31 December 1995: To the Bahá’ís of the World

Dearly loved Friends,

In the wake of the dynamic spirit animating the six-day-long Counselors' Conference at the World Center, now in its final session as we address you, we take the occasion to announce our decision which has been the subject of their deliberations: At Ridván 1996 a global plan of expansion and consolidation will be launched, to end four years later at Ridván 2000.

It is this anticipation that has focused the thoughts of the seventy-eight Counselors from the five continents, who have been conferring together in the presence of the Hands of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan and ‘Alí-Muhammad Varqá, the members of the Universal House of Justice and the Counselor members of the International Teaching Center. Their consultations on the challenges and prospects facing the Bahá’í world community have been of such caliber and content as to have emboldened our expectations of a mighty thrust in the growth and development of that community during the crucial years immediately ahead.

The whole Plan will be announced at Ridván. However, we wish you to have some information about it now within the measure of the discussions which have been taking place at the Counselors' Conference.

The Four Year Plan will aim at one major accomplishment: a significant advance in the process of entry by troops. This is to be achieved through marked progress in the activity and development of the individual believer, of the institutions, and of the local community. Keen attention to all three will ensure a greatly expanded, visibly united, vibrant and cohesive international community by the end of the twentieth century. The basic requisites can be summarized as follows.

25 December 1995: To the friends gathered at the National Bahá’í Youth Conference in Dallas, Texas

Dear Friends,

We send you our warmest greetings and deepest love.

Your conference coincides with the Counselors' Conference which has drawn 78 Counselors from the five continents to the Holy Land for discussions with the International Teaching Center concerning the provisions of the next global teaching and consolidation plan to be launched at Ridván 1996. You may well draw inspiration from this coincidence as you take advantage of your togetherness to contemplate during the next few days the opportunities available to the Bahá’í youth both to bend their efforts towards great achievements in the teaching field during the remaining months of the Three Year Plan and to ensure through such achievements a fitting initiation for the new Plan, which will be in operation during the closing years of the unique Twentieth Century.

The threat of disintegration and chaos, on the one hand, and the promise of unity and peace, on the other, flash intermittently as prospects at this time of great transition for the entire human race. Unity and peace will triumph, we know; but until then humanity will surely experience trials and turmoil. Amid these can be found the countless opportunities to teach those, especially among your peers, who seek understanding and hope. The perspective which enables us to see clearly during this time of great perplexity is provided in the Sacred Writings of our Faith and in the life and deeds of our true Exemplar, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; these are abundant resources to which the followers of the Blessed Beauty, young and old alike, can turn time and again for knowledge, inspiration and assurance.

29 October 1995: To the Bahá’ís of the World

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The Day of the Covenant, 26 November 1995, marks the commencement of a new five-year term of service for members of the Continental Boards of Counselors for the Protection and Propagation of the Faith. We have decided to increase the number of these high-ranking officers of the Cause from seventy-two to eighty-one and are happy to announce the names of those now appointed.

Africa (19 Counselors): George Allen, Beatrice Asare, Niaz Bushrui, Parvine Djoneydi, Mehraz Ehsani (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Shidan Fat’he-Aazam, Kobina Fynn, Ibrahim Galadima, Hizzaya Hissani, Firaydoun Javaheri, Zekrullah Kazemi, Eddy Lutchmaya, Abaineh Merhatsion, Muḥammad Otmani, Daniel Ramoroesi, Edith Senoga, Lally Warren, Wingi Mabuku, Tiati à Zock.

The Americas (19 Counselors): Eloy Anello, Stephen Birkiand, Gustavo Correa, Rolf von Czékus, Jacqueline LHB Delahunt, Wilma Ellis, Tod Ewing, Linda Gershuny, Abdu’l-Missagh Ghadirian, Peter McLaren (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Alejandra Miller, Ruth Pringle, Carmen Elisa de Sadeghian, Isábel de Sanchez, Errol Sealy, Arturo Serrano, Farhad Shayani; David Smith, Rodrigo Tomás.

30 December 1994: To the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in every land

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FOR MOUNT CARMEL PROJECTS SINCE LAUNCHING THREE YEAR PLAN NOW TOTAL SOME TWENTY-SIX MILLION DOLLARS. FORTY-EIGHT MILLION REMAIN TO BE RAISED TO MEET GOAL OF SEVENTY-FOUR MILLION DOLLARS BY RIDVÁN 1996.

IMMENSE ENTERPRISE GATHERING MOMENTUM; CONSTRUCTION INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTER COMMENCED; CENTER FOR STUDY OF TEXTS PROGRESSING WITH FULL FORCE, RISING IN CERTAIN AREAS BEYOND FOURTH LEVEL; TERRACE IMMEDIATELY BELOW SHRINE ALREADY GIVES PREVIEW BEAUTY FINAL COMPLETION; WORK OTHER LOWER TERRACES ADVANCING RAPIDLY AMIDST EXPANSE OF GREEN; UPPER TERRACES TAKING SHAPE ON STEEP SLOPES ABOVE SHRINE. ENTIRE PROJECT STANDS IN URGENT NEED INCREASED SUPPORT THROUGH MIGHTY SELF-SACRIFICING EFFORT DURING REMAINING MONTHS THREE YEAR PLAN.

ARDENTLY PRAYING SACRED THRESHOLD WORLDWIDE RESPONSE THIS CHALLENGING JUNCTURE RAISING ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER GOD'S HOLY FAITH.

The Universal House of Justice

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001)