Baha’is believe in the power of prayer and you’ll find Baha’is and their friends, throughout the world, getting together to pray. This is often referred to as a ‘devotional gathering’ or ‘devotional meeting’, and they happen in diverse settings, whether in cities or villages.
Corbin Doak has created a plethora of resources for anyone to use. They include fliers and invitations, posters and much more. But I’m getting ahead of myself! Corbin has graciously agreed to tell us about his website, Bahai-ideas.site, what it offers and how it came to be. Here’s our conversation:
Baha’i Blog: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Corbin Doak. I am a husband, father, graphic and website designer, and a Baha’i. I was born in the state of Maine and pioneered with my family to the Island of Kauai when I was 13 years old. I pioneered in Asia for 11 years. While there I met my wife and started a family. About 5 years ago we decided to move to Hawaii. We now live on the beautiful Hawaii Island.
Baha’i Blog: Can you tell us a little about your website and the resources found on it?
Bahai-ideas.site is a place to find free professionally designed resources for your Baha’i activities. Some of the designs are customizable and some are ready-made. On the site, you will find fliers, invitations, Writings for Nineteen Day Feasts, voice-overs, social media posts, and Google Slides. We have Google Slides made for devotionals, children’s classes, study circles, and Feasts. These slides can help you to continue your core activities virtually.
Baha’i Blog: What inspired you to create these resources?
Designer Corbin Doak
Being a graphic designer, I wanted to use my skills to help others with their activities. Because of this, I started the site. I wanted to provide a place where people could edit a flyer or invitation that looked professional. The site grew to offer Google slides as a way to help with virtual gatherings when we were asked by the Universal House of Justice to adapt our efforts to the current situation. It is hoped that these resources not only help people to move forward in their efforts but also inspire them to think of new ways of spreading the healing message of Bahaʼu’llah.
Baha’i Blog: What’s something that you learned while working on this project?
This project has brought a number of challenges which of course has brought me a plethora of learning opportunities. One area of growth has been a greater understanding of how all the core activities are linked together in helping us to create a better community, and being able to continue these vital activities during this pandemic is crucial.
Baha’i Blog: Where can we find your resources?
Our website is https://bahai-ideas.site. You can find all our resources there as well as a training page to help you use them. While there you can join our email list to be kept up to date on our latest resources. You can also connect with us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/bahaiideassite. I look forward to helping you to move forward in your teaching efforts.
Baha’i Blog: Thank you, Corbin! To find out more about Corbin’s resources, please visit https://bahai-ideas.site/
In her innermost heart, Sonjel is a stay-at-home parent and a bookworm with a maxed out library card but professionally she is a museologist with a background in English Literature. She currently lives on Prince Edward Island, an isle in the shape of a smile on the eastern Canadian coast. Sonjel is a writer who loves to listen to jazz when she's driving at night.
May my asperation is to be a more effective teacher on Zoom and in small personal groups to enhanced learning e.g. a picture is worth a thousand words. How can your bright ideas add quality to my desire to Teach more powerfully the Baha’i Faith’s brilliant and spiritual principles to others?
Furthermore, where can I get step by step training as a Baha’i member to effectively teach during this pandemic to more poignantly address the Baha’i Founder’s Holy Writings of Baha’u’llah and the Ruhi Book’s lesions by adding visual content to presentations?
Thank you for your comments and for your very thoughtful questions! I think the best place to ask your questions may be your local Baha’i community or perhaps the community closest to you as they will best understand the reality of where you live and the friends you are striving to teach. As an individual initiative, the team at Baha’i Blog loves to highlight the work of Baha’i authors, musicians and creatives like Corbin but we can’t answer questions as important and personal as the ones you raise. You may wish to reach out to your closest Local Spiritual Assembly or Area Teaching Committee. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
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May my asperation is to be a more effective teacher on Zoom and in small personal groups to enhanced learning e.g. a picture is worth a thousand words. How can your bright ideas add quality to my desire to Teach more powerfully the Baha’i Faith’s brilliant and spiritual principles to others?
Charles Wilson (August 8, 2021 at 1:45 PM)
Furthermore, where can I get step by step training as a Baha’i member to effectively teach during this pandemic to more poignantly address the Baha’i Founder’s Holy Writings of Baha’u’llah and the Ruhi Book’s lesions by adding visual content to presentations?
Charles Wilson (August 8, 2021 at 2:07 PM)
Hi Charles,
Thank you for your comments and for your very thoughtful questions! I think the best place to ask your questions may be your local Baha’i community or perhaps the community closest to you as they will best understand the reality of where you live and the friends you are striving to teach. As an individual initiative, the team at Baha’i Blog loves to highlight the work of Baha’i authors, musicians and creatives like Corbin but we can’t answer questions as important and personal as the ones you raise. You may wish to reach out to your closest Local Spiritual Assembly or Area Teaching Committee. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
love,
Sonjel
Sonjel Vreeland (August 8, 2021 at 11:28 PM)