The Inayati Order Fall Appeal 2016

Dear Friends,

In a time of great social upheaval, our teacher, Hazrat Inayat Khan, taught that the Messenger is one who responds to “the cry of humanity.” While more and more of us today believe in his vision of love, harmony, and beauty, it is also painfully apparent that we live in a time characterized by deep divides—economic, racial, political, and religious—and find ourselves crying out: How should we respond? What should we do now?

As spiritual wayfarers, we can look for the reality “behind that which appears.” We can turn within and focus on our own development as a means of affecting change in the inner world. We can more actively engage situations in the outer world, serving others in kindness and generosity, providing a visible antidote to fear and uncertainty. Whatever our approach, most of us will turn to the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan for the guidance we need now.

As students of the Sufi path—through our studies and spiritual practice—we have developed useful tools and perspectives to aid us in such times. Indeed, we have been preparing for just this moment. Now is the time to take our inner work into the world, to positively affect change at all levels—in our families, our local communities, and the world-at-large.

Together, we are in a position to utilize the teachings of our particular spiritual path to make a difference. On an organizational level, we have already started working towards this goal. Over the last two years, we have been laying the foundations of a vital 21^st-century organization and movement that can affect positive change in the world with its message.

Since the fall of 2014, we have begun to refine our mission and message, updated our technologies, grown our programming, and begun to integrate all our varied projects and activities into a unified whole. Our next steps include moving our headquarters to Richmond, Virginia, a place experiencing a cultural renaissance, close to our nation’s capital. From our new headquarters, we will further develop our public voice, and begin to grow our involvement in the world. We will be online more, and also strategically offer retreats and programs throughout North America. We will invest in our leadership, developing emerging leaders, while also supporting our most experienced teachers and guides.

These last few weeks we have been working on our first “Annual Report” to share more about our plans and progress. It is in electronic form and now online: The Inayati Order – North American Annual Report 2015.

This is a critical moment in the world, and in our organization; but it is also a time of infinite potential. We can be more effective in unifying our community, responding to the inner and outer call to action. Now more than ever, we need your support. We need you to partner with us.

Help us to amplify Murshid’s voice in the world today. Please donate toward our annual appeal, as we aim to raise $200,000+ to support the refinement and expansion of our offerings, and the move of our offices to Richmond.

If you are able, we would like to invite you to give a one-time, year-end gift in 2016, and consider signing on as a monthly tither, providing the kind of consistency in funding which is vital to faith-based nonprofits such as ours.