Lights of Fortitude - The Hands of the Cause with Barron and Nancy Harper

“Lights of Fortitude - An Introduction to the Hands of the Cause of God” will be presented by Barron and Nancy Lee Harper, with guest lecturer Dr. Boris Handal. This is the sequence in which the Hands of the Cause will be presented: Haji Akhund, Ibn-i-Asdaq, Ibn-i-Abhar, Adib; then a survey of all the Hands of the Cause; then the Hands who were martyrs - Ali-Muhammad Varqa, Ishmu’llah Asdaq, Keith Ransom-Kehler, presented by guest lecturer, Dr. Boris Handal; then the Hands who were Trustees of the Huququ’llah - Haji Amin, Valiyu’llah Varqa, ‘Ali-Muhammad Varqa; the Spiritual Conquerors - Musa Banani, Abu’l-Qasim Faizi, John Henry Hyde Dunn; Hands of African heritage - Enoch Olinga, Louis Gregory, John Robarts; Secretaries of National Spiritual Assemblies - Horace Holley, ‘Ali-Akbar Furutan, John Ferraby.

Remote guest lecturer, Dr. Boris Handal will speak to the attendees on Saturday afternoon, by private, pre-recorded lecture on zoom. Dr. Boris Handal is a Professor of Education at the University of Notre Dame in Sydney, Australia. His publications comprise over 100 conference and journal papers, books and book chapters published in Australia, the United States of America, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Dr. Handal has also published several books in the field of 19th Century Persian history and culture. For more information about his publications in English, Persian and Spanish: https://bahaipedia.org/Boris_Handal

Barron Harper (M.S. in accounting from the University of North Texas) is a US International Tax Consultant with clients in more than 20 countries. A Baha’i since 1967, he has served on local and national Baha’i institutions in the United States, Argentina and Portugal, and has written two Baha’i books:

Lights of Fortitude (George Ronald Press, 1997) (revised) which can be ordered online:

https://www.bahaibookstore.com/Lights-of-Fortitude-Revised-P9042

Unfurling the Divine Standard (Baha’i Publications Australia, 2022) which can also be ordered online:

https://www.amazon.com/Unfurling-Divine-Standard-Baron-Harper/dp/1925320111

Lights of Fortitude is a unique collection of pen portraits of each of the 50 Hands of the Cause of God, the “Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Commonwealth”. The first Hands of the Cause of God were appointed by Bahá’u’lláh. They were given various responsibilities, particularly the protection and propagation of His Faith. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in Memorials of the Faithful, referred to other believers as Hands of the Cause and in His Will and Testament included a provision calling upon the Guardian of the Faith to appoint Hands of the Cause. Shoghi Effendi named a number of believers Hands of the Cause after their passing. In the last years of his ministry he raised 32 women and men from all continents to this rank. Drawn from many sources, including accounts by Hands themselves, these brief essays provide a fascinating insight into the lives of this small band of individuals, whose rank is unparalleled in religious history and who, in the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “have diffused widely the Divine Fragrances, declared His Proofs, proclaimed His Faith, published abroad His Law, detached themselves from all things but Him, stood for righteousness in this world, and kindled the Fire of the Love of God in the very hearts and souls of His servants.”

Unfurling the Divine Standard is a book of vignettes about the lives of the Hands of the Cause of God which unfold their exemplary the divine standard of service and sacrifice. Bahá’u’lláh named the first four Hands of the Cause, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá referred to four outstanding believers posthumously as Hands of the Cause; thus, rounding the total known appointees to 50. The Hands were praised by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as “...such blessed souls that the evidence of their sanctity and spirituality will be felt in the hearts of people.” And “that people may turn their faces towards them for their qualities and resplendent signs.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha cited in Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha’u’llah, Vol. II, Chapter 19) In challenging the Bahá’ís to manifest the one thing that would assure the triumph of the Faith of God, the beloved Guardian Shoghi Effendi appointed 42 of these blessed souls who through their dynamic force of their example would unfurl the divine standard of Bahá’u’lláh. The Guardian wrote that this one thing rested on “...the extent to which their own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendour of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.” (Shoghi Effendi, Baha’i Administration, p. 66)

This weekend program will conclude with a short solo concert performed by Nancy Lee Harper, dedicated to Hand of the Cause of God William Bernard Sears (March 28, 1911 – March 25, 1992), who was interned in Tucson, Arizona, near the Desert Rose Baha’i School.

