Baha’is to screen film on education
The Baha’i Community of Central Arkansas and Just Communities of Arkansas will host a screening of the documentary To Light a Candle at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave. The film, by Maziar Bahari, documents the persecution of Baha’is in Iran and the development of an underground university, the Baha’i Institute of Higher Education.
The screening is part of the international Education Is Not a Crime campaign (educationisnotacrime.me). Baha’is, a religious minority in Iran, are forbidden from attending or teaching at universities, so the community established their own institute of higher education in 1987.
The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Ravand Samaeekia and Fahime Mehrabkhani, graduates of the institute; Sohrab Kourosh, an interfaith religious scholar and author; and Thomas Bruce, former interim and associate dean of the Clinton School of Public Service.
Information is available by contacting Namvar Zohoori at
(501) 658-3197 or namvar@comcast.netnamvar@comcast.net.
— Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Conference topic: Substance abuse
ARKADELPHIA — The Pruet School of Christian Studies at Ouachita Baptist University will host its fifth Conference on Issues in Christian Counseling on Friday. The conference will focus on alcohol and drug abuse and will be co-hosted by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Henderson State University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
The conference is for pastors, students, mental health professionals, nurses and social workers. Topics include helping families cope in the aftermath of substance abuse, ethics, drug and alcohol abuse and more.
Cost is $70 for pastors and includes lunch, snacks, written materials and a certificate of attendance. For mental health professionals, nurses and social workers, the cost is $100 and includes the same, as well as eight available continuing education units. Cost for students is $20.
Registration is available online at obu.edu/iccconf15. Information is available by calling Bill Viser at (870) 245-5524 or at viserw@obu.eduviserw@obu.edu.
— Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Church to host miracles exhibit
BENTON — Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 900 W. Cross St., will host an exhibit highlighting the presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist Feb. 28-March 11.
The Vatican International Exhibition, “The Eucharistic Miracles of the World,” includes 145 panels featuring photographs, narratives and maps. The panels depict various Vatican-approved miracles occurring in countries around the world over a span of 1,300 years. The church is hosting the exhibit as part of its perpetual Eucharistic adoration 15th anniversary.
The self-guided exhibit in the church’s McGinnis Hall is free and open to the public. The display will be open after the 5 p.m. Mass on Feb. 28 and March 7 until 8 p.m., as well as 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 1. The exhibit will also be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. weekdays March 2-11. Viewing will also be available following the 10:30 a.m. Mass on March 8 until 3 p.m.
Other anniversary events include a mission led by Father Ruben Quinteros at 7 p.m. March 5 in English and 7 p.m. March 6 in Spanish. Bishop Anthony Taylor will celebrate Mass at 10:30 a.m. March 8.
Information is available by calling (501) 315-5186.