Supporting the sacred work of the National Fund
The National Spiritual Assembly wrote to all Bahá'ís in Aotearoa, New Zealand on 1 November 2024 regarding the pressing needs of the National Fund. At this key time in the current Plan, the National Assembly wishes to draw attention to the sacred and vital role of material means in furthering the noble Cause entrusted to us by the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.
1 November 2024
18 ‘Ilm 181 B.E.
To all believers in Aotearoa
Tena koutou katoa
Dearly loved friends, at this festive time when we are honouring the Twin Holy Manifestations, the National Spiritual Assembly wishes to draw attention to the sacred nature and imperative of the material means which assist the furtherance of the precious Cause initiated by the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh.
E te Tama a te Tangata! Whakawhānuihia Tōku kaupapa kia whakaaturia ai e Au te muna o Tōku rahi, kia tīaho iho ki runga ki a koe te mārama o te mutungakore.
O Son of Man! Magnify My cause that I may reveal unto thee the mysteries of My greatness and shine upon thee with the light of eternity. -Bahá’u’lláh
We are living in a crucial time in human history, and in our Faith. Around us we see conflict, contention, and strife. The need for Bahá’u’lláh’s healing message is as clear as it has ever been. Even in New Zealand, where we have been spared the scourge of civil strife and armed conflict, the signs of the erosion of the bonds of unity are clear for all to see. Working toward the release of the society-building power of the Faith, then, is a sacred charge as well as a privilege, for each of us.
We are just over one quarter of the way into the Nine Year Plan. This Plan is the starting point in a twenty-five-year endeavour which “will be focused on a single aim: the release of the society-building power of the Faith in ever greater measures.”[1]
Our goal is that by the end of the Nine Year Plan all 25 clusters in Aotearoa will have passed the third milestone of growth. Currently three have done so. We know that Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is destined to embrace every community, every street in our nation. We also know that for today, the steps that take us closer to that horizon are along the path of service laid out by the training institute.
Key to releasing the society-building power of the Faith is the institute process: “an instrument of limitless potentialities”[2]. We have already achieved much with the institute process in Aotearoa, and will carry forward these insights as we move towards the next levels of growth. Before we were as gardeners, each tending to our own plot. Now we are being called on to be as farmers, working systematically together on a larger scale to advance the intellectual, material, and spiritual progress of neighbourhoods, towns, cities, indeed, the entire nation. To connect with the hundreds of thousands of souls that this implies will require an increased number of coordinators that dedicate the bulk of their time to the training institute. While some of these coordinators will be able to support themselves financially, others will require the support of the National Fund.
With this vision in mind, we are compelled to share with you the current state of the National Fund. With half the financial year complete, contributions to the Fund currently stand at $441,800, a decrease of 14% on the same period last year. Meanwhile, costs have risen to $576,800, an increase of 12% on the same period last year. A significant proportion of this increase supports friends who are giving service with a great degree of sacrifice in order to propel the institute forward. The National Spiritual Assembly has undertaken a detailed review of the current committed and budgeted expenses. And while some small cost saving adjustments have been made to administration costs, any further reduction will impact on the growth of our community. This is something the National Assembly is loath to do.
In terms of our assets, the investment in the facility for the Centre for Learning, Te Whare Akoranga Bahá’í, as well as other property investments for the future National Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, have increased the book value of our assets from $5.2 million to $8.46 million in a span of 8 years. While these investments are of significant value to our current and future community, they have exhausted reserves held by the National Fund. Our non-earmarked cash on hand is now depleted.
The National Spiritual Assembly, conscious that the growth of the Faith is in part dependent on material means, asks every member of the Faith to consider afresh how they can arise and support the National Fund at this time. Our budget of $1.4 million is not an aspirational target, it is the minimum amount needed to fund the growth of our Faith for this year. Contributions over this amount are an investment in our Faith’s growth within and beyond the Nine Year Plan. And when considering the support of the National Fund, we ask that commitments to the other Funds are not compromised to do so.
“The habit of regularly giving to the Funds of the Faith—including in-kind contributions particularly in certain places—arises from and reinforces a sense of personal concern for the welfare of the community and the progress of the Cause. The duty to contribute, just like the duty to teach, is a fundamental aspect of Bahá’í identity which strengthens faith... And ultimately, voluntary giving fosters an awareness that managing one’s financial affairs in accordance with spiritual principles is an indispensable dimension of a life lived coherently. It is a matter of conscience, a way in which commitment to the betterment of the world is translated into practice.”[3]
Although the needs of the Fund are urgent at the moment, the National Assembly knows that the New Zealand Bahá'í community is more than capable of responding to this call. More important than the fact that we live in a wealthy nation is the truth that our community has distinguished itself time and again with its selfless dedication and resourcefulness. We continue to hold you all in our prayers.
Arohanui,
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Aotearoa New Zealand
For a downloadable version of this letter on official letterhead, please clink on the button below:
Ways to give:
Te Puna Ora: https://tepunaora.bahai.org.nz/
Direct Debit: 03-0146-0044444-00 National Spiritual Assembly
Cash at Local Feasts
Contact of National Treasury team for further assistance: treasury@bahai.org.nz
Footnotes:
[1] The Universal House of Justice, message to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, 30 December 2021
[2] The Universal House of Justice, message to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, 28 December 2010
[3] The Universal House of Justice, message to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, 29 December 2015
