“Given the strenuous demands related to the expansion and consolidation of the Cause that are now before the Bahá’í community, the House of Justice feels that countries such as yours—that have well-established processes of growth and many believers with rich experience in the field of teaching and community building—have a special role to play in raising pioneers."

(From a letter dated 24 May 2022 from the Universal House of Justice to selected National Spiritual Assemblies)

In a letter dated 19 June 2022 from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand, it writes that “the House of Justice is confident that, in addition to ensuring the flow of pioneers on your home front, your community has the capacity to raise at least six pioneers from your advanced clusters to be dispatched to the Cook Islands, Czech Republic, and French Polynesia as early as possible in the first phase of the Nine Year Plan.”

"...pioneers are most effective when they have gained significant experience in wielding the instruments and methods of the global Plans and have developed the capabilities required to raise and support an expanding nucleus of individuals serving with intensity. Crucial among these is the ability “to foster unity of thought and to learn about effective action”. The capacity to serve as a tutor, engage youth and their families in the institute process, and accompany them as they arise to serve, is vital. However, individuals with the desire to pioneer—who have learned to sustain a core activity but who do not have experience serving as a tutor or assisting others to enter the field of service—can be provided with the opportunity to spend a cycle or two serving in a neighbourhood or village in a significantly advanced cluster before being deployed as a pioneer, in order to broaden their experience and build their capacity to assist others".

For more information, please email pioneering@bahai.org.nz