9,14 Traininginstitute,7,8,14 Twomovements,7 Twostageelectoralprocess,15 Unifiedvisionofgrowth,12 Widercommunity,12

TheFiveYearPlan20062011
AsmentionedtheFiveYearPlanisverysimple;here,wewillillustratejustthat.Please readtheprefaceaboutthepurposeofthisbookletbeforereadingon. Whatisthisallabout? Rightnow,hopefullyyouarereadingthisbetween20062011,weareinthefifth epochoftheFormativeAge* TheUniversalHouseofJusticeinits26December1995messagefocusedthe Bahworldonlearninghowtogrowandsustainthatgrowth.Thefirststep was: o Tosystematizeoureffortstodevelophumanresourcesandtodoso throughthetraininginstitute*. Butthatdidnthappenrightawayin1995;sincethen,wevebeen puttingtogetherthedifferentelementsandnowithasgivenbirth toaframeworkforactionthatonlyneedstobeactedupon.

Howdidwegoaboutit? In2001theUniversalHouseofJusticedividedusintogeographicclustersandat lastitwas: o Possibletothinkaboutgrowthonamanageablescale& o Seeitastwomovements: 1) First,individualsgoingthroughcourses(Ruhi,thatis*) 2) Second,themovementsofclustersfromonestageofgrowthtothe next. o So,unlikeeverbeforetheprocessofexpansion(teaching)and consolidation(deepening)wasunderstood.Therewasaclear understandingofwhatneededtobedoneandtheUniversalHouseof Justicecalled: Action!

Whydidwegoaboutit? Theaimofthisplanisraiseourcapacitiesasindividuals,communitiesand institutions,sowecouldadvancetheprocessofentrybytroops,whichistheaim oftheBahworlduntil2021;theendofthefirstcenturyoftheFormativeAge. So,ifyouaregoingtobearoundforsomeyears,beassuredthatthefocusisnt goingtochangeanditsgoingtointensify.Readontoseehowyoucanserveand survive.

*SeeNotes

TheIndividual(a.k.a.You) .
Yourachievementswerenotedinthe17January2003letterwhereinthe UniversalHouseofJusticestatedthefollowing: o Youarecharacterizedby: Agrowingsenseofinitiative Resourcefulness Courage Andaudacity o Thequalitiesthatattesttoyourfaith: Consecration Zeal Confidence Andtenacity Theyalsoacknowledgedthatthetraininginstitutehasplayedarolehere. o Thedevelopmentshaveshownthatthesequenceofcoursesbuildsour capacityforservice. Bygivingusachancetoputintopracticethespiritualinsightswe gainfromstudyingtheWritings. Thisbodyofknowledgefostersasetof: o Relatedhabits o Attitudes o Qualities Thathelpsussharpenthoseskillsandabilitiesthatare neededtocarryouttheactsofservice,aka,thepractices ofthesebooks. o Buthowexactlydoweacquirethosecoolskillsandabilities? BycenteringourdiscussionsinthestudycirclesontheCreative Wordinanatmospherethatis: Serious& Upliftingwhichthenresultsin: o Raisingthelevelofourconsciousnessaboutour dutytotheCause. o Createsanawarenessofthejoywegetfrom teachingandservingthefaith.Andthen: Thespiritualcontextinwhichspecificdeeds areaddressedendowsthemwith significance. 8

Buildsourconfidencetoengageinactsof servicethatare: Complex Demanding Andaboveall,ourrelianceonGodwillsustainthese endeavors. Andwhenwehaveenteredtheteachingfield,putting whatwehavelearnedinpractice: o Wewillfaceconfirmationsfromallsides. o Seemorepossibilitiesandopportunitiestoteach. o Witnessdivineassistance,firsthand. o Andachieveresultsthatwillexceedour expectations.Nice! ButIalreadyknowwhataphenomenaleffecttheWordcan haveonthosethatencounterit. True.Butwhatsreallyhearteningtoknowisthatthe instituteprocessistransformingpeopleonalargescale inhundredsandthousands. o Andcontinuingthatwithanintenseeffort,my friend,hasbeenandistheaimofthisFiveYear Plan. Iseethepoint,buthowwillitwork? o Thisemphasisoncapacitybuildinggivesbirthtoindividualinitiative which: 1)Isbasicallyunderstandingtherequirementsofsystematic actionneededtoadvancetheprocessofentrybytroops. 2)Andthenpursuingtheprocesswithapostureoflearningwithin theframeworkalreadylaidoutforusinthePlan.Thisresultsin: Harmonizingdiversetalentstomoveforwardinunited direction. Avoidingthewasteofenergyandtimethatiscausedby debatingoverpersonalpreferencesoveraparticular approach. Commitmenttolongtermactiongrows. Andfinallyputtingallouractivities,nomatterwhatand where,inaunifiedcontext. o Individualinitiativeinaction: Itisclearlydemonstratedinthefieldofteachingbeitinstudy circlesorfiresides,itsontherise.Why? Becauseweareequippedwiththe: o Skills& 9

