Often, the greatest changes in the world start in the least likely places, under the obscurest of conditions.

One example: In 1815, Tambora, a volcano in Indonesia, suddenly erupted, devastating nearby islands. The explosive eruptions pumped so much ash into the atmosphere that the next year became known as "the year without a summer," with frosty storms that led to crop failures and famines.

Perhaps Tambora's physical force also proved the adage, "It's always darkest just before the dawn," because on Nov. 12, 1817, an extraordinary child was born in Persia, now known as Iran. Husayn-Ali displayed exceptional powers of wisdom, knowledge and discernment.

His mother remarked that as a baby he never cried; his father, the governor of Nur, recognized his son's radiance early on. As a youth, he became known as a "champion of justice." He helped solve difficult cases in his father's court, but preferred giving aid to poor families in the countryside.

Such was the early life of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Bahai Faith. Baha'u'llah's teachings were first ignored by most leaders. However, as thousands were drawn to his message, Baha'u'llah and his followers were persecuted.

Baha'u'llah's life was a cycle of crises and victories. Every test his enemies threw at him helped to spread his message, as people from all walks of life became attracted to his teachings.

By 1892, when Baha'u'llah died, the Bahai Faith began to spread and is now recognized as a world religion.

For those professing faith in God, the coming of a new divine messenger both challenges and quickens them. Will their own faith, the religion they were born into, prevent them from recognizing the fulfillment of their own religion, brought by a new manifestation of God? Will they have the courage of their convictions to stay strong in the new faith, no matter how severe the tests or complacent the world around them appears to be?

Baha'u'llah taught that faith needs to be a combination of "knowing" and "doing." Having recognized God's messenger, deeds become essential. Baha'u'llah wrote: "The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose words exceed his deeds, know verily his death is better than his life."

He gave humanity a key for improving the world: "The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct."

Practiced sincerely, faith becomes an act of love. In the words of Baha'u'llah's eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Baha: "The first sign of faith is love. The message of the holy, divine manifestations is love; the phenomena of creation are based upon love; the radiance of the world is due to love; the well-being and happiness of the world depend upon it."

Chris Cholas serves on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of the Hawaiian Islands. He and his wife live in Hilo. The Waialua Bahais celebrate the Birth of Baha'u'llah from 2 to 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Waialua United Church of Christ Community Hall; 637-3173.