Dearly loved friends,
We announce with joyful and thankful hearts the completion
in overwhelming victory of the world-encircling Nine Year Plan. The Army of
Light has won its second global campaign; it has surpassed the goals set for
expansion and has achieved a truly impressive degree of universal
participation, the twin objectives of the Plan. With gratitude and love we
testify to the unceasing confirmations which Bahá'u'lláh has showered upon His
servants, enabling each and every one of us to offer Him some part of the
labour, the devotion, the sacrifice, the supplication which He has so
bountifully rewarded. At this Centenary of the Revelation of the Most Holy
Book, the Community of the Most Great Name lays its tribute of victory at His
feet, acknowledging that it is He Who has bestowed it.
The Cause of God at the end of the Nine Year Plan is
immensely more widespread, more firmly founded, and its own international
relations more closely knit than in 1964 when the Plan was launched.
Ninety-five new territories have been opened to the Faith; the 69 National
Spiritual Assemblies which shouldered the world community's task have become
113, 5 more than called for. These embryonic secondary Houses of Justice are
supported by more than 17,000 Local Spiritual Assemblies, 3,000 in excess of the
goal and 12,000 more than at the beginning of the Plan. Bahá'ís reside in
69,500 localities, 15,000 more than called for, and 54,000 more than in 1964.
Bahá'í literature has been translated into 225 more languages bringing the
total number to 571; 63 Temple sites, 56 National Haziratu'l-Quds, and 62
National Endowments have been acquired bringing the total numbers of these
properties to 98, 112 and 104 respectively; 50 Teaching Institutes and Summer
and Winter Schools are playing their part in Bahá'í education and 15 Publishing
Trusts produce Bahá'í literature in major languages of the world. The Mother
Temple of Latin America has been built and dedicated. Among those goals whose
achievement is dependent on favourable circumstances outside our control are the
incorporation of Assemblies and recognition of Bahá'í Holy Days. It is
gratifying to record that 90 National Spiritual Assemblies and 1,556 Local
Spiritual Assemblies -- 181 more than the total number called for -- are
incorporated, while Bahá'í Holy Days are recognized in 64 countries and Bahá'í
certification of marriage in 40.
