What is this all about?

        Welcome! So, what is this page all about anyway? Well, put simply it is about bringing peace and happiness to this earth in these complex and trying times. With the whirlwind of current events as an apt background, Bahá'ís, followers of Bahá'u'lláh ('Glory of God'), are engaged in the spiritual revitalization and transformation of the entire planet. Far from battling each of the uncountable ills humanity is suffering from, Bahá'ís view teaching others about our Faith and its redemptive power as one of the most meritorious (and productive) acts we can do in this age to bring about the common recognition of the oneness of humanity and initiate the dawn of international peace and reconciliation.
        Bahá'ís believe in one loving creator known by many names, who sent one unfolding religion renewed from age to age to teach one human family in all of its many colors. Bahá'u'lláh declared his mission as a Manifestation of God brining the Divine Message previously enunciated by Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammad to a world that was leaving adolescence and entering maturity -  a world ready to demonstrate the truth that, "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens."
       One distinguishing feature of the Bahá'í Faith is the explicitly authorized line of successorship after the passing of Bahá'u'lláh that has enabled the Faith to avoid fragmentation. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed as the Interpreter of his father's teachings, and he appointed the twin institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. Since its inception in 1963 the Universal House of Justice has conceived a series of multi-year plans that outline the most productive activities Bahá'ís can undertake at the time.
       We are currently in the last year of a 5-year plan that encourages the holding of study circles, devotional gatherings, and children's classes. In addition, for those clusters (~ 10,000 in total spread across the entire globe) that have a sizeable group of well-trained Bahá'ís we are asked to launch "Intensive Programs of Growth," which are divided into 3-4 month cycles (further divided into phases), aiming ultimately to meaningfully share the Faith with others and provide a sturdy and extensible mechanism to walk with them toward Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'ís call sharing our Faith 'Teaching' and we are encouraged to make this the "dominating passion of our lives".
 

What is the Plan for this Cycle in Ottawa?

Goals:

1. Increase the size of the community of interest.
           (The community of interest is the number of our friends attending Bahá'í events)

2. Move the existing community of interest from one stage to the next.
           (Inviting our friends to study the Baha'i Faith more deeply and then, or sooner, 
             lovingly inviting them to join the Cause)

3. Increase the size of the visible Bahá’í community.
            (Taking steps to wisely reactivate less visible Bahá'ís back into the community)