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Seeker Response for Local Responders

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Agenda

  • Devotions
  • Goals for today
  • Who are the “seekers”?
  • How do they come to us?
  • Best practices for connecting and nurturing seekers

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Introduction

An act, however infinitesimal, is, when viewed in the mirror of the knowledge of God, mightier than a mountain. Every drop proffered in His path is as the sea in that mirror. 

-Bahá’u’lláh, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 4

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Who are these seekers? Gifts from the Concourse!

In August over 95 % of the Heartland seekers came through

Baha’i Teachings or Bahai.us.

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A tour of Bahá’í Teachings and Bahai.us where most of our seekers start

  • https://bahaiteachings.org/

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  • https://www.bahai.us/

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Seeker impact

Your ability to communicate effectively will leave a lasting impact on your seeker, even if she never responds to you

Effectively communicating involves not only delivering a message but also resonating with the experiences, values, and emotions of those listening. We need to be focused. 

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Engaging the seekers 1

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Our friend Linda/Wisconsin Seeker Coordinator designed this:

Joyous news! You have a chance to welcome a precious soul sent from the Concourse. Please move swiftly to reach out to them today. Below is their contact information and our current best practices for Cluster Responders serving at the local level.

We ask that you make 4 attempts starting with a text, then a call, and emails over the next 12 days to reach and be of service to the soul you will welcome. Please let me know right away when you have sent your first outreach, as well as when you send the follow-up outreaches.

Keep in mind that not everyone who requests contact will respond to your efforts, but they will be left with a loving, friendly interaction. When the time is right, they will contact us again. Remember what Abdu’l-Baha said, "Kam Kam Rooz Be Rooz" – “little by little, day by day” we strive to serve humanity.

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Engaging the seekers 2

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STEP #1 - Keep this person in your prayers. Their inquiry likely came from one of these sources:

 

STEP #2 - Remember people contact us for many different reasons. Some common reasons:

  • They are writing a research paper.
  • They are from the TV or Newspapers (Please refer these calls to your State Coordinator)
  • A family member became a Baha’i, and they want to understand their beliefs.
  • They are looking for like-minded individuals to work with in their community. (Remember we are working with friends and neighbors to build community)
  • They are on a spiritual journey.
  • They want spiritual education for their child. (Although you may not have children’s classes in your community, take their info and call your state responder.)

 

STEP #3 – Text first within 24 hrs, if they gave a phone number If not, start with step #5. An example text is below:

“Thank you for contacting the Baha’is. I am a volunteer living in the area. Would you like to communicate by text, e-mail, phone or meet for coffee? Please let me know. Linda

Current Best Practices for Cluster Responders (from data analysis)

STEP #1 - Keep this person in your prayers. All seekers and registrant get an automated ”Welcome” from the system.

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Engaging the seekers 3

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STEP #2 – Text first within 24 hrs, if possible. An example is below:

“Thank you for contacting the Baha’is. I am a volunteer living in the area. Would you like to communicate by text, e-mail, phone or meet for coffee? Please let me know. Would you like me to send you some mailed materials?

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. Most initial connections need to remain short, especially text or email. For email communications, instead of statements in the emails, use questions to inspire a response.�

 

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Engaging the Seekers 4

  • Connecting to ongoing interest- Focus on “seeking to understand” and building rapport. Use their preferred mode of communication for conversations and offer to meet in a public place. Please plan to bring a friend with you for safety. If you have a small prayer book or brochure to share that is even better. Some good places to meet are:
    • Libraries
    • Coffee shops
    • Parks

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Engaging the seekers 5

  • ● We need to treat each person like a 911 call every time and be like a first responder, showering love and taking the time to communicate when we have a listening ear. People are hurting.�● The most important thing to do is to listen, to ‘feed’ them what they need, ask them about their spiritual journey, or ask them “can you share something about the Baha’i Faith that resonated with you?”. This can help them engage so it isn’t a one-way conversation.
  • Also, people wish to be of service, ask them how they’d like to connect with various paths of service. Reach out to them more than once.�

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Final tips & takeaways

Report your outreach efforts back to your SRS Coordinator, so the seeker’s records can be updated, and the Council and National Spiritual Assembly can see what is happening on the ground. Please include details such as “texted and followed up with an email”.

Your reporting to SRS ends when a seeker in involved in Core Activities and is being accompanied by the local community.

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Thank you

Heartland Seeker Response Coordinators

Regional Coordinator: Mary Hansen

Sub-Regional Coordinators: IL- Bob Blecher/Northern and Pej Clark/So.Central; MN- Susan Andreini and Vicki Morrison Goble; WI-Linda Somerhalder and Kathryn Brown

Cluster Coordinators:

Chicago, IL: Milton Lucy, Roya Ayman; Rowshan Ma’ani and Brian Taylor.

Aurora, IL: Jim Percic

Madison, WI: Lisa Kelly

Waukesha & Watertown WI: Sarah Weiss Johnson

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