Nancy Lee Harper became a Bahá’í in Austin, Texas, in 1969. Since then, she pioneered to Argentina (1975-1977) with her husband Barron Harper and with their children and later to Portugal (1992-2013). Retiring from the Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal, where she was head of Piano, she now lives near family in Victoria, B.C., Canada. Professionally, Nancy is a classical pianist and educator who has performed and taught on 4 continents and in 29 countries, including at the Juilliard School and Eastman School of Music. Her music may be heard on YouTube, iTunes, Apple Music, SoundCloud, 9starmedia, and Spotify. Dr. Harper is also author of more than 250 articles, translated into six languages, and several books on such topics as Iberian music, Piano Pedagogy, Music; Medicine, and Bahá’í academics (Wilmette Institute; e*lix*ir, www.bahaiteachings.org). She is listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who and American Keyboard Artists and was nominated for the Samii-Houseinpour “Excellence in the Arts” Prize (Belgium, 2006). She is completing a biography of Hand of the Cause Amelia Collins and preparing new recordings, one by the British Bahá’í composer, Malcolm Dedman (Toccata Classics). For more information, please see www.nancyleeharper.com.

Friday, March 28

- 6:00-7:00 PM - Dinner, orientation

- 7:00-9:00 PM – Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God; Early Appointees - Haji Akhund, Ibn-i-Asdaq, Ibn-i-Abhar, Adib

Saturday, March 29

- 6:30 - 7:00 AM - Prayer and meditation at sunrise

- 7:00 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

- 9:00 - 12:00 PM – Overview of all Hands of the Cause of God – with 15 minute break @ 10:30 AM

- 12:00 - 2:00 PM - Lunch and relaxation

- 2:00 - 4:30 PM – Martyrs in the Cause of God - ‘Ali-Muhammad Varqa, Ishmu’llah Asdaq, Keith Ransom-Kehler (presented by Dr. Boris Handal on pre-recorded zoom) - with 15 minute break @ 3:00 PM

- 4:30 - 5:30 PM – Trustees of the Huququ’llah - Haji Amin, Valiyu’llah Varqa, ‘Ali-Muhammad Varqa

- 6:00-7:00 PM - Dinner

- 7:00 - 9:00 PM - Fellowship

Sunday, March 30

- 6:30 - 7:00 AM - Prayer and meditation at sunrise

- 7:00 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

- 9:00 - 12:00 PM – Spiritual Conquerors - Musa Banani, Abu’l-Qasim Faizi, John Henry Hyde Dunn - with 15 minute break @

10:30 AM

- 12:00 - 2:00 PM - Lunch and relaxation

- 2:00 - 4:30 PM – Hands of African Heritage - Enoch Olinga, Louis Gregory, John Robarts - with 15 minute break @ 3:00 PM

- 4:30 - 5:30 PM – Secretaries of National Spiritual Assemblies - Horace Holley, Ali-Akbar Furutan, John Ferraby

- 6:00 - 7:00 PM - Dinner

- 7:00 - 8:00 PM - Short piano recital by Nancy Lee Harper dedicated to Hand of the Cause of God William Bernard Sears (March 28, 1911 – March 25, 1992), who was interned in Tucson, Arizona, near the Desert Rose Baha’i School

-8:00 - 9:00 PM - Fellowship

* Early Departure can be arranged after lunch or after dinner

Monday, March 31 (optional)

- 6:30 - 7:00 AM - Prayer and meditation at sunrise

- 7:00 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

- 9:00 - 11:30 AM - Departure

Our winter and spring retreats at Desert Rose focus on the in-depth study of core spiritual literature and historical texts. Set in the serene desert environment of Arizona, we enjoy a perfect winter retreat environment. These programs provide a perfect opportunity for reflection, learning, and community engagement.

Attendees are required to register in advance, with fees covering all sessions, meals, and materials. Specific prerequisites for participation and a list of materials to be studied will be provided upon registration.

Registration includes accommodations in our dormitory. If you would prefer an apartment, these can be booked separately using the link . Apartments fill up quickly and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so book quickly.

If apartments are full and you prefer not to stay in the dormitory, here is a list of nearby hotels.

Alternatively, we have boondocking-style RV parking for guests and volunteers at $12/day. These have no power or hookups, just a water and dump station.

Transportation:

DRBI does not yet own a shuttle van but numerous shuttle and Uber options exist from the Phoenix airport only 45 minutes away.

Donations:

Support for our programs is greatly appreciated, and additional donations can be made to help us continue offering these enriching experiences.

Host or Publisher Desert Rose Baha'i Institute & Firm-Foundation Academy