• All Faiths Public Gathering for Prayer and Devotions – October 4, 12, 19 and 26
• Informational Talks — October 8 and 18
• Birth of the Báb – October 19

"O Man of Two Visions! Close one eye and open the other. Close one to the world and all that is therein, and open the other to the hallowed beauty of the Beloved..." 
                                                                                                                  ~Bahá'u'lláh

The purpose of the Oxnard-Ventura Bahá'í News is to provide information about the Bahá'í Faith and activities of the Bahá'í's to those who wish to learn more or attend Bahá'í devotional gatherings. If you have comments or do not want to receive the Bahá'í News, write PO Box 7344, Oxnard, CA 93031, call 648-1222. No donations requested or accepted.

Informational Talks
A brief talk on a general topic about the Bahá'í Faith is followed by discussion. A time to bring up any question in your heart about spiritual topics.

Wednesday, October 8th, 7:30 p.m.
           Tuman Residence, 984-1222

Saturday, October 18th, 7:30 p.m.
 Wes Tayborn will present a Bahá'í perspective on "War and Peace"
           Quick Residence, 659-4660

The Birth of the Báb

The birth of a central figure in the beginnings of the Bahá'í Faith will be celebrated on October 19 in Camarillo. Mirza Ali-Muhammad, a merchant, was born in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), October 20, 1819. In 1844, he announced he was the founder of an independent religion and the herald of an even greater religion to come. He took the name "The Báb" which means the "Gate" in Persian and his followers were known as Bábís. Later, a Bábí leader known as Bahá'u'lláh would announce in 1863 that he was the messenger promised by the Báb. Followers of Bahá'u'lláh are known as Bahá'í's.

Sunday, October 19th, 7:30 p.m. Library Community Room, 3100 Ponderosa Drive, Camarillo. For additional event information call 653-6011.

All Faiths Public Gathering for Prayer and Devotions

Fillmore CommUnity
1st Saturday of the Month, October 4th. Call Luanne at 524-0683 for details

Ventura CommUnity
2nd Sunday of the Month, October 12th. 10:00-1100am

In the Topping Room, EP Foster Library, 651 E. Main St., Downtown Ventura. Enter from the front at the West end.

Camarillo CommUnity
3rd Sunday of the Month, October  19th. Call Renee at 383-3904 for details

Oxnard CommUnity
4th Sunday of the Month, October 26th. 10:30 AM. Locations may vary. Call Barbara at 984-4390

The Bahá'í Faith:  A brief History, Part III

In the last years of His life, restrictions in Acre relaxed enough to allow Bahá’u’lláh to rent a home in the countryside, where He continued to reveal His Teachings and meet with visitors until His passing in 1892. In His Will, Bahá’u’lláh appointed His eldest Son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ("Servant of Bahá"), as Leader of the Bahá’í community and authorized Interpreter of the Bahá’í Writings. In doing so, Bahá’u’lláh became the only Manifestation of God to leave written instructions about the future of His Faith, thereby protecting the Bahá’í Faith from schism.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi assisted the worldwide Bahá’í community in building local and national administrative bodies.

The Universal House of Justice continues this guidance today. In every city where nine or more adult Bahá'í's reside, a Local Spiritual Assembly is elected annually to direct local activities.

Abdu’l-Bahá, widely respected for His loving service to the Bahá'í's and to the larger community of Acre, guided the Bahá'í's until His passing in 1921. His appointed successor was Shoghi Effendi, His grandson, who served the Faith as Guardian until his death in 1956. The Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Faith, was elected in 1963. This nine-member institution is reelected every five years. Each country elects a similar body, known as the National Spiritual Assembly.

Today Bahá'í's are found in 236 countries and territories, and National Spiritual Assemblies number 182. Bahá'í's around the globe are engaged in social and humanitarian service projects, striving to put the Bahá’í Teachings into action that benefits humanity. Bahá'í's also endeavor to create a warm and welcoming community life with devotional meetings, study classes for children and adults, and fellowship that celebrates unity in diversity.

To learn more about the Bahá’í Faith, contact the Bahá’í House of Worship or the Bahá’í community in your area [link to Contact page]. Further information is also available at www.us.bahai.org and www.bahai.org. To order Bahá’í books, magazines, or videos, call the Bahá’í Distribution Service at 1-800-999-9019 or email bds@usbnc.org for more details.