Over the years, hundreds of the devoted believers from various part of India and numerous other countries had the privilege to serve at the House of Worship and they offered their selfless service in various capacities, especially as volunteer guides. However, during the recent years, the volunteer needs at the House of Worship have been changing owing to the evolving demands and it requires services of the believers in several other areas which includes the following:
Visitors’ Desk & Interaction
The volunteers serving in this area are called ‘guides’. The beloved Guardian explained that “The essential requisite of guides is that they should know the Temple and the teachings so as to be able to answer questions and attract the hearts of the people through their spirit as well as their words. It is a very important position as it often marks the very first contact of a person with the Faith and on it may hinge that individual’s future attitude towards the Cause”.
He emphasized that “the work which the Bahá’í guides at the Temple are called upon to undertake is truly difficult and delicate, and requires such combination of qualities as sound knowledge of the teachings, ability, tact and wisdom for their adequate and effective presentation…” The beloved Guardian stated that the guides “…should, in all their contacts with visitors, maintain full dignity of the Cause, and provide the inquirers with accurate information regarding the faith, stress the universal aspects of the teachings such as world unity, and its various implications”.
Keeping the above guidelines in view, the volunteers are deputed at several places in the House of Worship where they have ample opportunity to interact with the visitors. They have the opportunity to welcome the visitors, request them to maintain silence inside the prayer hall, and to offer prayers if they wished to.
Care and Maintenance
“Be ye the very essence of cleanliness amongst mankind. This, truly, is what your Lord, the Incomparable, the All-Wise, desireth for you”. – Bahá’u’lláh
Though Care and Maintenance is a support service in the House of Worship, it is nonetheless quite vital. The volunteers serving in this area play an essential role to maintain the sacred edifice to uphold its beauty, cleanliness and sanctified character. They assist to maintain the cleanliness of the premises of House of Worship which includes the prayer hall, information and education centre, and all other areas. They are responsible to ensure the cleanliness of the dormitories, equipment used for maintenance and cleaning, and all other related items.
Maintenance is an important support service at the House of Worship. The friends desiring to serve in this area should preferably have a technical mind and the required skills. They are expected to have the basic knowledge about plumbing, carpentry, polishing, electricity, water recycling plants, functioning and safety aspect of machines, facility management and general repair and maintenance works.
Security
“…rectitude of conduct, with its implications of justice, equity, truthfulness, honesty, fair-mindedness, reliability, and trustworthiness, must distinguish every phase of the life of the Bahá’í community. ‘The companions of God’, Baha’u’llah Himself has declared, are, in this day, the lump that must leaven the peoples of the world. They must show forth such trustworthiness, such truthfulness and perseverance, such deeds and character that all mankind may profit by their example”.
– Shoghi Effendi
Security is a crucial area of service at the House of Worship. The volunteers serving in this area are responsible for the security and protection of the premises of House of Worship and this includes ensuring the safety and security of the temple staff and volunteers, as well as the visitors. They are expected to have a high presence of mind, remain vigilant by regular patrolling, and maintain good rapport with the police and other authorities in case of any eventualities.
The volunteers serving in this area are expected to function in a manner that is compatible with the Bahá’í teachings. While interacting with the visitors, handling the crowd, and even the trespassers, they are required to be highly respectful considering the underlying principles of the Faith.
Gardens
“Nature in its essence is the embodiment of My Name, the Maker, the Creator. Its manifestations are diversified by varying causes, and in this diversity there are signs for men of discernment. Nature is God’s Will and is its expression in and through the contingent world…” Baha’u’llah
The Bahá’ís believe that the nature represents the sacred. It is to be valued and respected which is fundamental to the Bahá’í belief. The friends serving in this area are responsible to maintain the cleanliness and beauty of the gardens and the surrounding areas of the House of Worship. The volunteers serving in the gardens are expected to have general understanding or skill about plant care, pest control, horticulture, lawn mowing and weeding, watering and planting of new flowers, nursery operations and all tasks related to garden and its beautification.
Administration & IT Support
“O God, my God! I implore Thee with a throbbing heart and streaming tears to aid whosoever expendeth his energy for… this House… O God! Send down Thy divine increase on whosoever endeavoureth to serve this edifice…” -Abdu’l-Baha
The believers desiring to serve in administration are expected to have the basic knowledge of English an d Hindi in order to be able to draft introductory letters, make and receive telephone calls, read documents, make reports, and perform all related tasks in the front office.
The friends desiring to support in IT area are expected to have a basic knowledge of computers and networking (both software and hardware), troubleshooting, and all related tasks.
Kitchen
“O God, my God! I implore Thee with a throbbing heart and streaming tears to aid whosoever expendeth his energy for… this House… O God! Send down Thy divine increase on whosoever endeavoureth to serve this edifice…” -Abdu’l-Baha
The friends serving in the kitchen are responsible to plan and prepare the food and refreshments for the volunteers serving at the House of Worship in a clean and hygienic manner. They are responsible to maintain the cleanliness of the kitchen, the utensils, cooking equipment and preserve all the items in an orderly manner. They are expected to have the basic knowledge of cooking, the nature of the fruits, vegetables and other food items suited to the various seasons of the year.