Some 100 Bahá’ís attended the Midwestern Bahá’í Summer School at Louhelen Bahá’í Center of Learning July 26-29, 2024. Friends and families gathered for sessions focused on the theme of “Hope for the World”. People from nearby states and as far away as Prague, Czech Republic, participated.
The school began Friday night with devotions, music, family/art time, and socializing. Participants used the arts throughout the weekend to express themselves and convey Bahá’í principles.
Children and junior youth sessions were an integral part of the summer school and centered around “hope”, which was part of the summer school’s theme. Children and junior youth enjoyed singing, accompanied by singer-songwriter Cliff Buckosh on guitar.
Compared to last year, an increase in youth participation contributed energy and enthusiasm to the weekend activities. Youth ate, studied, and relaxed together while building new bonds of friendship.
Saturday morning, the plenary program was given by Robert Stockman on “Planning and the Plans”. He reviewed Bahá’u’lláh’s efforts to organize and plan the Faith’s growth, similar efforts by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, then focused on the Tablets of the Divine Plan. The friends heard stories of early Baha’is who rose up to respond to the call for sacrificial efforts. Family groups had an opportunity to begin consulting on their own response to the call of the Nine-Year Plan.
Each early afternoon was devoted to family time and the arts. On Saturday, in the late afternoon, the friends gathered again to focus on connecting with the Word of God and practiced home visits in small groups. The day culminated with a bonfire outside the classroom wing where people could roast marshmallows and make s’mores and enjoy outdoor play and games.
Sunday morning, David Douglas, delegate from western Michigan to the 2024 Bahai National Convention to elect the National Assembly, provided the plenary program. He spoke about race unity and how central it was to discussions at the Convention. He shared part of a speech by National Treasurer Robert C. Henderson about race unity, which the National Spiritual Assembly has called “the most vital and challenging issue we face as a country”, and the friends had the opportunity to consult in small groups about their home clusters.
Sunday afternoon again was dedicated to family time and to the arts, with devotions, music, and stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá before supper. There was a presentation from the Sylvania, Ohio Baha’is about their interfaith and partnership activities with the broader community in that area of Ohio. After supper, friends told additional stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and spoke about eloquent presentations. The evening concluded with an arts showcase.
Everyone headed home energized and ready to contribute to the goals of the Plan locally, both as individuals and as families, after spending several days together in the calming and and spiritually uplifting atmosphere of Louhelen.