CHARLENEM
CHICAGO (FinalCall.com) – The Saviours’ Day 2006 convention, themed “The Birth of a Nation,” marked its 25th commemoration since the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan began rebuilding the Nation of Islam (NOI). And on Feb. 25 in the McCormick’s Grand Ballroom, approximately 1,200 people cheered and took copious notes, while a host of presenters set forth an overview of the Nine Ministries to Build a Nation: Health & Human Services, Agriculture, Education, Defense, Art & Culture, Trade & Commerce, Justice, Information and Science & Technology.
These ministries are designed to cover the full scope of human needs and are central to the Commission for the Restructuring and Reorganization of the NOI, most referred to as the Atonement Commission. The ministries were drawn out of a conversation with Minister Farrakhan regarding the future of the N.O.I, informed Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad, a national spokesman for Minister Farrakhan and founder of the Abundant Life Clinic in Washington, D.C.
“There is failure in education, the justice system, health care. People know the solution will come from the divine source in their midst, the Nation of Islam founded by Master Fard Muhammad and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad,” Dr. Alim maintained. “They’re looking at you and me wondering when will we deliver the solutions. The urgency of national development of our people is upon us!” he insisted to thunderous applause.
›The goal of the plenary session was two-fold: To find out how many of the Believers are actually interested in working with one of the ministries and how many want to participate in a conference to organize the ministries.
The session began with a review of management and a synopsis of lawful, deliberative dialogue, which Dr. Alim called the methodology that the NOI should use to evolve a future for itself and others. It ended with three break-out groups for more detailed discussion focus on the ministries.
Minister Rodney Muhammad, Delaware Valley Regional Representative, stated that there is a gap between what leaders desire to achieve and the people’s ability to bring it about.
“Any time you need change, you need leadership,” he explained, “and any time you want to maintain the status quo, management will do.”
Next came understanding the science of management.
“We want to bring the idea of management right into your personal life,” stated Michael Muhammad, executive director of Abundant Life Clinic. He offered a bevy of management development strategies to strengthen individual, family, business and nation building, which consisted of strengths and weaknesses of a program, and opportunities and threats for it, programs and operations, strategic planning, budget, timeline, culture and evaluation.
“I think the soundtrack that you have should show a thunderous ovation, a sign of massive approval of moving in this direction. I’m optimistic because anytime people have that degree of enthusiasm, that’s a great energy that is able to accomplish a lot,” Dr. Alim offered. “We can have all the enthusiasm that we want, but if it’s not properly managed, then we will have difficulty in the implementation of what we’re so enthusiastic about.”
Min. Rodney termed the attendees’ response a great indicator of the time’s mandate: “I think the key word would be change. People are ready to see a change that will take us to the next level in our nation-building effort. I think it really answered a yearning.”
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