o Methods. Thatare: o Effective& o Accessibletoall. Weareencouragedbytheresponseouractionshave broughtasweconverseonthemesofspiritualimportwith peoplesofallwalksoflife. Andaswegaingreaterperception,wecan: o Sensereceptivity. o Recognizesoulswaitingtoreceivethemessage. o Seekouttosharewhathasbeensograciously giventousinourdailyencounterswith: Parentsofourneighborhoodchildrens classes. Peersatschool. Colleaguesatwork. Casualacquaintances. Andaswegainmoreexperience,wecan: o Adaptourpresentationtotheseekersneeds. o Usedirectteachingmethodsthatincludesthe Writingstoofferthemessageinawaythatis: Forthcoming& Inviting. o Andwhenyouarethere,youhelpothersgetthere Wereachouttoassistotherstowalkontheirpathofserviceby: Takingupthechallengeandaccompanyingour participantsofthestudycirclewejusttutoredto: o Dotheirpractices. o Start,whenready,theirownstudycircles.Thus: Wewidenthescopeoftheinstitutes influence. Bringmoreeagersoulsincontactwiththe WordofGod. Continuouslymultiplythenumberofthose whosupporttheFaith. o Andwecontinueuntiltheyhavealongingtoarise independentlyanddevotetheirenergiesin awakeningothersoulsandupholdthelawsand principlesofthisFaith.

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TheCommunity(Youandyourneighbors)

Basically,thesamecharacteristicsandqualities(talkedaboutintheindividual section)areevidentinourcommunity.Howmuchofitshows?Well,that dependsonwhatstageofdevelopmentwearein: o AdvancedStage:inaclusteratthisstageitisprettyclearastowhatcan beachieved. o Earlierstage:Well,atthisstagewearestillstrugglingtolearnhowwe canputthePlanintoaction. Tomakeiteasier,wecouldlookintoadvancedclusters,humbly listentotheirlearningsandsimplyemulatethem. Buthowdowemanageallthat? OnmanyoccasionstheUniversalHouseofJusticereferstothecoherencethatis broughttotheprocessofgrowthbythefourcoreactivities: o StudyCircles. o Devotionals. o Childrensclasses. o Jr.Youthgroups(addedrecently.SeeNotes) Andbecausethesecoreactivitiesare: o Structured& o Organic Itresultsinasustainablepatternofexpansionandconsolidation.Andasseekers: o Jointheseactivitiesanddeclaretheirfaith, Wegainmomentumboth: Individually& Collectively. Andtomakesurethatthesenewsoulsgothroughtheinstitute coursessoasto: Increasethepoolofourhumanresources, o Whichthenbringsabouttheconditionstolaunch: IntensiveProgramsofGrowth(IPGs) ThePurposeoftheCoreActivities: Examinationsshowthatthiscoherenceaffectsotheraspectsofcommunitylife because: o Thestudyandapplicationoftheteachingsbecomeahabit. o Devotionalgatheringsgenerateaspiritthatspreadsthroughoutthe communityscollectiveefforts. o IntegrationoftheArts: Increasesourenergy, Whichleadstoourmobilization. 11

