Spirit of Pioneering gatherings encourage universal participation

A series of pioneering gatherings in British Columbia has inspired participants to consider how they can contribute to the goals of the Nine Year Plan in a multitude of ways.

A letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi states: “Pioneer service in these epoch-making days need not be confined to going out to foreign fields. The friends can pioneer in their assemblies in helping to bring about a keener vision of what their duties are; they can pioneer in developing new local teaching methods, new contacts with new classes of people. Indeed they can even be said to pioneer inwardly in finding new depths in their own souls and new ways in which their own God-given capacities can be put to use in serving the Faith.”[1]

This quote was a source of inspiration as the British Columbia Pioneering Task Force looked at how to enlarge the circle of friends consciously contributing to the pioneering goals of the Nine Year Plan. About 150 participants joined four pioneering gatherings that took place in Nanaimo, Victoria, Prince George and Vancouver, B.C. These spaces were organized by members of the Auxiliary Boards and the Pioneer Task Force, with support from the Regional Bahá’í Council and Local Spiritual Assemblies.

The gatherings raised the general spirit of pioneering in British Columbia. One of the chief objectives of this Plan is to raise up a third milestone cluster in every country and region of the world. The foremost strategy for achieving the international goals is the deployment of experienced believers—28 of whom are to come from Canada’s advanced clusters. There are also many homefront pioneer goals, identified by Regional Bahá’í Councils.

The program for the gatherings included uplifting devotionals and stories from historic pioneers, including Ella Bailey, Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, and Marion Jack. It emphasized that there is a path for everyone to participate in the pioneering call, whether through fulfilling international and homefront goals, visiting a neighbouring cluster, offering prayers, deputizing through the Bahá’í Fund, or adopting the spirit of a pioneer wherever you are.

A conviction that everyone can contribute to the pioneering goals of the Nine Year Plan was strengthened. One friend who travels to the Gulf Islands, in B.C., regularly saw that she could become part of the community-building process there. Another couple stated that while they cannot move, they will contribute to the Deputization Fund, which supports pioneers and travel teachers. Yet another couple arose to homefront pioneer and are in the process of exploring neighbourhoods to move to. One youth immediately arose to pioneer on the homefront, while another 12 have expressed their desire to enter the field. Another youth expressed that this is a call to examine how we spend our time and re-dedicate ourselves to the teaching work wherever we are.

– The British Columbia Pioneer Task Force

[1] Shoghi Effendi, Pioneering, a compilation.