The Universal House of Justice
3 January 2009
To the Friends gathered at the Regional Conference in London
Our hearts are lifted up in joy as we contemplate the convocation of the followers of Baha'u'llah from Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom who have assembled on this momentous occasion, at a time of unimagined opportunity for the progress of the Cause.
You come together in a city uniquely blessed by the presence on its soil of the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi. He it was who inaugurated the prosecution of teaching plans to be derived from the Divine Plan conceived by 'Abdu'l-Baha, thereby harnessing the energy of the early standard-bearers of the Faith for a systematic implementation of the Master's vision. That same energy now animates the efforts you have made, with strategic intent, to create the conditions for sustained, accelerated growth in cluster after cluster, efforts that are yielding notable results. The scale of the progress made in each of your countries has been commensurate with the degree to which a necessary unity of thought and purpose has emerged among the institutions whose loving guidance has brought you to this point. It is appropriate, then, that the learning acquired by dint of your efforts to exploit the Five Year Plan's framework of action in so many clusters is now being systematically disseminated among believers from both your own national communities and neighbouring countries.
It is to the most advanced of the 20 clusters in your lands where the conditions for launching intensive programmes of growth have already been met that you must now look for lessons as you deliberate on how to move at least 6 more clusters to the stage where the criteria for initiating programmes of their own can be met by Ridvan 2009. Beyond this, you must press on swiftly with the many goals that remain. May each individual--whatever his or her involvement in the Plan heretofore--shoulder a share of this vital undertaking. Determine, at this propitious moment, not to be the least overawed by the challenge facing you, not to be deterred by the convulsions of a world order now in a state of inexorable decline, not to overlook the guarantee of divine assistance promised by Baha'u'llah to every believer who would champion His Cause. Can any misgivings remain that when the divine Message is presented with clarity and in a consecrated spirit receptive souls will be attracted to its truth? Banish all doubts and, as you apply your creative energies to the task before you, have every confidence that collectively you possess an admirable measure of experience in implementing the Plan's methods, approaches and instruments--the finest means for advancing the process of entry by troops. And be assured of our earnest entreaties in the Holy Shrines that Baha'u'llah may summon the angels of heaven to your aid.
[signed: The Universal House of Justice]
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