It is not enough to bring people into the Faith, one must
educate them and deepen their love for it and their knowledge of its teachings,
after they declare themselves. As the Bahá'ís are few in number, especially the
active teachers, and there is a great deal of work to be done, the education of
these new believers is often sadly neglected, and then results are seen such as
the resignations you have had recently. In this respect, the summer schools can
be of the greatest help to the friends, new and old Bahá'ís alike, for in them
they can study, and enjoy the feeling of Bahá'í companionship which is, alas,
usually lacking in their home communities, owing to the smallness of their
numbers.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 18 July 1957 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; The Compilation of Compilations,
vol. I, Centers of Baha’i Learning)
