Recent Messages from the beloved Universal House of Justice
In the past ten days, the worldwide Bahá’í community has received two important messages from the beloved Supreme Institution, released for dissemination to the community without delay in view of their immediate relevance to the life and work of the global Bahá’í community as we reflect on the first phase of the Nine Year Plan (4 years) that will end at Ridván and prepare for the second (five year) final phase of this mighty Plan beginning at Ridván.
We are sharing these messages together here in downloadable PDF form, to support the friends in accessing, studying, and reflecting on guidance that speaks directly to the present moment and to the path unfolding before us.
31 December 2025, To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors
The first of these messages, dated 31 December 2025, was addressed to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and was received in the final minutes of the year (2025), following its delivery to those gathered for the Conference in the Holy Land. The House of Justice requested that this message be shared with all the friends without delay, and as such, it was shared with all Local Spiritual Assemblies in Aotearoa in the early hours of 1st January 2026. The Message reflects on the notable progress being made in the worldwide Bahá’í community’s collective efforts toward social betterment, while drawing attention to the urgent requirements of the work that lies ahead. The message notes the strengthening capacities now emerging in many places and acknowledges that growth is an organic process, sustained by learning, consultation, and the ability to read reality and respond with clarity of purpose.
4 January 2026, To the Bahá’ís of the World
Closely connected to this, a second message dated 4 January 2026, addressed to the Bahá’ís of the World, further extends this encouragement and direction to the entire community. Together, these two recent messages offer insight into the spirit animating Bahá’í activity globally, describing the growing sense of belonging, common endeavour, and mutual support taking shape in neighbourhoods and villages where progress is consolidating.
30 December 2021, To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors
Alongside these recent communications, we are also drawing attention once again to an earlier but highly significant message dated 30 December 2021, addressed to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, which sets out the vision and framework for the Nine Year Plan. This message continues to provide essential context for understanding the aims, methods, and learning processes that now shape Bahá’í efforts worldwide. Re-reading it in light of the more recent guidance can not only offer a valuable perspective on how the Plan’s objectives are unfolding in practice, but expand on many of the concepts referred to in the more recent messages. In other words, having a good understanding of this “charter” for the Nine Year Plan illuminates a deeper understanding of the 31 December 2025 message.
Friends are warmly encouraged to study all three messages, individually and collectively, as sources of insight, encouragement, and orientation for the years ahead. The official and most reliable place to access these and other key communications from the Universal House of Justice is the Bahá’í Reference Library, which is also a repository.of Holy Writings, and various important messages.
