Five
Year Plan |
June 28 (Day 1)
| June 29 (Day 2) | June
30 (Day 3) | July 1 (Day 4)
“A Joyful Celebration”
Thursday, June 28, 2001—Day 1
Anticipation
built as members of the Conference Choir took the stage before 8,000
Bahá’ís and their friends. The lights dimmed in U.S.
Cellular Arena, and the musics of Native America, North America and
Africa joined in mystical welcoming. Then as the nine members of the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the
United States—the hosts of those 8,000 in the audience—took
the stage, the applause was a rush of warmth and appreciation. It was
the opening session of “Building the Kingdom for Every Man Woman,
Youth and Child,” the Bahá’í National Conference
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 28, 2001.
“This is a family gathering,” said William Davis,
Assembly chair. Two more particularly beloved members of the Bahá’í
world family joined them on stage: Peter Khan, a member of the world
governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, and Eugene Andrews,
one of several Counselors whose mission is contributing to the spiritual
upliftment of all the Americas. But after Davis’ brief speech came
more reminders, in music and drama, that this family is world-embracing.
An array of youngsters, ages 3 to 14, took turns reciting
scriptures, poetry and even the philosophical musings of Ralph Kramden—then
captured a rousing ovation with their song “One World.” A
famed Lakota musician gave a very public hoop dancing lesson to a delighted
but unprepared dozen, who still caught the energy (and even a few of
the techniques). A drumming duet led to a chanted prayer in Persian,
a haunting blending of Chinese and American music led to a blurringly
fast ride on a Chinese viol, and the tropical rhythms of Colombia set
the stage for the massed choir to deliver a jubilant gospel message:
“It’s time to celebrate, it’s time for rejoicing!”
This dazzling welcome for the 8,000 from across the United
States and beyond brought out a joy befitting the business of the upcoming
weekend. As the audience chanted with Davis’ exhortation: “We
are building the Kingdom of God!”