 TheresultoftheCoreactivities: o Thespiritualfoundationsofcommunitiesbecomesstronger: Thelevelofcommunicationrises. Relationshipstakeanewmeaning. Asenseofcommonpurposebecomesthetopicoftheday. Proveit: o AstudybytheInternationalTeachingCenter(ITC)andothersources show: Thatinsuchadvancedclusters,thequalityofNineteenDayFeasts haveimproved. ThatcontributiontotheFundshasincreased. Thatclusterreflectiongatheringshavebecomeaplacetodiscuss Ourneeds&plans: o Whichcreatesacollectiveidentity& o Strengthensourcollectivewill. Andthattheseclustersinfluencespreadsbeyondtheirborders to: Regionaleventssuchassummerandwinterschools. Andthus,asanindividual,whoislearningallthis,youarecalledupontomakesurethat yourlearningsarewovenintodecisionmaking. Therequirementsofsystematicaction: Havingseensuccess,weappreciatethissystematicaction.Andtherequirements thatyourcommunitymustlearnandinternalizeare: o Toagreeonaunifiedvisionofgrowthwhichisbasedon: Arealisticevaluationofpossibilities& Resources. o Todevelopstrategiesthatcouldgiveitabetterstructure. o Tomakeandactonaplanofactionthatisdoable. o Tomakenecessarychangeswhilekeepingitgoing. o Tobuildonouraccomplishments. Atthesametime,webehavewithadesireandwillingnesstoopenuptothe widercommunity.Andaswewelcomelargenumbersinourcommunity: o Weseemorepotentialityinpeople. 12

o ChildrensclassesandJr.YouthgroupsmakeourFaithsrootsstrongat alocallevel. o Homevisitsbeitinbigorsmallcities: Strengthentherelationshipsofthecommunitymembers. ServeasadeepeningopportunitytolookintotheWritingsand discusshowtheFaithappliesinourdailylives.

o Weavoidsettingupbarriersthatarebasedonourpreconceived notions. o Wecreateanenvironmentwhere: Individualsgrowattheirownpace, Withoutthepressureofunreasonableexpectations. o WebecomeawarethattheFaithis: Universalforeveryone& Comprehensiveallinclusive. o Thusourcollectiveactionfocusesongivingthemessage: Liberally& Unconditionally. Yes,thishasalreadyhappenedinareaswherethereisareceptivepopulation. o Adeterminedsocialandpoliticalforceissweepingpeopleacrossthe continents,whichresultsin: Uncompromisingappreciationfordiversityand Makingeveryonestronger, o Whichisacrucialelementtotheexpansionand consolidation. TheCounselorsandAuxiliaryBoardmemberstaskistokeepusfocused. o Thisabilityisavaluableassetgainedthrough: Discipline Commitment& Foresight o Maintainingfocusdoesntmeanwe: Neglectspecialneedsandinterests. Ordropanessentialactivitysowecouldhaveanother,rather: Werefineanddevelopourcommunitylife. o Ontheotherhand,wearetoprioritizemeaning: Notallactivitieshavethesamelevelofimportanceatagiven stage. Somearetogoforwardbeforeothers. Thateventhemostwellintentionedplanorsuggestioncan: Causedistraction. Disperseenergy& Delayprogress. o Wejusthavetorecognizeandacceptthefactthatourtimeisnot unlimited,thus: Itsonlylogicalthatweshoulddedicateagreatershareofour timeinadvancingthePlan.Wouldntyousayso?

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TheInstitutions(Thepeopleyouelectedandthepeopletheyappoint)
Noneofourindividualorcommunityaccomplishmentscouldbepossiblewithout their: o Guidance o Encouragement& o Support Theinstitutions: o Promoteindividualinitiative. o Channelourenergiesintotheteachingfield. o Pointoutthevalueofsystematicaction. o Fosterthespirituallifeofthecommunity. o Createawelcomingenvironmentforeveryone. Astheyhelpthecommunitytoremainfocused,theylearninpracticalterms: o Whatitmeanstokeepunityofvisionamongthefriends. o Howtocoordinatethefriendsintheirinitiatives. o Howtodistributeresourcesinaccordancetothepriorities. Someareasofactivitymayrequireindividualswithspecificskills. Worthyofmentionare: Externalaffairswork,whichtheNationalAssemblies followthoroughly. Socialandeconomicdevelopmentprojects,undertakenby Bahinspiredorganizations. Whileattendingtotheseneeds,theinstitutionsfindthemselves capableofdirectingthegeneralityofthebelieversandtheir effortstothecentraltasksofthePlan.

