A preacher of one of the world's newest faiths is currently visiting the Island to spread the word of God's message.

Shamsi Sedaghat has travelled extensively throughout the world during her lifetime presenting the teachings of Bahai'ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith.

Born into a Bahai family of Iranian descent in Turkmenistan on the former Soviet/Persian border, Ms Sedaghat worked as a language teacher before training as a nurse in the UK in the 1950s.

She then spent the next 40 years working as a nurse, hospital administrator, midwife and nursing supervisor all over the globe, including Cyprus, Iran, Uganda, USA, Egypt and the Bahamas. She was also the director of a maternity nursing home in Trinidad.

She retired from the medical profession in 1990 and, although now based back in her home town, still travels the world, giving lectures about the Bahai faith in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

A member of the Universal House of Justice, she has also attended many international conferences and made courtesy calls to heads of state on her travels.

The Bahai faith was founded 150 years ago and has now spread to more than 300 countries and territories across the world. There is about 150 Bahai followers in Bermuda.

The founder of the faith, Bahaullah, who was born in Iran in 1817, argued that the founders of all the major religions are all part of a single process by which God reveals his will for humanity.

There is no priesthood, professional clergy, hierarchy or doctrines in the Bahai faith and all churches, which all have nine doors to represent the nine major world faiths, contain no pictures of icons. Instead the writings of all religions, including the Bible and the Koran can be found.

The faith instead promotes the concept of the world village and the oneness of mankind.

Ms Sedaghat first came to Bermuda 20 years ago while touring the Caribbean.

"I was the director of a maternity clinic in Trinidad and lived there for 11 years so I have lots of friends in these islands,'' she said.

"One of the principles of the Bahai faith is that Bahais are not involved in partisan politics because the underlying principle is one of unity.

"We believe in sharing the world's wealth. If people are not educated then we must educate them, if they are hungry then we must feed them, if they have no shelter we must give them shelter, if they are dirty teach them to be clean.

Ms Sedaghat said that, while the western world had developed scientifically, the east had developed spiritually and that the two sides should try to learn from each other.

She also has an affinity with youngsters, believing that they have the enthusiasm and open-mindedness to bring about change.

Ms Sedaghat presented a series of `Fireside' talks at the Bahai Centre on Cedar Avenue, Hamilton this week. Last Sunday there was a spiritual gathering at the centre.

Shamsi Sedaghat