The Bahá'í Fund

Contribution to the Bahá'í Funds has characteristics
not found in other religions:

Bahá'ís should be practical and attend to their material needs,
yet not to forget that the major emphasis in all the Holy Writings and
in fact the whole purpose of our lives is to draw closer to the All-Mighty
and to forsake the material excess for the spiritual well-being
which in turn positively affects our material lives.

Even though at first contributing may seem to be a financial matter,
yet it involves a spiritual process. It is a voluntary act of love
and devotion. Only the Bahá'ís have the opportunity to participate
in this spiritual obligation and partake of its spiritual benefits.

We need to recognise that for any activity to take place, financial means
are needed. We should be sensitive to the needs of the time and through
this opportunity prove our sincerity and will to support the institutions
of the Faith.

Contributing is a private matter between the individual and God.
Only if the individual desires, the treasurer may know about
the contribution for the purpose of writing receipts.

The amount of the contribution is not as important as the
spirit of love, happiness and sacrifice in which the contribution is offered.
Contributing should also be on a regular basis, since the
continuity of various activities depend on the availability of funds.

In the Bahá'í Faith the contributions are spent
for the affairs of the religion and the community itself,
without any individual benefitting from them.

The best time to contribute is during the Nineteen Day Feast meetings,
which each Bahá'í is supposed to attend. However, if unable
to participate, one can contribute by mailing their checks to the assembly's
address, payable to the community's Bahá'í Fund. If you do not specify a particular
Fund, your contribution will go to the Local Fund which in turn feeds other Bahá'í Funds.

From the Holy Writings

"... To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine;
well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues."
(The Persian Hidden Words, No. 49):

"... God does not ask from any soul except
according to his ability. This contribution
must come from all cities and villages from the believers of God...
Whosoever comes with one good act, God will give him tenfold.
There is no doubt that the living Lord shall assist and confirm
the generous soul."
(Star of the West, Vol. 6, No. 17, P.139)

"... The more one can give the better it is,
specially when such offerings necessitate the sacrifice
of other wants and desires on the part of the donor.
The harder the sacrifice the more meritorious will it be, of course,
in the sight of God. For after all it is not so much the quantity
of one's offerings that matters, but rather the measure of deprivation
that such offerings entail..."
(Letter, December 31, 1935)

"... Every Bahá'í, no matter how poor, must realize
what a grave responsibility he has to shoulder in this connection,
and should have confidence that his spiritual progress as a believer in
the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh will largely depend upon the measure in which
he proves, in deeds, his readiness to support materially the Divine institutions
of his Faith."
(Letter, 1937)

"... Contributing to the Fund is a service that every believer
can render, be he poor or wealthy;
for this is a spiritual responsibility in which the amount given
is not important. It is the degree of the sacrifice of the giver,
the love with which he makes his gift, and the unity of all the friends
in this service which bring spiritual confirmation..."
(Letter, December 18, 1963)

Various Bahá'í Funds

Used for general purposes, and activities in Augusta;
also money may be transferred to other Funds as needed.

Used for general purposes and activities in the
country, at the discretion of the National Spiritual Assembly.
It also feeds other national and international funds.

Used for general purposes and activities in the
world and at the Bahá'í World Centre, at the discretion of the
Universal House of Justice.

Used for the construction of the buildings
around the Arc at the Bahá'í World Centre.

Used for the TV program or the other use of media
(newspaper, radio spots, etc.) for the purpose of teaching the Faith.

Used for gathering funds for purchasing or building
a Bahá'í center in the Augusta - CSRA area.

Used for the expenses of individuals who devote their time
on a full time bases for teaching the Faith abroad, locally or nationally.

"O friends!
Be not careless of the virtues with which ye have been endowed,
neither be neglectful of your high destiny...
Ye are the stars of the heaven of understanding,
the breeze that stirreth at the break of day,
the soft-flowing waters upon which must depend the very life of all men,
the letters inscribed upon His sacered scroll...
Beware lest anything withhold you from observing the
things prescribed unto you by the Pen of Glory..."

Bahá'u'lláh

Riaz Rassekh, Treasurer
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Augusta
P.O.Box 14031
Augusta, GA 30919

Robert Perry, Treasurer
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Columbia County
926 Forest Dr.
Harlem, GA 30814

Michael Jamir, Treasurer
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of North Augusta
Grove Apts. #1
North Augusta, SC 29841