Thecomponentsbehindit: Aswefacethechallengesthatlargescalegrowthpresents,itistheinstitutions thataredeterminedtoencourageuseverystepoftheway. Someofusare: o Namedbythetraininginstitutetocoordinatethecourses(akaCluster InstituteCoordinatorCIC) o Otherstocoordinatechildrensclasses(akaClusterChildrensClass Coordinator). o AndyetothersJr.Youthgroups(ClusterJr.YouthCoordinators) o AndyetagainothersappointedtotheAreaTeachingCommitteebythe RegionalCouncilortheNationalAssembliesto: Administercertainaspectsofoursystematiceffortwhichshould resultin: Acceleratedexpansionandconsolidation o AndtheAuxiliaryBoardmembersworkonboth frontstoensurethatgrowthgoesonunhampered. 14

Whilethesecomponentsareinplaceinmanyclusters,wearestilllearning: o Abouttheirfunctions& o Therelationshipsamongthem. Whatisimportantisthatthecurrentdegreeofflexibility,whichallowsforthe creationofnewinstrumentsasneeded,notbecompromisedsothatthescheme ofcoordinationrepresentsaresponsetothedemandsofgrowthitself. o WedependupontheCounselorsandtheNationalAssembliestoguideus throughtheprocess.

LocalSpiritualAssemblies TherecentdevelopmentshavehadtwotypesofeffectsontheAssemblies: o InclusterswheretheAssemblieshavebeenweak,theyareassuming responsibilitiesandguidingcertainpartsofthePlan. o AssembliesthathaveembracedthePlanareshowingsignsofadded strength Oftenafteraperiodofadjustmentsinwhichsomestruggled. GatheringMomentum Thewholeprocessisgatheringmomentumineveryareabeiturbanorrural: o Certainlargecitiesweredividedinto Sectorswhichmayneedtobeultimatelydividedinto o NeighborhoodsineachofwhichtheFeastis conducted. o Keepinginmindthesizeoffuturecommunitiesisessentialforthe developmentofLocalAssemblies. Asmembershipgrowstothousands,theAssemblieswillgo throughintenseperiodsoflearning. Andifthecircumstancesdemand,theUniversalHouseofJustice mayauthorize: Atwostageelectoralprocessapatterndevelopedin TihrnduringtheministryoftheGuardian. IntensiveProgramsofGrowththissectionofthePlanwillbepublishedseparatelyif, ofcourse,timepermitsandyoufindthishelpful.

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Theyearahead(20102011)

IntheRivn2010messagetheUniversalHouseofJusticeannouncedtheachievement ofourgoal:establishing1,500intensiveprogramsofgrowthworldwide,oneyearin advance. Withafullyearathand,wearegiventheopportunitytostrengthenourcommunitiesin preparationforthetasksthatwewillundertakeinthenextglobalenterprise(aka,the 20112016FiveYearPlan). ToseehowthecurrentPlanhasunfoldedsofarandwhereweareheadedtointheyear tocome,youmayreadtheRivn2010message*. Whatneedstohappenwithinthenexttwelvemonths? Refertothefollowingparagraphstoreadwhatneedstobedonehowandwhoneedsto dowhat: IntensiveProgramsofGrowth Paragraph6 TheIndividualandInstitutions Paragraph7 StudyCircles Paragraph11 CoreActivitiesandaccompaniment Paragraph12 ChildrensClasses Paragraph15 Jr.YouthGroups Paragraph18 TheInstitutions Paragraph24 Whatelseneedstohappenwithinthenexttwelvemonths? Atthisstage,wearetoreflectonthenatureofthecontributionsourcommunitieshave madetothesocietyandbegintothinkabouttwointerconnectedactivities: 1)Involvementinsocialaction& 2)Participationintheprevalentdiscoursesofsociety. Whatdoesthatmean? Refertoparagraphs2533oftheRivn2010messagetoseehowtheUniversalHouse ofJusticeexplainsit.
*SeeNotes

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Notes(thingsexplainedfurther)
FormativeAge: TheFormativeAgereferstoatimeperiodthatbeganwiththepassingof AbdulBahthatmarkedtheendoftheHeroicAgeinwhichtheCentralFigureslived. ItwilllastuntiltheGoldenAgeisestablishedandconsistsofseveralepochs,whichso farhaverangedsomewherebetween15and25years. TrainingInstitute Intheir28December2005message,theUniversalHouseofJusticeadoptedthe curriculumoftheRuhiInstitutetobeusedworldwide.Readthemessagetolearnwhy! Rivn2010message ThemessageisavailableinmanylanguagesviatheofficialBah'websitesorcanbe obtainedinprintfromyourLocalSpiritualAssembly.TheEnglishversionis11pagesin length,consistsofthreesectionsand33paragraphs. Simplyclosing,toreallyseeallofthisinactionyouhavetohitthefield;sowhenyou takeoff,callsomeoneandbeaccompaniedoraccompany. 17

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