Transformation Learning Center (TLC)

“As Spiritual Assemblies are being asked by the Universal House of Justice to 'rise to a new stage in the exercise of their responsibilities as channels of divine guidance...', the St. Johns County Assembly feels blessed to have cultivated a relationship with you. Your dedication to develop and implement an educational program that focuses on empowering couples, Assemblies, and individuals, has transformed our local Assembly. Our study with you has increased our capacity to serve our community. This guidance and education we received is allowing our community to begin the process of shaping new patterns of community life that will promote healthy marriages, strengthen the family, and increase bonds of affection in the greater community. We look forward to working with you in the future.”

Spiritual Assembly of St. Johns County, Florida

“The Course was extremely useful and applicable to my personal service in that I serve on a Counselling Committee in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The quotations, some of which I had never seen before, provided clear insight into many of the challenges that arise during a year of waiting. The course deepened and elevated my appreciation for the fact that a "Baha'i Marriage" is a sacred and divinely ordained eternal institution unlike any other institution in the history of civilization. The quotations provided guidance in what we needed to know and learn. The scenarios gave us practical experience in how to deal with reoccurring and similar situations. The discussions were a bridge to the future in that they inspired many of the participants to engage in supportive activities with the Assemblies in their home communities. Yes, I would highly recommend the course for individuals who serve on those institutions in the communities. I would also highly recommend the course for anybody in a marriage or anyone considering getting in a marriage or anyone considering getting out of a marriage. Thank you very much to all of the faculty who made the course an engaging and rewarding learning experience.”

David Andrews, Member Counselling Committee, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

“The course is a comprehensive and much needed source of information and guidance, especially in this time when relationships are being swept back and forth by a variety of divisive forces. Thanks so much for your gracious hosting and in-depth content. It's a ton of work and we all appreciate it so much.”

Clark Connelly, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Marriage Counseling Committee

“The course offers Local Spiritual Assemblies an excellent opportunity to think about the role of healthy families in the advancement of the Plan and, consequently, the responsibility to help build and maintain these cells of society as points of light that light up and illuminate everyone around them. Grateful for the opportunity.”

Fariba Vahdat, National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil

“This course about marriages in difficulty has offered a wealth of resources, organized in a systematic manner in trying to touch on all essential elements, and grounded in study of the guidance available to us. The exploration also takes into account various research in the field of communication, intimacy, and relationships, thereby offering a scientific input to balance the spiritual approach to very real problems. It was a very useful exercise, one that I recommend for all individuals, couples, and institutions to become familiar with. I hope it becomes available to a greater audience each passing year.”

Hayat Rushdy-Hanna, Spiritual Assembly of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

“I am extremely grateful to Transformation Learning Center for offering this vital course. I was so impressed with the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience of the faculty, and their commitment to this field and course. I highly recommend any member of an LSA or individual called on to help with challenged marriages in a community take this course. It provided so much clarity about essential issues--and also provide a valuable space to talk through approaches to issues that have little clarity. Thank you!”

Ley Schleich, Spiritual Assembly of Anchorage, Alaska, USA

“Nurturing and supporting marriages that are thriving and flourishing are foundational to our community's health and wellbeing. It was helpful to understand the relationship cycle from: family's health and well-being to searching for a mate, to finding a marriage partner, investigating the character of the potential mate, all the requirements for Baha'i marriage, starting marriage, nurturing and growing the marriage, supporting and protecting the marriage and working on challenges. Also, it was helpful to know what could help a marriage that is in crisis and what resources to use when during the lifecycle of a marriage. It is an exciting time in the Baha’i Community to have such deepened and experienced Baha’is who are also trained and knowledgeable professionals collaborating at the Transformation Learning Center who can serve as resources to the Local Spiritual Assemblies.”

Khotan Harmon, Spiritual Assembly of Austin, Texas, USA

“I am very appreciative for this course and all the materials provided. The breakout discussions were quite helpful and will definitely be put to good use in our community.”

Marianne Riofrio, Spiritual Assembly of Columbus, Ohio, USA

“Outstanding programming. All that I hoped for and more. It’s a very special relationship you have helped to create with all the participants. In my mind, I believe you have created a learning community of the highest order, one that can easily be recognized through a number of unique traits and characteristics inherent in its design. I believe that the relationship that participants have with the numerous learning resources available to them (including each other) are functioning as one. Even without mentioning the notion of a learning community to students, the design of the material and the role that the participants play is already encouraging its organic establishment.”

Howie Cummings, Spiritual Assembly of Calgary, Alberta, Canada