In Service to the Common Good: Bahá’í Youth in Their Own Words
“…is there any deed in the world that would be nobler than service to the common good?”
~ ’Abdu’l-Bahá
When asked to choose from a list of goals for their lives in the future, nine out of ten young Bahá’ís say “doing service.”

1 They say they want to “make a difference in the world,” and to dedicate themselves to education, good health, having strong friendships and a “close relationship with God.” Nearly 60 percent of those responding said they have done or plan to do a year of service, a program for young people administered in the United States by agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, and one which operates domestically and internationally.
“Helping others” is a big part of the definition of service to these young people, and the world seems to call for their involvement in many different areas. One group of youth produced a list of concerns about society that included “poverty, racism, environmental destruction, extremes of wealth and poverty, religious fanaticism, closed-mindedness, war, terrorism and the need for world peace, AIDS and other diseases, and putting into action the equality of men and women.”
Bahá’í youth see in these concerns a summons to action and a framework for their preparation for service: More than 60 percent say they hope to choose, or have already chosen, a field of study that fits with their Bahá’í beliefs.
Why are young Bahá’ís so adamant about service? Partly it is because young people tend to be concerned about others, and about society and its challenges: In his 2001 study, Real Teens, George Barna, a
well-known Christian researcher, found that 62 percent of his respondents listed “how much the church is involved in helping poor and disadvantaged people” as an important feature of the congregation they would choose after leaving home. This involvement serves as a good practical measure of the “heart” of the congregation, Barna says, and of the community that develops within it.

Service—At the Core of Bahá’í Teachings

Service is also part of the basic teachings of the Bahá’í Faith.
Bahá’í youth consistently reference passages on this subject that can be found in the Bahá’í writings: “Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements,” is one example.

“All effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship,” says ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, son of Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith,

“if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer.” “Service to humanity is service to God.” “Undoubtedly,” the Universal House of Justice tells Bahá’í youth, “it is within your power to contribute significantly to shaping the societies of the coming century; youth can move the world.”
Such statements, reinforced by their own observations, have created a sense among many young Bahá’ís that constructive change in society is not only necessary but possible:

“Now Is the Time for Service”
One young woman, reflecting on her service, writes: “My inspiration to serve is the principle of the oneness of humanity promoted by the Bahá’í writings. I believe that everything I strive to do should be toward the physical manifestation of this spiritual principle.” It is in the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that we find these words: “Now is the time for service, and for servitude unto the Lord….Therefore must the friends of God engender that tenderness which cometh from Heaven, and bestow love in the spirit upon all humankind. With every soul must they deal according to the Divine counselings and admonitions; to all must they show forth kindness and good faith; to all must they wish well. They must sacrifice themselves for their friends, and wish good fortune to their foes. They must comfort the ill-natured, and treat their oppressors with loving-kindness. They must be as refreshing water to the thirsty, and to the sick, a swift remedy, a healing balm to those in pain and a solace to every burdened heart.”

What Can Adults Do to Help Their Youth?

• Listen and consult: the world of youth is different from the adult world, full of complexities and tensions, and it needs to be understood on its own terms
• Concentrate on the positive qualities in young people
• Find creative activities that are appropriate for each age and stage of youths’ development, and that are worthy of youths’ attention and energy
• Surrender the instinct to control things; instead, bring mature wisdom to the situation to reduce risks and allow young people to develop competencies
• Encourage and support service programs of all kinds; they help youth cultivate their talents and capacities
• Pray for young people by name, every day.