How I Became a Baha’i by Eric Green

Submitted June 2023

I became a Bahá’í in Marshalltown in 1973. While I was managing a gift shop in the mall in Marshalltown, I met a Bahá’í who was the manager of another store in the mall. Pam Stovern introduced me to the Faith over lunch in the Walgreens restaurant. At the time, she was a new Bahá’í and not confident in her teaching ability so she told me I needed to go to a Fireside at the home of Barbara McIntire which was the beginning of my journey. Three months later, in December, I declared and at Ridván 1974 we formed the first LSA in Marshalltown after Bryce & Vicki Abel moved in with their baby Solomon, and Dave & Elham Springer moved in with their baby Gisu. In 1975 I moved to Florida and have been living here ever since.

Fast forward to Florida in 2008 – 2010: Solomon and his family moved to southwest Florida and he met Bahá’ís from southeast Florida during teaching activities. Solomon and his boys Logan & Kayden joined our Boy Scout Troop on several joint campouts and summer camp. The troop was sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Royal Palm Beach, Florida.